Jaden Lake's Autism on the Hill Rally - Well Done Jaden!

Edmonton MP Mike Lake, whom I have met (at IMFAR 2012 in Toronto) and communicated with a few times about autism in Canada, have different perspectives on the proper role for Canada's national government in addressing Canada's autism crisis.  The government of Stephen Harper, of which Mike Lake is a member,  is not a strong supporter of Canada's national medicare system generally and has done nothing to advance in a meaningful way the National Autism Strategy advocated for by former and present opposition MP's Andy Scott,  Peter Stoffer, Shawn Murphy and Glenn Thibeault and by Senator Jim Munson.   I know though that Mike Lake is a dedicated father and a strong advocate for his 17 year old autistic son Jaden, who appears to have many similarities to my own son with autism of the same age.  I enjoy seeing Jaden in television and video appearances and was pleased to read the Ottawa Citizen article about the Autism on the Hill Rally and the pictures featuring Jaden Lake.

Thank you for advocating for autism awareness and services Jaden! Well Done!

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Medicare's Orphans: Autism and Civil Rights Activist David Marley and The Fight For a National Autism Strategy

Medicare for Autism Now! has released episode 10 of our "Medicare's Orphans" web-series. This episode features Medicare for Autism Now, Civil Rights Now and co-producer of "Medicare's Orphans", David Marley. David is a former trial lawyer and long-time political activist. In this 25 minute interview, he discusses why it is crucial for Canadians, particularly parents and families of autistic children to become politically engaged.

As a parent I have advocated, together with other parents, for over a decade for a real National Autism  Strategy. Here in New Brunswick our advocacy involved working with former Fredericton MP Andy Scott over a decade ago for development of a National Autism Strategy which resulted in a strong commitment by Andy as reported by Tali Folkins in the Telegraph Journal on October 20, 2003:

"Fredericton MP Andy Scott said Saturday he has been lobbying prime- minister-to-be Paul Martin for a federal program to help young children with autism. "I desperately want a national autism strategy - and let me just assure you that Paul Martin knows it," Mr. Scott told supporters at a party celebrating his 10th anniversary as an MP in Fredericton Saturday evening.

Early work by therapists with young autistic children, Mr. Scott said, can make a big difference in their capacity to lead fulfilling lives as adults - and can save money in the long run. But the costs of starting such early intervention programs are high and should be borne directly by Ottawa rather than each individual province, he said. "We have responses and therapies and so on that I genuinely believe can work," he said. "You're going to save millions of dollars over the lifetime of an autistic adult. If you can get in at the front end, you can make enormous progress.

"But it's very expensive, and there's not a lot of stuff being added to Medicare, generally - that's why we have catastrophic drug problems and other things," he said. "In the province of New Brunswick, P.E.I., or even Quebec or Ontario it's very, very expensive. The feds are going to have to step up to the plate." "

As reported on Facing Autism several times Andy Scott, with NDP MP Peter Stoffer, and other MP's, was ultimately successful in getting a National Autism Strategy motion passed in the House of Commons. That effort was important in obtaining recognition of the need for a national autism strategy but it did not provide what parents of autistic children were fighting for from BC to Nova Scotia: a federal commitment to provide Medicare funding for ABA which to date remains the only evidence based effective intervention for autism.

The federal government has done nothing, absolutely nothing, to address the real needs of autistic children, school kids with autism or adults with autism needing assistance in the workplace or needing residential care. The federal government has done nothing to help those adults with severe autism who need 24/7 residential care and treatment. The federal government has stayed outside the battle content to hide behind constitutional jurisdiction line while ignoring the challenges faced by autistic Canadians and their families.

The fight for a real National Autism Strategy, one that includes medicare coverage for autism treatment has been long and difficult. I have met David Marley on several occasions, and very much appreciate having David with his his commitment and determination in our corner.  The fight for a real National Autism Strategy, a strategy built on inclusion of evidence based ABA treatment for children with autism disorders in our national Medicare has not been easy.  It is not easy now and will not be easy in the future.  We need everyone to pull together and fight.  

The current government, despite having within its ranks Alberta MP Mike Lake, father of an autistic son, is ideologically opposed to taking positive steps to ensuring that all children with autism, not just those living in Alberta, receive treatment under Medicare.

The Toronto Star reports that children in Ontario wait up to 4 years for therapy: The Autism Project: Children face up to four-year wait for therapy.  The significance of a 4 year wait is that children in Ontario are not receiving treatment during the critically important early years of 2-5.  In Ontario, early intervention for autism is largely non existent. The most effective treatment for autism is not generally available in Ontario.

Canada's 1 in 88 autistic children are, for the most part, doomed to move through the critical early years without the medical intervention they need.  The fight for medicare coverage for autism must continue and we need strong leadership, strong advocates.  David Marley has been answering the bell in this fight for many years.  Join David Marley and the Medicare for Autism Now! team, join the political fight to help Canadians with autism disorder receive the effective, evidence based autism treatment.  

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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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Liberal and NDP Autism Advocates in Election 2011

Glenn Thibeault            Peter Stoffer           Ruby Dhalla           Brian Murphy

Although our federal government has done very little to help autistic Canadians receive effective evidence based early behavioural intervention, autism specific education and accommodation or decent residential care for autistic adults it is not for lack of trying by several members of parliament who are running again in Election 2011.   Peter Stoffer,  a Nova Scotia (Sackville-Eastern Shore) NDP candidate,  has been involved in national autism advocacy for many years and co-sponsored, with former Fredericton MP Andy Scott, a motion seeking to implement a national autism strategy.  Glenn Thibeault an NDP candidate from Sudbury Ontario also brought a private members motion in support of autism.  During debates in the House of Commons  both New Brunswick (Moncton)  Liberal candidate Brian Murphy and Ontario (Brampton-Springdale) Liberal candidate Ruby Dhalla gave strong speeches on behalf of autistic Canadians. 

This autism dad and advocate hopes that all of these strong autism advocates are re-elected on May 2. 

