Run the Dream Celebrates World Autism Awareness Day

RUN THE DREAM LAUNCHES "THEIR STORIES" INITIATIVE

IN CELEBRATION OF UNITED NATIONS WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY

Internet-enabled video interviews with parents, family members, caregivers, and persons with an Autism Spectrum Disorder will be recorded and made available for the public on the Run the Dream website.

April 2, 2008 is the first annual United Nations (UN) World Autism Awareness Day, fulfilling the UN resolution which encourages all member states to take measures to raise awareness about autism throughout society. In support of this resolution, Run the Dream is launching Their Stories, web-based video interviews with the persons most affected by an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), who can best describe what it means.

Run the Dream invites parents, family members, caregivers, and persons with ASD to share their stories, via a video interview which can be recorded on the Run the Dream web site, http://www.runthedream.ca/stories.html#stories, starting immediately, and viewed on the same web site starting on April 2, World Autism Awareness Day. Stories will be recorded and shared with the public on the Run the Dream website until the run is completed at the end of November this year. Run the Dream will continue to share these stories by then compiling the videos from each province and presenting them to the respective Premier, and likewise will present all videos from across Canada to the Prime Minister. The Their Stories initiative is the very first of its kind in Canada using an automated web-based structured interview process, and based on our research, is a global first as well. This innovation is possible through the generous sponsorship of Minavox ( www.minavox.com) and the use of their ground-breaking Canadian-developed technology, Savisys.

In the few days since Jonathan Howard started his run, stories from across Canada have flooded Run the Dream's e-mail inboxes, "Jonathan Howard, created the concept of Run the Dream and started a cross-Canada run in support of ASD on March 25. Even though we're only in the beginning days of this journey we've already received touching stories and offers of support from a large number of Canadians who want to tell their story, and who want to help in making Run the Dream a success. In our view these stories are worthy of sharing with every Canadian. We're delighted that Minavox is making their software and service available to Run the Dream for this purpose," says Bill Robertson, Chairman of Run the Dream's organizing committee.

Working with Autism Society Canada (ASC) http://www.autismsocietycanada.ca/Run the Dream wants to ensure all voices are heard. Those people who do not have access to a computer or a webcam can share their stories using any PC with a webcam, including those of ASC's community partners, through the Their Storiesweb portal. "ASC represents a very large collective voice of the autism community in Canada; we applaud this opportunity to tell Their Stories", says Kathleen A. Provost, CFRE- Executive Director, Autism Society Canada.


This innovation is possible through the generous sponsorship of Minavox (www.miavox.com ) and the use of their ground-breaking Canadian-developed technology Savisys. "Minavox is proud to be associated with Run the Dream and Autism Society Canada, and to be able to provide its services to let Their Stories be heard." said Todd Nowensky, Managing Director and Vice-President of Business Development for Minavox Inc. Added Geoff Kushnir, Managing Director and Vice-President of Technology: "In our view this is one of the best illustrations of what is being described as the new era of the internet, Web 2.0."



Jonathan Howard, 24, McMaster University alumnus, and accomplished athlete developed the Run the Dream campaign to help raise awareness of the challenges faced by individuals with ASD and their families. Run the Dream is an eight month solo run across Canada, starting in St. John's, NL on March 25 and finishing in Victoria, BC on or about November 21. The run will cover approximately 9000km, crossing 10 provinces and more than 650 communities across the country. The campaign is targeted to raise $2.5 million to benefit children affected by ASD and their families. Jonathan appreciates the groundswell of support that has already formed behind his effort and would particularly like to acknowledge the contributions of the sponsors (listed below) of Run the Dream.


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For more information on Run the Dream or to schedule an interview

with Jonathan Howard please contact

Alex Bittner at: alex.bittner@runthedream.ca, 888-507-5885 ext. 4.

For more information on Autism Society Canada please contact:

Lynn Andrews, Director of Communications:

lynn@autismsocietycanada.ca

For more information on Minavox please contact:

Ada Nowensky, VP of Marketing
anowensky@minavox.com


Run the Dream would like to thank their sponsors:

Telus – Official telecommunications sponsor for Run the Dream

Gatorade

Landmark Sport Group

Mariposa Cruises

Minavox

Evolution Rehabilitation and Personal Training Ltd

Whitewater Web Solutions

Brightworks

Spa Sensations

Lauren Canzius
General Manager, Media Relations & Communications
Run The Dream
lauren.canzius@runthedream.ca

autism

In Ireland Fine Gael Fights for ABA for Autistic Children

Like many North Americans of Irish heritage I watch events in Ireland with enhanced interest. It is not just another country. Excessive romanticism or not, Ireland is where we are from. Ireland, even generations removed, is in our genes and, as everyone following the explosive development of genetic research into autism disorders is aware, genes matter. Following is a press release from Fine Gael detailing the FG effort to improve services, particularly ABA services, for autistic children in Ireland.

