Taking Away From Autistic Children September 17, 2009
Why is the government cutting the most effective treatment program for our child with autism?
I am a parent of a child with autism. I was using private therapy, on a wait list to get into the EIBI program.
With private therapy you get less than 1/3 of the funding you need. You have to try, as best they can, to determine what services your child needs in what amounts, and then to try to find various service providers to meet those needs. This is an insurmountable task. On top of all this, you are required to pay for WCB, get a Revenue Canada business number and do payroll.
In the three months my son was in private therapy, there was little improvement. He still wasn't talking, interacting with peers, still had lots of temper tantrums, and the list goes on and on.
In an EIBI program experts assess and determine the needs of each child, and integrate the delivery of all the services each child needs. They co-ordinate the work of Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Behavioural Consultants. They work closely with Infant Develop Programs and Supported Child Development programs (which are also being cut by this government. Many EIBI programs do transition planning into the school system. There is enough money to pay for all these services.
When we got into the EIBI program, by the first day, my son learned to point to items that he wanted instead of whining, crying, taking my hand and dragging me to an item that he wanted. Within two and a half weeks with the EIBI program he started to talk, temper tantrums dropped significantly and there were improvements on a daily basis with communication to get things he needs instead of just screaming. My child now interacts and plays with other children, and tries talking to them. Eye contact has improved, vocabulary has increased and we hear many spontaneous words when before there were no words at all. Our BA attends pre-school with him, which is extremely important as my child now interacts more with other children.
This is the program the government is cancelling.
If no EIBI program is available, my child will have to be withdrawn from pre-school.
Please understand that we do not want children with autism to get services at the expense of other children in need. We truly believe that BC can, and has a moral responsibility, to meet the needs of all children in BC.
The government is claiming this is about fairness, and about regional access, and that they can't afford this program, and many other things.
This is not about money, or fairness, or affordability. It is about our government%u2019s priorities. Gordon Campbell, Minister Mary Polak, and by extension the entire Liberal Cabinet and Caucus, is clearly demonstrating that children in need are simply not a priority. We appreciate the government has many priorities, however that the needs of children in this province must come first. We do not believe there is a citizen or business leader in the province that wants our deficit reduced on the backs of children in need.
Please sign this petition to reverse the government's decision to cut the only effective program this government has to treat children with autism.
Please sign this petition to ensure that the Ministry of Children and Families is given sufficient money meet government's moral obligation to meet the needs of all children in need in this province.
Thank you.
Samantha & Dru Warden (parents