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Renewed Calls for a Real National Autism Strategy

Canada does not have a real national autism strategy but it is not for lack of trying by some dedicated federal politicians  including  Liberal  Senator Jim Munson and  NDP MPs Glenn Thibeault and Peter Stoffer who     have renewed calls for a real National Autism Strategy for Canada.

The struggle for a National Autism Strategy began many years ago including here in New Brunswick where Andy Scott issued a public call for a National Autism Strategy on October 18 2003:

""Fredericton MP Andy Scott said Saturday he has been lobbying prime- minister-to-be Paul Martin for a federal program to help young children with autism. "I desperately want a national autism strategy - and let me just assure you that Paul Martin knows it," Mr. Scott told supporters at a party celebrating his 10th anniversary as an MP in Fredericton Saturday evening.

Early work by therapists with young autistic children, Mr. Scott said, can make a big difference in their capacity to lead fulfilling lives as adults - and can save money in the long run. But the costs of starting such early intervention programs are high and should be borne directly by Ottawa rather than each individual province, he said. "We have responses and therapies and so on that I genuinely believe can work," he said. "You're going to save millions of dollars over the lifetime of an autistic adult. If you can get in at the front end, you can make enormous progress.

"But it's very expensive, and there's not a lot of stuff being added to Medicare, generally - that's why we have catastrophic drug problems and other things," he said. "In the province of New Brunswick, P.E.I., or even Quebec or Ontario it's very, very expensive. The feds are going to have to step up to the plate." "

Tali Folkins, Telegraph Journal, October 20, 2003

Mr. Scott was successful in getting a commitment by the federal government to a National Autism Strategy recognized in principle but the strategy at that time did not commit to the hard action necessary to provide assistance to all parts of Canada in providing early autism intervention programs.  Even the National Autism Symposium which came out of that commitment was a sham, pure and simple, a sham.  Public autism advocates, including me were excluded from the Symposium.  Those in attendance were all screened by federal health agency involved with organizing the event to ensure that they would go along with the government's do nothing to help autistic children agenda.

Senator Munson has been literally crossing the country for several years fighting for a real national autism strategy  and he has not given up on his efforts.  He organized and  spoke in Ottawa yesterday at an event to mark World Autism Awareness Day this Friday, April 2, 2010:

“There’s no reason why we cannot treat autism within our own communities equitably across the nation,” said event organizer Senator Jim Munson. “There is a crisis and I know that we can come up with a plan to deal with the issue that is so important to all of us.”

MetroNews.ca, Ottawa, March 31, 2010

The event was also co-hosted by  NDP MP's Glenn Thibeault and Peter Stoffer who spoke at the event.  Mr. Thibeault also  introduced a private member's bill, seconded by tireless autism advocate Peter Stoffer,  to create a real national autism strategy, one that would actually help autistic children and their families by having the federal government work with the provinces:

"“Autism doesn’t discriminate based on geography.  It’s time for federal leadership to ensure that no matter where a child is born with autism, they receive equal treatment and services of the highest caliber.”

Glenn Thibeault,  March 30 2010

“I’m very pleased that my colleague has done this.  We’ve been asking for many years for the federal government to work with the provinces to develop a national autism strategy. I hope this will become a reality in the near future.”

Peter Stoffer, March 30 2010

Senator Munson and MP's Thibeault and Stoffer have been fighting for a National Autism Strategy for several years.  

As World Autism Awareness Day approaches this "autism dad" says thank you.

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A REAL National Autism Strategy Request for Mr Ignatieff and Mr Layton

Dear Honourable Leaders, MP's and Senator Munson

I am the father of a 13 year old boy with Autistic Disorder, assessed with profound developmental delays living in Fredericton, New Brunswick. I have addressed this email correspondence to Mr Ignatieff and Mr Layton as the leaders of the two parties, Liberal and NDP, that have recognized the need for a real National Autism Strategy. I have also copied some of the members of both parties in the House, and Senator Munson, who have made outstanding individual efforts on behalf of autistic children and adults in Canada and who have fought for a real National Autism Strategy.

The motion by Mr. Stoffer and our former Fredericton MP Andy Scott achieved recognition by the House of Commons of the need for a National Autism Strategy. Unfortunately the private members bill brought by Mr. Shawn Murphy from PEI which would have done so much to ensure that autistic children across Canada have real access to evidence based autism interventions was defeated notwithstanding the solid support demonstrated by both of your parties. I humbly ask that both the Liberal and NDP parties not give up on autistic children and adults and continue the fight for a real National Autism Strategy one that would see a federal government commitment to funding evidence based autism interventions and decent residential care for all Canadians with Autism Spectrum Disorders regardless of their province of residence.

Canadians have moved from province to province seeking appropriate help, particularly Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), for their children. Gains have been made by provincial action across Canada but there are huge gaps in the services available. As a New Brunswicker I am proud of what our province has done with relatively limited resources to help autistic children but much more needs to be done here, particularly for autistic youths and adults in need of decent residential care. Even a family with two medical professionals left Nova Scotia to seek ABA help for their autistic child in Manitoba. In Ontario, where I visited in the spring of 2008 as part of a national autism advocacy tour organized by our good friends from FEAT BC, more autistic children are languishing on waiting lists than are actually receiving treatment.

I remind you of the well informed comments of Ms Dhalla when she spoke on behalf of the Liberal Party in the House of Commons, on October 27, 2006, in support of the Scott-Stoffer motion calling for a National Autism Strategy:

"We must make sure that regardless of where one lives in Canada, whether it is on the west coast, the east coast or in the Northwest Territories, all children who are affected by autism actually have the opportunity to receive the treatment they need throughout their lives until the age of 18.

I am sure this national strategy is going to ensure that we have the proper investment to do further research into whether there are other treatment options available and into how this type of condition can be prevented. We must invest in a comprehensive strategy to address this very complex disorder. (1420)

As I have mentioned, we know the cost is upwards of $70,000 per year, but we have to ensure we give the opportunity to these families so their children can obtain treatment and provide them with the quality of life they need. These families should be able to do this without having to mortgage their homes, or sell their cars, or go through those financial hardships. Many families that have been affected by autism simply cannot afford this treatment.?"