10
Feb 2008

FF Govt's Grossly Misguided Autism Policy To Be Overhauled by FG Motion

Fine Gael National Press Office Press Release

Fine Gael National Press Office Press Statement _________________________________________________________________ Leinster House Contact Brian Hayes TD Dublin 2 Ciarán Conlon Education & Science Ireland 086 2391947 Sunday February 10th 2008 FF Govt's Grossly Misguided Autism Policy To Be Overhauled by FG Motion In light of the Seán O'Cuanacháin case and the callous disregard with which the Fianna Fáil Government and the Minister for Education have treated parents of children with autism, Fine Gael will this week put forward a Private Members' Motion that will overhaul how children with autism are treated. Fine Gael Education Spokesman, Brian Hayes TD, said today (Sunday) that the comprehensive motion will demand that the Government commit to funding the existing 12 ABA centres, expand the ABA scheme, institute an appeals system and make specific education services available to autistic children where it has been recommended by psychologists. "As the last week has shown, under Fianna Fáil, when it comes to children with autism, the State seems more concerned with dragging parents through the courts rather than providing for their child's educational needs. "In fact, the Education Minister's record in this area is so poor that the author of a Government taskforce report on autism described the Government's policies as 'grossly misguided'. "For too long, the needs of children with autism have been shamefully overlooked and that is why, this week, Fine Gael will use our Private Members' Time to present a motion that will overhaul the entire sector. There is no greater example of this disregard for the needs of children with autism than the baffling neglect by the FF Government of Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA). The Minister for Education has refused to extend ABA beyond the 12 pilot centres that have already been established but the Fine Gael Motion will reverse this policy as well as ensuring that the existing centres are funded in the current format for the long term. "There is no appeals mechanism currently in place leaving parents who look for justice for their child with no option but to go to courts. Fine Gael wants to see an appeals process set up without delay as well as implementing the outstanding provisions of the EPSEN Act and ensuring Speech and Language Therapy and Behavioural Therapy is made available to all schools with autistic children in attendance. "So far, parents of children with autism have come up against a brick wall when trying to get the State to provide for the educational needs of their children. The Government now has an opportunity to change that and I urge each and every Government Deputy to vote for the Fine Gael Motion. It is the least these children deserve." Ends Note: Fine Gael Private Members Motion follows: That Dáil Éireann; - Accepting that the current system of assessment for children with autism is inadequate - Noting the co-author of the report of the Government Taskforce on Autism has suggested the Department of Education's policy on education for autistic children is misguided - Considering that the lack of a suitable appeals process leaves parents with no option other than to pursue education services for their children through the courts - Acknowledging the Government's delay in implementing the EPSEN Act 2004 to provide appropriate education services for children with special needs - Noting the Government's refusal to change its policy to consider funding for new ABA centres despite a clear demand for ABA services countrywide - Considering the Government's failure to improve coordination between education and health services in supporting children with special needs despite promises in the Programme for Government 2007 to do so Calls on the Government to; - Lay any evidence before the House which supports the suggestion that the current system of education provision for autistic children is suitable for all children, even those with moderate to severe autism who have been recommended one-to-one tuition - Make specific education services available to autistic children where it has been recommended by psychologists, without delay - Introduce the outstanding provisions of the EPSEN Act 2004 according to the NCSE's proposed timescale for implementation - Commit to funding the existing 12 ABA centres in their current format - Expand the current ABA pilot scheme of 12 centres to accommodate other projects of a similar nature where they are needed - Recognise the qualifications of psychologists currently working in ABA centres - Honour its Programme for Government commitment and institute an appeals system without further delay - Ensure Speech and Language Therapy and Behavioural Therapy is made available to all schools with autistic children in attendance - Immediately move to enhance cooperation between the Department of Education and Health to ensure children with special needs receive adequate support in all aspects of their lives from an early age

autism