Michigan Daily Promotes Harmful, Irrational ASAN Anti-Cure Ideology
A Real Canadian Autism Hero - Stefan Marinoiu
Autism Paradox
THE Autism Paradox....... ♥
1. It's easy to recite an entire book but difficult to make up a story.
2. It's easy to line up toys but difficult to stay in line.
3. It makes perfect sense to climb on the sofa but little sense to sit on it. 4. Memorizing the Prime Ministers in order - 10 minutes.
Packing a school bag - 10 hours.
5. Family pictures on the wall are boring but that speck of dust next to it, now that's fascinating!
6.Talking about weather patterns - a piece of cake. Talking about my day - near impossible.
7. Ability to focus on spinning objects - timeless. Ability to focus on homework - 3 seconds.
8. Being called by name - can't hear it. Some owl hooting in the distance - clear as a bell.
9. How to operate the remote control - zero instruction. How to button up pants - intensive instruction.
10. Navigating social rules - poorly skilled. Navigating from the back seat of the car - highly skilled.
Dear Honourable Ministers: Conor Has Voted Again for Flexible, Meaningful Inclusion, Alternative Learning Arrangements
Honourable Jody Carr Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development
Honourable Dorothy Shephard Minister of Healthy and Inclusive Communities
Dear Honourable Ministers:
I. Vision
An evolving and systemic model of inclusive education where all children reach their full learning potential and decisions are based on the individual needs of the student and founded on evidence." (underlining added - HLD)
All Autism Meltdowns Are Not Panic Attacks
This New Brunswick Autism Dad Asks YOU To Register Liberal Online Today and Vote for Mike Murphy
This autism dad asks New Brunswickers with autism, or autistic children or family members or friends, professionals working with autistic children and adults or people who just plain care to register Liberal today and vote for Mike Murphy as the next leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Party. I do so because I believe registering with the Liberal Party and voting for Mike Murphy for leader offers the best hope for rebuilding NB's autism services system currently being dismantled by the Alward government.
Ontario and New Brunswick Need Adult Severe Autism Care Facilities
Enhanced network
Conor Takes Dad For A Walk ... Sort Of
Facing Autism Flexible Inclusion Versus NBACL Extreme Inclusion on CBC Maritime Noon Thursday September 20
This Thursday, September 20, 2012 at 12 pm AT (1 ET) I will be a guest on the CBC Radio show Maritime Noon. I will be discussing and advocating for a flexible model of inclusive education. Marlene Munn will also be interviewed on behalf of the NBACL which promotes a full, and in my opinion, extreme model of regular classroom inclusion for all students. I am not sure if persons outside Canada can access the show on the CBC web site but this is the link for Maritime Noon if you want to try and listen to the discussion at the CBC Maritime stations listed on the right side bar under "Air Times".
I have commented previously on the NBACL's inflexible, extreme model of inclusive education which requires all students, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, regardless of the challenges they face, regardless of the evidence and regardless of whether it is in a specific child's best interests to receive instruction in the regular classroom. I have written and spoken often of the fact that we had to ask for our 16 year old son with severe autistic disorder to be removed from the regular classroom which overwhelmed him and resulted in serious self injurious behavior.
Some people find it difficult to believe that the NBACL, in this day and age, contrary to evidence, contrary to common sense, and contrary to the experience and wishes of parents, who best know their own children, would still insist that every child should be educated in the regular classroom. But that is exactly what the NBACL insists upon. As the NBACL likes to say its philosophy based full Inclusive Education policy "is that simple".
NBACL Web Site: Inclusive Education
What is inclusive education? It is simple: children go to their community or neighbourhood school and receive instruction in a regular class setting with non-disabled peers who are the same age.
NBACL Icon Gordon Porter in the Western Star (Newfoundland) article "Inclusion in the classroom simple, says educator"
lesson learned
while in Walmart this morning, Avery got a bit overstimulated and starting flapping his hands and pacing while cranking his neck left and right with his eyes wide open. I am used to it and so are my kids , however a group of teenagers walked by and pointed at him, laughing and saying " whoa whats wrong with that ret--d?! ( I hate that word and its a swear in our house)
My heart was heavy as I tried to ignore the teasing.