I ask that both the Liberal and NDP parties keep the need for a real National Autism Strategy in mind as you go forward and work toward a strategy which sees Canada invest in autistic children and adults regardless of their province or territory of residence. Canada is more than a place where one's health, one's quality of life depends entirely on jurisdictional boundaries. Our national health care scheme generally, which results in longer life expectancy and greater infant survival rates than that of our good neighbours to the south, is a testament to that fact.

Please do your best to ensure the enactment of a REAL National Autism Strategy for all autistic Canadians.

Respectfully,

Harold L Doherty
Fredericton, New Brunswick

autism

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National Autism Strategy Fredericton Flashback October 18, 2003

The struggle for a REAL National Autism Strategy has been waged for many years across Canada.

In Fredericton, New Brunswick representatives of a group called FACE, the Family Autism Centre for Education, met shortly after being formed, with Fredericton area MP Andy Scott to begin discussions about autism and ask for his assistance in seeking a national approach to dealing with Canada's autism crisis. I had the honor of being one of those early representatives meeting with "Andy" as he has been known here in Fredericton.

On October 18, 2003, at a high profile event at the Fredericton Farmer's Market which included guest speaker and former Premier Frank McKenna, amongst others, Andy Scott dedicated himself to pushing then Prime Minister Martin to implement a federal autism program as set out in this excerpt from a Tali Folkins article in the NB Telegraph-Journal, October 20, 2003:

"Fredericton MP Andy Scott said Saturday he has been lobbying prime- minister-to-be Paul Martin for a federal program to help young children with autism. "I desperately want a national autism strategy - and let me just assure you that Paul Martin knows it," Mr. Scott told supporters at a party celebrating his 10th anniversary as an MP in Fredericton Saturday evening.


Early work by therapists with young autistic children, Mr. Scott said, can make a big difference in their capacity to lead fulfilling lives as adults - and can save money in the long run. But the costs of starting such early intervention programs are high and should be borne directly by Ottawa rather than each individual province, he said. "We have responses and therapies and so on that I genuinely believe can work," he said. "You're going to save millions of dollars over the lifetime of an autistic adult. If you can get in at the front end, you can make enormous progress.


"But it's very expensive, and there's not a lot of stuff being added to Medicare, generally - that's why we have catastrophic drug problems and other things," he said. "In the province of New Brunswick, P.E.I., or even Quebec or Ontario it's very, very expensive. The feds are going to have to step up to the plate." "

Andy was ultimately successful, with NDP MP Peter Stoffer, in getting a motion passed, during the current reign of Prime Minister Harper, which acknowledges the need for a national autism strategy but it does not begin to address the funding issues needed to ensure access to effective evidence based interventions such as ABA for autistic children regardless of where they live in Canada. Nor is anything in place to address the needs of Canada's rapidly growing autistic adult population, including the need for multi-level residential care facilities for the more severely affected by autism disorders.

The fight for a National Autism Strategy in Canada has been ongoing for several years. Here in New Brunswick it long pre-dates Andy Scott's 2003 announcement. At present we have a mediocre web site, a sham National Autism Symposium with parent activists excluded and national health bureaucrats that dole out research funding to researchers who do little or nothing to help advance our knowledge of environmental causes of autism or possible treatments. And there is not even mention of the need to flow funds to ensure that autistic persons across Canada who need decent residential care receive it regardless of which province they live in.

It has been, and will continue to be, a long struggle but we must not quit. We must keep fighting. We have to keep fighting for a REAL National Autism Strategy for autistic Canadians.

autism

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Autism Action NOW! Contact Your MP to Support Bill C-360 An Act to amend the Canada Health Act (Autism Spectrum Disorder)

Contact your MP - TODAY - and urge him or her to support Bill c-360

An Act to amend the Canada Health Act (Autism Spectrum Disorder)

Canada, like the US and the UK, is experiencing a national autism crisis. In the UK the latest figures report that 1 in 60 children have, or will have, an autism spectrum diagnosis. In the US the figure is reported at 1 in 150. Both of these figures are shockingly higher than the 1 in 1000 figure that existed prior to the change in diagnostic criteria in the 1993-4 DSM revision period. Even since those revisions which do account for a significant increase the numbers have risen dramatically. It is long past time to stop pretending that we are not experiencing an autism epidemic.

Here in Canada it is long past time that we stopped pretending that we are not experiencing a national autism crisis with families relocating from province to province in search of funded effective ABA treatment for their children and ABA based education when they reach school age. This is not a partisan political issue. Both Liberal and Conservative governments have ignored the autism crisis in Canada. NOW is the time to do something about it. Andy Scott, Peter Stoffer, Shawn Murphy and Senator Jim Munson have been valiant advocates begging their political colleagues to take autism action. Now Glenn Thibeault, Sudbury NDP MP, has moved to introduce Bill C-360, an Act to amend the Canad Health Act (Autism Spectrum Disorder).

Canada's National Autism Crisis is a matter which ""goes beyond local or provincial concern or interests and must from its inherent nature be the concern of the Dominion as a whole" as the Privy Council said in upholding the POGG, Peace Order and Good Government, constitutional authority of the federal government to act to address national issues beyond the scope of the province's ability to address. The National Autism Crisis begs for a national solution. The Government of Canada has to stop ignoring this crisis.

Ask your MP to deal with Canada's National Autism Crisis and support Bill C-360. Your MP can be contacted via the link provided at this site:

http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?TimePeriod=Current&Language=E

.......................................................................................................................................................................

40th PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION
EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 040
Friday, April 3, 2009

Canada Health Act

Mr. Glenn Thibeault (Sudbury, NDP) moved for leave to introduce Bill C-360, An Act to amend the Canada Health Act (Autism Spectrum Disorder).

He said: Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the seconder of this bill, the hon. member for Nickel Belt.

I am pleased today to introduce this private member's bill, an act to amend the Canada Health Act, and to look at how we can include autism spectrum disorder in it.

