Community Activist and Autism Advocate David Marley: One Heck of a Scrapper

I have no vote in today's British Columbia election. I do not pretend to know the area, other than what I have heard from my BC friends. I am certain though that if I had a vote today I would vote for fiscally responsible community activist and autism advocate David O. Marley who is running as an independent in West Vancouver-Capilano.

(Photo left: David Marley in Oakville, Ontario campaigning for Medicare for Autism NOW!)


David's official bio and agenda are on the internet at Vote4Marley. If you read the material at that site you will learn that David Marley has an impressive background in politics and law. You will learn that he is a fiscally responsible community activist who has fought for many community causes. Amongst those causes you will learn that David O. Marley is, and has been, a dedicated, capable and persistent autism advocate ... which is how I came to meet DOM, as he often signs off on his emails.

(Photo left: David Marley in Halifax, Nova Scotia speaking as part of the FEAT BC goes coastal national autism campaign)

What an official bio and agenda can never truly convey on the printed page is the real essence of a person, the real character of an individual, that can only become known from direct interaction. Anecdotal evidence is the weakest form of evidence in assessing causes and treatments for disorders such as autism disorders. It is the absolute highest form of evidence though when it comes to assessing the character of an individual. It is not truly possible to know people from afar, from media interviews and public accounts. You have to meet someone, look them in the eye, see how they respond to difficult and challenging situations.

I met David Marley in Halifax when he spoke as part of the FEAT BC Goes Coastal tour to push for a real national autism strategy. I also met him in Toronto and Oakville as part of the last pre-election tour by the Medicare for Autism Now team which graciously invited me to participate. I have exchanged emails and phone calls with David Marley. I have debated strategies and tactics for advancing a national autism strategy with him. David has a terrific background as a political organizer and as a lawyer and he shows real personal commitment to his causes - like autism. He has a sharp quick mind, a storehouse of political knowledge and many other assets. He is a true Independent who would represent his constituents ferociously.

If the people of West Vancouver-Capilano are looking for something other than the same old tired party politicians to represent them they should vote for David O. Marley - a real independent. I have met and worked on my cause - autism - with David. It is a real battle to get anything moving on the National front for autism. But David has been fighting tirelessly for that very end and having met and worked with him in that battle I can truly say that if the West Vancouver-Capilano want a real independent who will truly represent their interests they should vote Independent TODAY, they should vote for David Marley. If they do they will be electing one heck of a scrapper to fight on their behalf.

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Community Activist and Autism Community Friend David Marley for West Vancouver-Capilano MLA!

Community activist, and staunch friend of Canada's autism community, David Marley, is running as an Independent candidate for West Vancouver-Capilano MLA in the BC election May 12, 2009. He will be a guest today on CKNW's Bill Good Show immediately following the 9 am (local time) news.

David is a dedicated community activist who backs up his principles with outstanding organizational ability and formidable advocacy skills. I know nothing of the West Vancouver-Capilano riding or the other candidates but I know they are in for a real scrap with Marley running, a candidate with a strong commitment to community causes.

I met David at the FEAT BC visit to Halifax (above left) in May, 2007 and again in Toronto and Oakville (above right) for the Medicare for Autism Now campaign. David's organizational savvy and advocacy skills have helped autism advocates keep autism alive as a federal issue despite Prime Minister Stephen Harper's determination to exclude it from federal attention.

I hope the good people of of West Vancouver-Capilano don't mind this New Brunswicker offering my two cents worth. I would have "endorsed" David Marley as a candidate solely because of the assistance he has given to autism advocates in Canada. Having participated actively with David in the Ontario leg of the Medicare for Autism Now campaign I have seen first hand the outstanding skills, effort and commitment he brings to the causes and the people he supports.

I give David the highest marks I can give to a politician by saying he is a real scrapper. If the people of West Vancouver-Capilano want a scrapper in their corner I recommend they vote for David Marley.

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Grim, Chaotic Autism Reality In Ireland

The Independent paints a grim picture of autism reality in Ireland in Autism 'chaos' as one-third wait over year for diagnosis and in an editorial Grim message on autism . Figures released by Irish health authorities show that in one county there are no waiting lists while in others there are 14 months to 3 year delays in receiving diagnosis. For many Irish autistic children the early period when intervention is most effective expires on the waiting list for diagnosis.

The waiting list tragedy is not unique to autistic children in Ireland. Here in Canada there are huge discrepancies between provinces with respect to autism services. Ontario is notorious for its waiting lists for receipt of autism treatment with children left "rotting on the vine". In its editorial the Independent noted that in Ireland:

"following the release of a damning report, the Government was warned that inaction in the welfare of children will lead to a litany of social ills, including an increase in suicide and self-mutilation and family breakdown, which will cost the State dearly in the not too distant future."

So too in Canada our governments, federal and provincial, have been warned by the Senate Committee report "Pay Now or Pay Later" what the future would hold if action were not taken to provide funding and a national autism strategy to ensure that autistic children received the treatment they need. In Canada a cynical Stephen Harper led Conservative party uses pre-WWII views of Canadian federalism to justify its lack of commitment to helping autistic children across Canada.

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Autism Heroines Lara Hawkings and Sally Eva

In the United Kingdom parents fighting to help their autistic children overcome the deficits of their autism disorders, fighting to help their children as all parents do, face opposition from a National Autistic Society which has drunk deep from the kool aid of the neurodiversity "movement". In Autism: What are the ethics of treating disability the Independent reports on a letter Treating Autism signed by parents, including Lara Hawkings and Sally Eva, fighting for treatment for their autistic children in the face of opposition by the National Autistic Society.

In the UK the National Autistic Society has adopted the "autism is beautiful" ideology and frowns upon parents like Lara Hawkings and Sally Eva who fight to help their own children overcome and recover from the sometimes debilitating deficits of their neurological disorder. Awareness is helpful. But saying that society should change how it views autism will not help those autistic children who need help for the more serious symptoms of autism, a neurological disorder.

Neurodiversity ideologues are not human rights advocates. They are in fact suppressing the human rights of autistic children; their right to be treated for their neurological disorders. And they are suppressing the rights of parents to help their own children. The UK NAS should be ashamed of itself for imbibing this topsy turvy ideology and for helping suppress the human rights, including the right to be treated for their neurological disorders, of autistic children in the UK.

I wish the best for Lara Hawkings and Sally Eva and all parents in the UK trying to help, to truly help, their autistic children. And for the NAS I wish that some day they will cease swallowing the neurodiversity kool aid and drink from the well of common sense.

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