So yeah, both Glenn and Ted haven't
responded to me. However, I'm going ahead in my plans. I started a
petition on Change.org!!!! You can find it and sign it here!
I need to come up with an image, but I don't know whether I can do it until I can get back to my very old version of Photoshop. Which won't be until after my DST 501 Rethinking Disability course ends, next Saturday.
Mike Lake is the Conservative MP that has the son that is autistic.
ReplyDeleteI'd forward the link to your petition and your letter to him. I already wrote my own email to him and I did get a reply from his assistant. We wait to see if anything comes of it.
Sounds awesome. Thank you so much for your support.
ReplyDeleteI sincerely hope that your research into what the current IBI/ABA program offers is extensive and accurate before you spend so much of your energies fighting it. I may not agree with everything the public school board does but I don't think all children are better off without public education (or accuse the system of damaging my child) because they don't follow my ideal approach to learning.
ReplyDeleteJust be careful that in your attempt to educate others in your ideals that you don't accidentally "drown the baby in the bathwater".
@trainspotter, I have looked alot at the research, and so have a lot of scientists. The research so far has supported my statements; there is no conclusive evidence that ABA has any positive impact in the long run, compared to things like floortime and other play-based teaching methods. Not saying that some might find it a beneficial teaching method, but ABA has been grossly misrepresented by its advocates and to take it to this level will be more harm than good, especially with the language associated with autism used in the bill.
ReplyDeleteDear Corina Becker
ReplyDeleteI do respect your position in this matter and can see how this wording could be very upsetting to some of the members of the autism community. I also understand the uneasiness that comes with vague wording on official documents. But I disagree with your interpretation. As a parent who has fought for years for any services/supports for my severely autistic daughter, wording such as “medically necessary” and “should not be withheld in any province” is, unfortunately, necessary in order to get a government to part with 'their' money. Of course, no child should be forced into something that's wrong/bad for them and for this reason parents (and/or all those making the decisions on that child's behalf) need to be informed and use discretion when deciding what is right for that child (please note: parents make decisions for their 'neuro-typical' kids everyday- even against their will- and it's not viewed as harmful). And yes, ABA should not be presented as something it's not- “a cure for autism”- but all behavioural strategies are not harmful either and should be offered to all who may benefit from them.
I wish the system would offer the support needed (and options for support) for all those who need it (without labeling them or stealing their dignity) but that's not how the system is built. Sadly, I doubt the system will ever change as long as humans are running it. We have to work with what we have and I think it's unwise to 'smack down the stingy (government)hand' that is finally offering a few children 'a crumb' of support. Telling the government that you want more support while criticizing the support their offering is just going to piss them off. Trust me, they don't want to force kids into the IBI program... they're trying to throw them out!
Dear trainspotter,
ReplyDeleteI understand your view as a parent wanting to do the best for your child, and I understand your reasoning.
However, if we do want to make changes in how our society and government works, we should not be prepared to accept these types of compromises. These sorts of bills and legislation allows for the bad aspects of ABA/IBI as well as the good. There are too much generalization and too much variation in how ABA/IBI is implemented to make a general judgment on it.
However, what I am judging is how it's taught and presented, the attitudes and assumptions behind it, which have the most affect. Should a method of teaching that is similar to ABA/IBI exist that does not contain the medical model of disability in its philosophy and implementation, and instead supports a more social model of disability, I would be supportive of using it as a teaching method where it is appropriate and suits a child's learning style.
However, current ABA/IBI is not that, and I refuse to accept a compromise that allows for the bad aspects to be used as well as the potential good aspects. I do believe that change is possible, and I will fight to make it happen. Change is one of the only constants in life, and we can either be affected by it, or influence it to make changes for the better. These things take time, energy and a lot of determination.
I know I'm idealistic, I know I'm incurably optimistic, but I'm not going to give up just because change hasn't happened on its own. I believe change is possible, even if we have to fight for it, and that is what I'm going to do.
~Corina
Hi Corina:) There's a teleclass on autism this week between Dr. Shelby-Lane and Dr. Flynn you or your audience may be interested in - http://conversationswithdrshelbylane.com/
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Lisa