Yesterday was World Autism Awareness Day. I still wear my awareness pin proudly. We as parliamentarians need to work together to provide individuals with ASD and their families with the right supports. IBI training is a step in the right direction, but we need a national strategy.
I look forward to the day when all parties can stand together and show our support for individuals and families dealing with autism.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)


SUMMARY

The purpose of this enactment is to ensure that the cost of Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) and Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) for autistic persons is covered by the health care insurance plan of every province.


BILL C-360
An Act to amend the Canada Health Act
(Autism Spectrum Disorder)

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

1. Section 2 of the Canada Health Act is renumbered as subsection 2(1) and is amended by adding the following:

(2) For the purposes of this Act, services that are medically necessary or required under this Act include Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) and Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) for persons suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder.


"Peace, Order and Good Government" (POGG)

In particular, the "national dimensions" (originally called "national concerns") doctrine was an alternate means of applying the POGG powers that found use in the mid 20th century. It allowed Parliament to legislate on matters that would normally fall to the provincial government when the issue became of such importance that it concerned the entire country.

The doctrine originated from a statement by Lord Watson in the Local Prohibition case, wherein he stated:

"Their Lordships do not doubt that some matters, in their origin local and provincial, might attain such dimensions as to affect the body politic of the Dominion, and to justify the Canadian Parliament in passing laws for their regulation or abolition in the interest of the Dominion".

After this case the doctrine was completely ignored until 1946 when Viscount Simons brought it back in the case of Ontario v. Canada Temperance Foundation, [1946] A.C. 193 (P.C.). The test as stated in Temperance Foundation was whether the matter "goes beyond local or provincial concern or interests and must from its inherent nature be the concern of the Dominion as a whole".

Find your M.P. at:

http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?TimePeriod=Current&Language=E


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An Open Autism Challenge To MP Mike Lake, Canada's Official Autism Dad

Mike Lake
Conservative Member of Parliament
Edmonton-Mill Woods-Beaumont

March 3, 2009

Mike Lake
Conservative Member of Parliament
Edmonton-Mill Woods-Beaumont

Dear Mr. Lake

I am the father of a 13 year old boy diagnosed with Autistic Disorder, assessed with profound developmental delays. I have in all candor been disappointed, very disappointed, with the positions you have taken in support of your party's refusal as Canada's governing party to take serious steps to address Canada's national autism crisis. I have read your statements in particular on treatment and funding of autism treatment for autism in Canada. I know that you do not need to be convinced of the benefits of ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) for the treatment of autism disorders. There have been several serious, credible reviews of the hundreds of studies which have examined the evidence basis in support of the effectiveness in treating autism. Apart from the ideological positions of a very small minority of professionals and autism advocates there has for some time been an overwhelming consensus endorsing ABA as an autism intervention. Yet you, as an autism father, and Member of Parliament, a member of the governing party in Canada, have taken no steps to ensure that funding mechanisms are put in place in conjunction with the federal and provincial governments to ensure provision of ABA for autistic children regardless of where their parents happen to live in Canada. I challenge you, as a fellow autism dad, one that has actually fought with some success to ensure the provision of autism services, to take steps while your party forms the government to ensure that all Canadian children with autism in need of ABA services are able to obtain them regardless of what province their parents live in.

As an autism advocate I have advocated with other parents for many years to obtain ABA interventions here in New Brunswick yet my name, although put forth, was twice rejected as a participant in the national autism symposium, along with many other serious parent autism advocates for ABA services for autistic children in Canada. You participated as a keynote speaker at that staged symposium. Although the symposium was obviously designed to cast doubt on the consensus of professional and parent support for ABA as an autism intervention the effort was undermined by the release just days prior to that event of the American Academy of Pediatrics Report, November 1, 2007, Management of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders which reviewed the professional literature and concluded much as the US Surgeon General, the New York State Department of Health, the MADSEC (Maine) Autism Task Force and the Association for Science in Autism Treatment that:

The effectiveness of ABA-based intervention in ASDs has been well documented through 5 decades of research by using single-subject methodology21,25,27,28 and in controlled studies of comprehensive early intensive behavioral intervention programs in university and community settings.29–40 Children who receive early intensive behavioral treatment have been shown to make substantial, sustained gains in IQ, language, academic performance, and adaptive behavior as well as some measures of social behavior, and their outcomes have been significantly better than those of children in control groups.31–4

American Academy of Pediatrics, Management of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Your party has used you, as an autism father, to help quiet the voices of those who were seeking to amend the Canada Health Act to ensure that all autistic children would be able to receive ABA intervention in Canada. You faithfully quoted the party line that this could not be done for legal and constitutional reasons. Fine. Leave that argument aside.

You also voted on December 5, 2006, along with your party, in support of Andy Scott's private members' motion M-172, seconded by Peter Stoffer which called for the development of a National Autism Strategy on the following terms:

“(a) the development, in cooperation with provincial/territorial governments, of evidence based standards for the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder; (b) the development, in cooperation with provincial governments, of innovative funding methods for the care of those with autism spectrum disorder; (c) consulting with provincial/territorial governments and other stakeholders on the requirements of implementing a national surveillance program for autism spectrum disorder; and (d) the provision of additional federal funding for health research into autism spectrum disorder.”

Your name was clearly recorded on the yea side right between MP's Kramp and Lapierre:

YEAS -- POUR
...

Khan
Komarnicki
Kramp (Prince Edward—Hastings)
Lake
Lapierre
Lauzon

While some money has been spent on research, with unknown objectives, no steps have been taken in 2 1/2 years to to develop, in cooperation with provincial and territorial governments, innovative funding methods for the care of those with autism spectrum disorder. In other words no steps have been taken to actually help autistic children and adults now living in Canada. Perhaps in 30 years the additional research dollars offered to Canadian researchers might play some role in offering some help to autistic persons not yet born. But here and now, in Canada nothing has been done by your government to help living autistic Canadians.