Then Colin patted me on the hand , saying "I got this mom" and started to walk towards the group (!).
before I could catch my breath, he walked over to the group and said :
"Excuse me, but you had a question. There is nothing WRONG with my brother. He has Autism which is something you should want because we kids on the spectrum don't care what people think of us. He is excited to be shopping , is trying to be polite so not to make mom sad. So boys I have to ask ' What is wrong with you?!"
He did this with a smile and patiently waited for them (a group of 3 boys I am guessing were about 15ish) to answer.
Part of me wanted to pull him away but instead we just stood there awkwardly silent before one of the boys took off his sideways baseball cap , looked at me and said "Sorry mam." before walking away.
WOW! could my mommy heart be bursting any more than it is right now?
I love how my kids are learning to be mini advocates .
and those teenagers learned something from a 9 year old.
<3
8535 Autistic New Brunswickers and the Need for NB Liberal Leadership Debates
NB Liberal Leadership Candidates
Dear Sirs
Re: Should Liberal Leadership Candidates Debate?
I would like to see a debate which included discussion of policies for autistic children and adults in New Brunswick.
The US CDC (Centers for Disease Control) has recently revised its estimates of autism disorder prevalence ... it now stands at 1 in 88 persons as being diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. 751,171/88 = 8535 NB'ers with autism.
Here in NB gains were made under Premier Lord and Premier Graham in evidence based early intervention and education. Those gains are now being eroded ... rapidly eroded ... under the Alward government.
Nothing has ever been done to provide decent residential care and treatment for severely autistic adults despite a recommendation by autism expert Dr. Paul McDonnell that the government construct an autism residential care and treament facility in Fredericton near NB's autism expertise. NB currently spends hundreds of thousands to send autistic adults to Maine for residential care and treatment.
It would be very helpful if NB's Liberal leadership contenders could discuss & debate policy for NB's 8535 autistic children and adults.
Respectfully,
Harold L Doherty Fredericton
Father of a 16 year old autistic son.
Autism and Education: Conor Votes For FLEXIBLE Inclusion
Conor got up at 6 am today, as he has for the last 2+ months to mark down the number of days to school. He started doing this with 65 days to go and today he was very happy to mark 0 days to school! He also placed his packed bookbag and lunchbag at the front door to make sure we went to school.
Conor has severe autistic disorder with "profound developmental delays". He was removed from the regular classroom, at our request, early in his education when we realized that the self inflicted bite marks were happening because of his placement in the regular classroom where he was overhwhelmed. The biting declined, and disappeared completely, once he was placed in an individual learning environment to receive his ABA based instruction. Since then adjustments have been made so that he starts his day and spends breaks with other challenged students in a resource center at the Leo Hayes High School. It is an important and valuable resource where Conor has been very well received and where he has made friends. He also socializes with other students in the halls and in a variety of settings in the school and on expeditions. He receives his primary ABA based instruction outside the mainstream classroom in a quieter, less overwhelming individualized environment.
It is necessary, in an evidence based, humane and lawful education system to look at the needs and strengths of each child and accommodate those who require accommodation. In some cases that means outside the mainstream classroom.
DSM5 Autism Do-Over Raises Concerns Down Under, Yeah?
"Vicki Gibbs from Autism Spectrum Australia's diagnostic service said Australian research has found a significant number of autistic children would fail to meet the new criteria. "What our study found was of the 120-odd children that we assessed, about 23 per cent of those children who would have got a diagnosis under the existing DSM 4, we would not have been able to give a diagnosis under DSM 5, just because they didn't have enough of the symptoms," the clinical psychologist said."
As the parent of a 16 year old son with severe autistic disorder I learned long ago that unanticipated changes can have immediate repercussions for my son. Meltdowns have been prompted by unanticipated and, sometimes, unnecessary changes in my son's routines and expectations.
Change itself can be very disruptive. It does not appear to be a lesson learned by the autism experts on the DSM5 committees ... yeah?