Glenn Thibeault's REAL National Autism Strategy

In the past 36 hours I have criticized CASDA's claims to be advocating for a National Autism Strategy and to be presenting a unified national autism voice.  Lawrie Mawlam of CASDA, a conscientious and courteous individual with whom I have had the privilege of talking in recent months,  has taken some objection to my criticism and I thank her for expressing her opinions so forthrightly.   I hope though that CASDA will consider the criticisms of their efforts before rejecting them defensively.  I also ask CASDA, and any one else purporting to advocate for a National Autism Strategy to consider and support the private members bills of Sudbury MP Glenn Thibeault. The two bills express a clear and coherent National Autism Strategy that would be great benefit to autistic Canadians and their families and that is consistent with the efforts by many Canadians seeking a REAL National Autism Strategy for many years before CASDA and its constituent elements began seeking a national approach to autism.

I recommend that CASDA, Conservative MP Mike Lake,  and all others seeking a real and meaningful national autism strategy support, and encourage their members of Parliament to support, Glenn Thibeault's private member autism bills as described on Mr. Thibeault's site:

"THIBEAULT RE-INTRODUCES AUTISM LEGISLATION


2011 06 15


OTTAWA – Today MP Glenn Thibeault (Sudbury) re-introduced two Private member`s Bills designed to assist individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.


The first Bill would amend the Canada Health Act to include Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) and Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) as medically recognised treatments for individuals living with autism spectrum disorders.


The second would create a National Strategy for individuals living with autism spectrum disorders, therefore ensuring that these individuals would receive the highest level of care, regardless of which region of Canada they live in.


“Far too many Canadians and their families are coping with autism spectrum disorders without adequate support from any level of government” said Thibeault. “Together, these two Bills would ensure that all Canadians, irrespective of where they live, have access to the most appropriate forms of care and extended health services.”

“With negotiations between the provinces and federal governments on the Canada Health Accord starting in 2014, I am calling on the Government to implement the provisions of these bills to ensure that individuals suffering from autism spectrum disorders are properly covered by the Accord.”

Autism spectrum disorders are a spectrum of psychological conditions, including autism and Asperger’s syndrome, which are characterised by an impairment of social interaction, restrictive interests and repeated behaviours. Currently, around 1 in 200 Canadians – representing roughly 190,000 Canadians - are estimated to have autism spectrum disorders. Incidence rates have been on the rise over the past decade, with the prevalence rate in children estimated to be 1 in 165.

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For further information, please contact:

Alex Bushell, Parliamentary Assistant (Glenn Thibeault): 613-996-8962 or glenn.thibeault.a2@parl.gc.ca"

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CASDA National Autism Strategy Is Not A REAL National Autism Strategy: It Does Not Help Canadian Autistic Children and Adults

In looking at the National Autism Strategy information from a CASDA (Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorders Alliance) conference held in Ottawa on June 8 2011, and which I have posted following this comment,  I see that there is the suggestion for expansion of tax relief for autism families. That is certainly a specific, concrete step that will help some families with autistic children. Beyond that though I don't, with all due respect, see anything being proposed to assist autistic children, regardless of where they live in Canada, to receive evidence based effective early intervention, yes that still means ABA, a real education and for the many who will require it, decent, autism specific residential care and treatment as adults.

Early autism intervention across Canada resulted from a wave of focused determined parents advocacy which began over a decade ago. It did not result from conferences of persons building careers in politics or charitable bureacracies or attending subsidized conferences in Banff or Ottawa. 

I recommend that this organization stop pretending and start getting serious about helping with early intervention, education, adult residential care and treatment for autistic Canadians. Sorry I if sound harsh but these types of conferences, with their timid agendas,  have accomplished nothing over the past 10 years. Pretending to help is worse than doing nothing at all. It creates the illusion that something is being done when that is not the case.

Conservative government MP Mike Lake, to his credit, did provide  links to parliamentary sites if you are interested in following autism bills introduced by Sudbury NDP MP Glenn Thibeault who has been a determined advocate for a real National Autism Strategy for several years.  My final comment is to recommend to Mr. Lake and other attendees at the CASDA conferences to fight for a real National Autism Stategy as Mr. Thibeault has done along with fellow NDP member Peter Stoffer and former Liberal MP Shawn Murphy.

"In 2007, Autism Canada spearheaded the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorders Alliance (CASDA) and today sits on the Leadership Committee. On June 8, 2011, Laurie Mawlam, the Executive Director at Autism Canada, was in Ottawa with the others on the CASDA Leadership Committee advocating for a National Autism Strategy. Please find below the notes from that meeting, including the individuals the Leadership Committee met with and a synopsis of their conversations.

  

Connor Robinson, Canada Revenue Agency

• Broadening the interpretation of existing categories of eligible expenses under the Medical Expenses Tax Credit to include more expenses often faced by families with a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Adding Autism Spectrum Disorder-related expenses to the list if eligible expenses under the Medical Expenses Tax Credit
• Clarifying the rules and procedures of the audit process                    

Lisa Belzak, Epidemiologist, Public Health Agency of Canada 

• The development and design of a National Surveillance System for Developmental Disorders, including Autism Spectrum Disorders
• The creation of a nomination committee to create an advisory committee for the National Surveillance System
• The creation of an advisory committee for the National Surveillance System

Nathalie Gendron, Assistant Director, Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction, Canadian Institute of Health Research 

• The current levels of funding for research in Autism Spectrum Disorders
• New developments that are in the works that should be made public shortly

The Honourable Jim Munson, Senator, Ottawa-Rideau Canal 

• Raising awareness of Autism Spectrum Disorders among Senators and Members of Parliament
• The reintroduction of Senator Munson's bill honouring Autism Awareness Day 

The Honourable Mike Lake, Member of Parliament, Edmonton-Mill Woods-Beaumont 

• Reviewed outcome from meetings of the day
• Discussed Mike playing a role in reaching out to other MPs that have a family member with an ASD, to increase the base of support for a federal ASD agenda
• Reminder from Mike that the following website permits us to follow the progress of bills related to ASD -www.parl.gc.ca
• • There are presently two bills dealing with Autism Spectrum Disorder, which are being introduced by the Member of Parliament for Sudbury, Glenn Thibeault (NDP).
• • Bill C-218: http://www.parl.gc.ca/LegisInfo/BillDetails.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&billId=5079448
•      Bill C-219: http://www.parl.gc.ca/LegisInfo/BillDetails.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&billId=5080253
  
  
  These meetings were an opportunity for CASDA to reinforce the importance of action on the federal level in the area of Autism Spectrum Disorders and share our vision that all Canadians with an Autism Spectrum Disorder have full and equal access to the resources that they require to achieve their full potential.
  
  
  Thank-you for joining CASDA to ensure that our vision becomes a reality. Our strong, collective voice for the Autism Spectrum Disorder community at the federal level is making a difference!

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