I know that you, as a Conservative MP from an Edmonton, Alberta riding have little to worry about politically. You could spend your time advocating for the protection of Bigfoot and other mythological creatures and still win landslide re-election for years to come. But I challenge you as an autism father who has actually advocated with some success for autism services for my son and other autistic children in New Brunswick, as one autism dad to another, to actually do something on behalf of Canada's autistic children and adults. You are a member of the governing Conservative Party. You have allowed your status as an autism parent to be used to support your government's refusal to act to include autism treatment in the Canada Health Act.

I ask simply that you use your standing in the party on autism issues to ensure that Prime Minister Harper and Health Minister Aglukkaq call a meeting of provincial health ministers to discuss funding of autism treatment and services for autistic children and adults living in Canada. This much you have already promised. This much you can do.

I challenge you as one "autism dad" to another, as one that has gotten some things done here in New Brunswick, to use your position in the governing party to actually do something for autistic Canadian children and adults.

Respectfully,


Harold L Doherty
Fredericton NB

cc. Facing Autism in New Brunswick

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Harold Doherty's Autism Advocacy Awards

#1 Autism Advocacy Award - Conor's Smile, Joy and Happiness

#2 Autism Advocacy Award - An ASNB Mug

Given To Me By Fellow Parents, Friends and Officers of the Autism Society of New Brunswick. The Mug was given to me a couple of years back and, like me, shows the wear and tear of time. The Hulk was a nickname given by former ASNB President Lila Barry, who has been a force for autism in New Brunswick. The picture is my "mug" superimposed on a target background.

#3 Loyal Order of the Flying Swine Award

I was one of the recipients of the Flying Swine Award handed out by Jean Lewis and David Marley. This award has been handed to few people but includes some very distinguished autism advocates including Jim Munson, Shawn Murphy, Andy Scott and peter Stoffer.

With these three awards I have been truly honored and will continue my autism advocacy efforts.

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October Is Autism Inaction Month In Canada

October is Autism Awareness Month in Canada. On the federal level though it would be more accurate to refer to October as Autism Inaction Month. Neither the Liberals, when they governed, nor the current Harper Conservative regime have taken any serious action to address Canada's Autism Crisis. With one in 150 Canadians and their family members affected by an autism spectrum disorder our federal government, despite its constitutional spending authority, does nothing of substance to provide evidence based treatment for autistic children.

The Harper government has established an autism web page. It also held a sham national "Autism Symposium" from which the voices of advocates for autism treatment for ALL autistic Canadians , regardless of province of residence, were excluded.

No real action is being taken. A federal election is now taking place. The NDP party leader Jack Layton reminds us all of the hard work for the autism cause of NDP MP Peter Stoffer, whose efforts are very much appreciated. But he makes no commitment to take action to address the autism crisis.

The Liberals have also had some strong autism advocates, Senator Jim Munson, and MP's Shawn Murphy and Andy Scott. Their efforts too are appreciated. But it is difficult to understand the Liberal party position on autism enunciated by Stephane Dion, He seems to be saying that, if elected, he might listen to the concerns of stakeholders and provinces. Whoop de doo.

In Canada, October is the month we should remind ourselves of all that our federal government is NOT doing to help persons with autism. And continue fighting on every level of government, including the federal level, to address Canada's autism crisis.

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On Autism Issues Illinois Governor Shames Canada's Party Leaders

There is a federal election underway in Canada but autistic children and adults and their families are not included. NONE of the leaders of Canada's federal parties will commit to taking any real action to help. Not one.

Conservative leader Stephen Harper and his party continue their longstanding and total neglect and lack of concern for autistic children and adults in Canada. NDP leader Jack Layton recounts the excellent work done by NDP MP Peter Stoffer, a true champion of autistic individuals and their families, but makes no commitment himself, or on behalf of his party, to help. Likewise Liberal leader Stephane Dion who actually voted for Liberal MP Shawn Murphy's unsuccessful motion to amend the Canada Health Act to provide ABA coverage for autism under Medicare has offered to talk to provinces and stakeholders to listen to their "concerns". Green Party leader Elizabeth May has, so far, been silent on autism issues.

In the US, by contrast, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich called lawmakers into special session to deal with a state Senate committee measure that seeks to require insurance companies to cover expanded treatment for autism, as reported in the Chicago Tribune:

It's the Senate's third attempt this year to approve the measure, which would require insurers to cover up to $36,000 a year and unlimited doctor visits until age 21 for people with autism spectrum disorders.

In Illinois Governor Blagojevich takes action to ensure funding for autism treatment. In Canada our federal leaders either ignore autism altogether or offer self congratulatory sermons with no commitment or action to back them up. I am sure Governor Blagojevich does not have Canada in mind with his determination to help autistic children and their families in Illinois but he does, by example, put our federal leaders to shame.

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NDP Leader Jack Layton's Response On Autism

The following document was forwarded by members of Medicare For Autism Now who received it from the New Democratic Party on behalf of NDP leader Jack Layton:

Jack's Response on Autism

First, both NDP MP Peter Stoffer and myself have challenged the federal government for not providing funding in its last budget to help families with autistic children. I fully recognize that families with autistic children are in crying need of support and they are very disappointed that the Conservative government has ignored their needs in their budget spending.

On the matter of voting, in the April 3, 2006 to September 14 ,2007 session of parliament MP Shawn Murphy introduced his private members legislation Bill C-304, An Act to provide for the development of a national strategy for the treatment of autism and to amend the Canada Health Act. C-304 received first reading on May 17, 2006 but unfortunately it did not make it to third reading or a final vote because it died when the Harper government chose to prorogue that Parliament. I am also aware that on March 29, 2007, the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs issued a report on the Funding of Treatment for Autism titled:" Pay Now or Pay Later: Autism Families in Crisis" in which they recommended that the federal government demonstrate some leadership in the autism file by collaborating with the provinces to create a National Autism Strategy and address the funding of treatment. However, this report was not put before parliament for a vote.

New Democrats recognize that providing support for families with Autistic children has to be a bigger priority for the federal government than another corporate tax cut. That is why Peter Stoffer has introduced Private Members' Bills, C-211, An Act to amend the Canada Health Act (Autism Spectrum Disorder) to "ensure that the cost of Applied Behavioural Analysis ( ABA) and Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) for autistic persons is covered by the health care Insurance plan of every province" and C -212, An Act respecting a Canadian Autism Day. ' The federal NDP is proud of Mr Stoffer's efforts to help put the needs of Autistic children on the political map.

