AFA Fall Update- September 22nd 2007

THE ALLIANCE FOR FAMILIES WITH AUTISM (AFA)

FALL 2007 UPDATE

We felt it was necessary and important to give the autism community an update of what we have done and where we are heading for the fall!

Our executive members include parents and a grandparent of children with autism. Our mission is improving the lives of children and adults affected by autism. To provide factual information in a non-partisan approach to all stakeholders.

Throughout the year we have had meetings with John Tory, Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, Howard Hampton, Leader of the New Democratic Party, the Premier’s office, senior officials of the Ontario Government including Minister of Education and Minister of Children and Youth Services.

During these meetings the following priorities for action were addressed:

1) Implement all the recommendations from the Autism Reference Group Report to the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Children and Youth Services.
2) Direct Funding Option (DFO)/Direct Service Option (DSO) choice for Autism Intervention Program (AIP) with no waiting list and seamless transition to similar programming in school boards for children who require ongoing support.
3) Standard certification for service providers with a regulatory body of behaviour analysts and therapists. Increasing the number of psychologists to work with children and adults with autism, including a graduate level ABA teaching program at universities. Allow third party Behavioural consultants specialized in autism, senior therapists and therapists into schools.
4) Continuum of Government funded services and programs. Specialized services such as speech and occupational therapy need to be delivered in a timely manner. Programs such as Special Services at Home (SSAH) and Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD) need to support all families with autism and give clear guidelines to their key elements of administration.
5) Creation of National Autism Strategy that would include Federal-Provincial partnerships to ensure adequate resources and standards to provide Canadians with timely diagnosis, assessments, treatments, supports and research.

We all know that Ontario’s provincial election is right around the corner. The Alliance for Families with Autism (AFA) felt it was extremely important to our community to ensure that we had commitments from each of the three main political parties. We held a three-party political debate on autism policies and programs in June, 2007. We felt all informed voters would be interested in the information from this unprecedented and unique event. The debate was a great success and included such speakers such as Shelley Martel from the New Democratic Party, Frank Klees and Christine Elliot from the Progressive Conservative Party, and Minister Wynne from Education, as well as Minister Chambers from Children and Youth Services from the Ontario Liberal Government.

Soon the election will be over and we will know who will be leading the province of Ontario for the next four years. What will be next for the autism community after the election?

During this election period, The Alliance for Families with Autism has continued to work with all three parties. That work has led us to our upcoming event for November. This event will be unprecedented and unique, as was the debate in June.

We have arranged with all three parties, the elected government will participate in a “Town Hall” Meeting with the autism community hosted by The Alliance for Families with Autism. This meeting will include the Ministers from Education, Children and Youth Services, as well as Community and Social Services. This event will allow our community to meet the Ministers responsible for those ministries and have an opportunity to ask questions and make comments to the new government. The “Town Hall” Meeting will take place in November at a local school in the GTA. The date and location will be confirmed following the election.

We will continue to advocate for our community to ensure every person with autism will receive the support and services they require. We believe that there are different ways to advocate for our community and that is what makes our community so unique. Those different styles of advocating will only bring more attention to the issues and propel our cause even further.

The Alliance for Families with Autism (AFA) will continue to compile and distribute weekly news mailings of pertinent information on autism from Ontario and across Canada to ensure that our community has information available. We appreciate all of the positive comments and feedback we have received regarding our mailings!

As well as October being election month, it is also Autism Awareness Month. Last year we were involved in a province wide candlelight vigil. We have had a number of families request that this be an annual event. The Alliance for Families with Autism will be hosting the event this year. The vigil will take place on Monday, October 01, 2007 from 7:00 – 7:30 pm. The vigil will not be a political evening, although it will be held at MPP riding offices across Ontario. To further inform and build awareness we have invited all candidates to partake in the event from the three main political parties. We want to tell the world, with our candles, that every individual with ASD has the right to shine. We want to honour all individuals and families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder and related disorders.

Please find a list of confirmed locations at our blog at http://allianceforfamilieswithautism.blogspot.com

If you are interested in participating at a different location please contact our primary organizer John McVicar at findingnewmarkets@sympatico.ca

For those of you attending candlelight vigils on October 01, 2007… please remember to light a candle for Miles when you are lighting a candle for your family.

Sincerely,

The Alliance for Families with Autism (AFA)

Executive Members -

Cindy DeCarlo – Barrie
Trish Kitching – Sudbury
Pat La Londe – Kingston
John McVicar – Kitchener
Lisa Prasuhn – Beeton