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Autism and the NDP

Hon. Jack Layton
221 Broadview Avenue , Suite 100 (Main Office)
Toronto, Ontario

Dear Mr. Layton

When my son was diagnosed with an autism disorder 10 years ago the
Center for Disease Control in the United States estimated that 1 in 500 persons would be diagnosed with an autism disorder. For the past two years the CDC has estimated that 1 in 150 people are on the autism
spectrum of disorders.

During those ten years, like many other parents, I have advocated for a serious national response to Canada's autism crisis. While some argue academically whether there is a crisis most parents do not. We see the realities of autism every single day. We find great joy in our children but we know that unless a serious national strategy is forged our children's chances for a fulfilling life will be at risk.

To date the federal government response to the autism crisis has been either non-existent or contemptuous of the challenges facing autistic Canadians and those who love and care for them. Charlottetown MP Shawn Murphy proposed a serious national autism strategy, one which would include amendment of the Canada Health Act to require funding of ABA treatment for autism. Peter Stoffer of the NDP was an important supporter of Mr. Murphy's motion. Mr.Stoffer has been a strong advocate for the cause of autistic people in Canada for many years and his hard work is much appreciated.

I ask you Mr. Layton whether the NDP, whatever the outcome of the impending vote, will seek amendment of the Canada Health Act to include coverage of ABA treatment for autism. I would appreciate your informed response. My autistic son would appreciate your response.

Respectfully,


Harold L Doherty
Fredericton NB

cc. Facing Autism in New Brunswick

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Medicare for Autism NOW! in Oakville, Organizing and Sending A Message

It was a warm sunny day in Oakville yesterday as the Medicare for Autism NOW! team gathered at the Iroquois Ridge Community Centre to meet families in the communities west of Toronto, to organize and to send a message to ALL federal politicians: Canadians are suffering from a NATIONAL autism crisis. Some autistic children, depending on where they live, receive NO treatment for autism. The lack of treatment prevents some autistic children from living a full life and imposes emotional and financial hardship on family members.

Many of us have talked about a National Autism Strategy to address Canada's national autism crisis for years. Some politicians of character and conscience, people like Senator Jim Munson and MPs Andy Scott, Peter Stoffer and Shawn Murphy have actively campaigned for a National Autism Strategy. Stephen Harper, alleged Health Minister Tony Clement and Conservative MP and autism father Mike Lake on the other hand have largely mocked the efforts for a national autism strategy. Aided and abetted by Dr. Rémi Quirion and the CIHR the national autism strategy has been reduced to a less than mediocre web site and a secretive, politicized and staged National Autism Symposium that resulted in absolutely NO autism information being disseminated to Canadians.

Yesterday I had the privilege of speaking at the Oakville rally along with Jean Lewis who has led litigation and political autism battles in British Columbia and experienced political organizer David Marley. We were joined by Jennifer O'Brien from Oakville, autism winter trek hero Stefan Marinoiu from Toronto, Barry Hudson from Toronto and constitutional lawyer Deborah Coyne from Toronto. Medicare for Autism NOW! is national in scope. We are organizing coast to coast and we have a message for federal politicians of all stripes. Something must be done NOW. We need Medicare for Autism NOW. David Marley, show in the bottom picture below has prepared a strategy. A number of ridings that were decided by 2% or less in the last election will be targeted for election action by the Medicare for Autism NOW team. We will be making an impact in those ridings on behalf of the candidates, whatever their political stripe, who support Medicare for Autism NOW. David Marley is also organizing of team of people with political organizing skills and experience to help get our message across effectively.

One of the key ridings will be the Parry Sound Muskoka riding of Alleged Health Minister Tony Clement. Mr. Clement won by one of the smallest margins of any MP in Canada in the last election. Stefan Marinoiu, David Marley and Jean Lewis toured the riding this week and apparently there is already, for various reasons. substantial dissatisfaction with Mr Clement amongst his riding constituents who were also very supportive of the Medicare for Autism effort. Medicare for Autism NOW! will be active in the riding of alleged Health Minister Clement to remind constituents of Mr Clements refusal to help autistic Canadians and their families.

Iroquois Ridge Community Centre in Oakville

Jennifer O'Brien

Jean Lewis

Stefan Marinoiu

Deborah Coyne

Barry Hudson

David Marley

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Another Autism Year Over and What Have We Done?

So this is Christmas
And what have you done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun

John Lennon, Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

A year can mean a lot in the lives of children with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. On December 5 2006 the Canadian House of Commons passed a private members' motion, M-172, put forward by MP's Andy Scott and Peter Stoffer. Since then the government has done precious little to achieve the goals set out in the motion:

Motion M-172, as passed by the House of Commons on Tuesday, December 5, 2006.

That, in the opinion of the House, the government should create a national strategy for autism spectrum disorder that would include:

a) the development, in cooperation with provincial/territorial  governments, of evidence based standards for the diagnosis and
treatment of autism spectrum disorder;

b) development, in cooperation with provincial governments, of innovative funding methods for the care of those with autism spectrum
disorder;

(c) consulting with provincial/territorial governments and other stakeholders on the requirements of implementing a national
surveillance program for autism spectrum disorders; and

(d) the provision of additional federal funding for health research
into autism spectrum disorder.

Since December 5 2006 little has been done to achieve the goals set out in M-172. Time was squandered on a secretive autism symposium that was NOT an exercise in community building.

The items requiring consultation and cooperation with provincial government, in particular the development of innovative funding methods for the care of those with autism spectrum disorder did not happen. Or at least it did not happen with any public participation or awareness.

Canada, under the government of Stephen Harper, another autism year over and not much has been done.

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Canada's Autism Disgrace

What is Canada's National Autism Strategy? The answer is simple; we don't have one. And as long as Stephen Harper's Reform-Alliance-Conservative government rules Canada with an iron fist we will not have a National Autism Strategy. My friends of Conservative background in Canada may not like it but that is the hard brutal truth. Canada will not have a real National Autism Strategy as long as Stephen Harper is Prime Minister of Canada.

We certainly had the beginnings of a National Autism Strategy with the passing of the Andy Scott-Peter Stoffer motion in the House of Commons. And MP Shawn Murphy fought the good fight with his private member's initiative; defeated in the House of Commons by the alliance between the Harper Conservatives and the separatist Bloc Quebecois. Senator Jim Munson has continued his valiant efforts to keep the need to address Canada's national autism crisis alive in the media but even those efforts are becoming more challenging as the Harper-Clement team simply ignores these initiatives, ignores the needs of autistic children and adults in Canada, and proves day in and day out that they don't give a damn about the fate of autistic Canadians.

The National Autism Strategy of Prime Minister Harper really amounted to nothing but a mediocre web site and a promise of a National Autism Symposium. The National Autism Symposium was postponed when it became clear that real autism advocates, parents fighting for their autistic children, wanted to attend the symposium. A second symposium was scheduled for November 8 and 9 in Toronto. The invitation process was itself secretive, parents were largely unrepresented and any outspoken advocates were intentionally excluded from the Symposium.

The lists of speakers and symposium themes were never made public. The list of Harper government, hand picked delegates, to the symposium was never made public although it is a good bet that anti-ABA activists like Michelle Dawson and Laurent Mottron would have been invited. The Quirks and Quarks duo rarely miss an opportunity to promote their fringe anti-ABA views, contrary to hundreds of studies over 5 decades and numerous reviews of those studies by organizations such as the US Office of the Surgeon General and the American Academy of Pediatrics, that ABA is a scientifically supported, evidence based, effective treatment for autism. Their long held, closed minded views, so at odds with mainstream professional opinion, come in handy when needed by a government seeking excuses to camouflage their do nothing approach to addressing Canada's National Crisis. Just a guess, but I am betting that the Harper team was quite happy to invite Mottron and Dawson to the invisible, forgotten, National Autism Symposium.

The Autism Symposium went ahead on November 8 and 9 in Toronto and Canadians STILL don't know a thing about what was said; or what conclusions, if any, were reached. It is likely though that the Harper spin doctors will ultimately issue a summary indicating that there is lack of agreement on issues on the effectiveness of any one intervention in treating autism. The results of hundreds of studies over five decades of research, the reviews by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Office of the US Surgeon General, the MADSEC Administrators, the New York and California state agencies, the Association for Science in Autism Treatment; all will be ignored.

The views of a few fringe anti-ABA activists will be used to prop up a cynical do nothing Harper autism policy. And Canada's National Autism Strategy will remain as nothing more than what it now is - Canada's Autism Disgrace.

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Autism Dad Kavchak Asks Canadian Health Minister For REAL Autism Action

For several years Andrew Kavchak, parent of an autistic child/child with autism, has campaigned relentlessly for a National Autism Strategy. As the father of an autistic child Mr. Kavchak understands the need for a National effort to address Canada's autism crisis.

While movement appeared headed in that direction last year with the passage of the Andy Scott/Peter Stoffer private member's motion and the debate on Shawn Murphy's initiative, the momentum toward a National Autism Strategy has been stopped cold, as intended, by the neo-conservative ideology of the Harper government and Health Minister Tony Clement.

In his polite letter to Health Minister Clement Andrew Kavchak draws on the example of our American neighbors to try and kick start the Harper government's feeble National Autism Strategy.

Good luck Andrew. You will need it, or a change of government, to revive any prospect of a real National Autism Strategy in Canada.

......................................................

Hello Minister Clement,

Please see the information below from the US government about its latest initiative in dealing with the autism crisis.

Is there any chance that the Canadian federal government might take any similar action in recognizing the need for some federal leadership in developing a national autism strategy?

You may recall that exactly a year ago the House of Commons voted in favour of a motion that called for the creation of a National Autism Strategy. The proposed strategy had four components...three of which involved consultation and cooperation with the provinces. Under your watch, no consultation or cooperation has happened so far...at least, none that is known to the community. Perhaps the creation of such a "new interagency autism coordinating committee" could prove useful in turning the empty words of the motion into meaningful reality and provide some hope for the community?

Andrew Kavchak
Ottawa, ON
__

HHS Secretary Leavitt Announces Members of the New Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- HHS Secretary Mike
Leavitt announced today the members appointed to the Department of Health
and Human Services' new Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee. This
committee coordinates efforts within the department to combat autism
spectrum disorder through research, screening, intervention, and education.
The committee will facilitate the efficient and effective exchange of
information on autism activities among member agencies, and coordinate
autism-related programs and initiatives.

"This important committee will play a key role in coordinating autism
research, services, and education related to autism spectrum disorder,"
Secretary Leavitt said. "I'm pleased that its members bring to the
committee a wide range and great depth of expertise, including research and
program administration, advocacy and personal experience with the
condition."

Authorized under the Combating Autism Act of 2006, the Interagency
Autism Coordinating Committee advises the HHS Secretary and the Director of
the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Secretary Leavitt delegated the
authority to establish the committee to the NIH, which designated its
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to lead this activity.

The committee chair is Thomas R. Insel, M.D., director of NIMH.

"The committee's first priority will be to develop a strategic plan for
autism research that can guide public and private investments to make the
greatest difference for families struggling with autism," Dr. Insel said.

HHS is active in fostering research and making the results available to
aid people with autism.

Among the activities:

NIH funding and expertise support the Autism Centers of Excellence
program, which the agency launched after the Combating Autism Act was
passed, to seek the causes of autism and new treatments for the disorder.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) supports a
multi-state collaborative study to help identify factors that put children
at risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and other developmental
disabilities. The five-year study, called SEED (Study to Explore Early
Development), is currently enrolling participants.

CDC has reported findings from the first and largest summary of autism
prevalence data from multiple U.S. communities. These findings, which found
autism spectrum disorders in approximately one in 150 children in these
communities, was reported by the Autism and Development Disabilities
Monitoring Network, which was designed to provide more consistent and
reliable estimates.

Federal members of the new panel:

Duane Alexander, M.D., is director of the National Institute of Child
Health and Human Development at NIH. The Institute supports research on all
stages of human development, from preconception to adulthood, to better
understand the health of children, adults, families, and communities.

James Battey, M.D., Ph.D., is director of the National Institute on
Deafness and Other Communications Disorders at NIH. The Institute supports
biomedical and behavioral research and research training in the normal and
disordered processes of hearing, balance, smell, taste, voice, speech, and
language.

Ellen Blackwell, M.S.W., is a health insurance specialist of the
Division of Community and Institutional Services, Disabled and Elderly
Health Programs Group, Center for Medicaid and State Operations, Centers
for Medicare and Medicaid Services where she serves as an expert on
policies that affect individuals with autism spectrum disorders.

Margaret Giannini, M.D., F.A.A.P., is director of the HHS Office on
Disability. Dr. Giannini serves as advisor to the Secretary on HHS
activities relating to disabilities. She is also a member of the Institute
of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences and fellow of the American
Academy of Pediatrics.

Gail Houle, Ph.D., is associate division director of the
Research-to-Practice Division, Early Childhood Programs, Office of Special
Education Programs, Department of Education where she oversees programs for
children with disabilities and their families funded through the Individual
with Disabilities Education Act. Her expertise focuses on services for
children with autism spectrum disorders.

Larke Huang, Ph.D., is senior advisor on children and a licensed
clinical-community psychologist who provides leadership on federal national
policy pertaining to mental health and substance use issues for children,
adolescents and families for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration.

Thomas Insel, M.D., is director of the National Institute of Mental
Health at NIH. The Institute's mission is to reduce the burden of mental
illness and behavioral disorders through research on mind, brain, and
behavior.

Story Landis, Ph.D., is director of the National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke at NIH. The Institute's focus is directed
toward reducing the burden of neurological disease through research on the
normal and diseased nervous system.

Cindy Lawler, Ph.D., is scientific program director of the Cellular,
Organs, and Systems Pathobiology Branch, Division of Extramural Research
and Training, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences at NIH.
The Branch plans, directs, and evaluates the Institute's grant program that
supports research and research training in environmental health.

Patricia Morrissey, Ph.D., is commissioner of the Administration on
Developmental Disabilities at the Administration for Children and Families,
which seeks to improve services to and assure that individuals with
developmental disabilities have opportunities to make their own choices,
contribute to society, have supports to live independently, and are free of
abuse, neglect, financial and sexual exploitation, and violations of their
legal and human rights.

Edwin Trevathan, M.D., M.P.H., is director of the National Center on
Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD) at CDC. NCBDDD is
focused on identifying the causes of and preventing birth defects and
developmental disabilities, helping children to develop and reach their
full potential, and promoting health and well-being among people of all
ages with disabilities. Dr. Trevathan is representing Julie Gerberding,
M.D., M.P.H., director of the CDC, on the committee.

Peter van Dyck, M.D., M.P.H., is associate administrator of Maternal
and Child Health at the Health Resources and Services Administration
(HRSA). Dr. van Dyck oversees HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Bureau,
which seeks to improve the health of mothers, children, and families,
particularly those who are poor or lack access to care.

Elias Zerhouni, M.D., is director of the National Institutes of Health.
A world renowned leader in the field of radiology and medicine, Dr.
Zerhouni has spent his career providing clinical, scientific, and
administrative leadership. He leads the nation's medical research agency
and oversees the NIH's 27 Institutes and Centers with more than 18,000
employees.

Non-federal members:

Lee Grossman is president and CEO of Autism Society of America (ASA)
and the parent of a young adult son with autism. Mr. Grossman is also the
chair of the ASA Foundation and a member of the ASA Environmental Health
Advisory Board.

Yvette Janvier, M.D., is the medical director for Children's
Specialized Hospital in New Jersey. Dr. Janvier is also a clinical
assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Robert Wood Johnson
Medical School. Her specialties are autism and developmental and behavioral
pediatrics. Dr. Janvier is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Christine McKee, J.D., has developed and manages an in-home therapy for
her autistic child, creating and/or assembling all of the therapy related
materials. Ms. McKee participates in monthly consultations with a Board
Certified Behavior Analyst/Speech Pathologist. She applies the therapeutic
measures in her daily parenting and childcare routines.

Lyn Redwood, RN, MSN, is co-founder and president of the Coalition for
Safe Minds. Ms. Redwood is also on the board of the National Autism
Association. She became involved in autism research when her son was
diagnosed with pervasive development disorder in 1999. She is a nurse
practitioner with 25 years of experience.

Stephen Shore, Ed.D., is executive director of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Consulting. Drawing on his experiences as an individual with an autism
spectrum disorders diagnosis, Dr. Shore presents and consults
internationally on adult issues pertinent to education, relationships,
employment, advocacy, and disclosure. He also serves on the board of the
Autism Society of America, as board president of the Asperger's Association
of New England, and is on the board of directors for Unlocking Autism, the
Autism Services Association of Massachusetts, MAAP Services, The College
Internship Program, and the KEEN Foundation.

Alison Tepper Singer, MBA, is executive vice president of Autism Speaks
and is a member of the board of directors. Prior to joining Autism Speaks,
Ms. Singer spent 14 years at CNBC and NBC where she served in several
positions. She has both a daughter and an older brother with autism, giving
her long-term, personal experience with the disorder.

The following Web page provides links to additional information on the
Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, including information about
upcoming meetings and highlights from meetings of the prior committee:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/research-funding/scientific-meetings/recurring-meet
ings/iacc/index.shtml

NIMH's mission is to reduce the burden of mental and behavioral
disorders through research on mind, brain, and behavior. More information
is available at the NIMH Web site, http://www.nimh.nih.gov.

NIH -- The Nation's Medical Research Agency -- includes 27 Institutes
and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting
basic, clinical and translational medical research, and it investigates the
causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more
information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov.

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