Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder Online Petition

To all Canadians, if you have not already done so, I urge you to visit and sign the Autism Spectrum Disorders Online petition at:

http://www.petitiononline.com/andap1/

You will need a Canadian address, including postal code, in order to sign the petition. The petition states:

"Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)"

To: Canadian Parliament (House of Commons)

PETITION: TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED

We, the undersigned citizens of Canada, draw the attention of the House to the following:

Whereas children suffering from an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are among the weakest and most vulnerable sector of Canadian society;

and whereas, in Canada the rate of children being diagnosed with ASD is high and increasing at an alarming rate (currently approximately 1 child in 195);

and whereas, until the cause and cure of autism are found, children suffering from autism can benefit from the provision of Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) therapy treatment based on the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA);

and whereas, for a variety of reasons including lack of assigned resources, unconscionable waiting lists, and delegation to Ministries with little or no expertise, the provision of IBI/ABA therapy treatment to children with autism is woefully inadequate;

Therefore, your petitioners call upon Parliament to

1) amend the Canada Health Act and corresponding Regulations to include IBI/ABA therapy for children with autism as a medically necessary treatment and require that all Provinces provide or fund this essential treatment for autism; and

2) contribute to the creation of academic chairs at a university in each province to teach IBI/ABA treatment at the undergraduate and doctoral level so that Canadians professionals will no longer be forced to leave the country to receive academic training in this field and so that Canada will be able to develop the capacity to provide every Canadian with autism with the best IBI/ABA treatment available.

Sincerely,

I signed the petition yesterday (signature #6287). This is a quick easy way to remind our federal politicians that the health care that is so important for all Canadians should include autistic Canadians and treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Harold L Doherty

autism

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Professor Pushes Prozac for Autistic Children in the UK

Professor Eric Hollander, chairman of psychiatry at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, is recommending that more doctors in the UK consider prescribing drugs known as SSRI's, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, including fluoxetine, or Prozac, for autistic children as part of an overall treatment program.

The SSRIs are aimed at reducing anxiety and disruptive behaviors. The article Autistic children 'should be given Prozac to control their symptoms at Checkbiotech.org appears to reference Dr. Hollander as stating that 37% of children in the US are currently taking SSRIs; many more than in the UK. Dr. Hollander claims that clinical trials with autistic children at low doses have shown improvements such as "fewer "endless ritual" behaviours, less anxiety and better social interaction" Recruitment of children for a "phase three" clinical trial is currently under way.

With respect to potential conflicts of interest the Checkbiotech article notes that in 2006, Neuropharm acquired the rights to develop fluoxetine for use in autism from the Mount SinaiSchool and that Professor Hollander is a consultant to the company.

I am not opposed to the use of medications in treating autism or symptoms of autism although we have never resorted to their use for Conor. I do believe that considerable care and caution must be exercised before their use. There is little discussion in the Checkbiotech article of possible negative effects of Prozac and other SSRI's on autistic children. The popular media and internet are full of articles alleging serious harmful side effects of Prozac. As a matter of intuition, and based on my son's own sensitivity to various environmental elements, I suspect that autistic children may be more vulnerable to any side effects that may be presented by Prozac and other SSRI use.

I also find it a little curious that a consultant for the company developing Prozac for use with autistic children is recommending greater use of Prozac for autistic children in the UK. This push is being made before completion of clinical trials. It is being pushed before assessment of the trial results by independent objective experts. How does Professor Hollander know that such products are effective and safe for autistic children before the studies are complete?

autism

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Dear Health Minister Clement: Re Autism Gold Standard Intervention

October 31, 2007

Honourable Tony Clement
Minister of Health (Canada)

Dear Honourable Minister

Recently your government filed its response to the Senate's "Pay Now Or Pay Later" report on autism services and funding in Canada. As the parent of a profoundly autistic 11 1/2 year old boy I have been active in autism advocacy in my province for the past 9 years. I was disappointed, extremely disappointed, with your government's weak response to an issue which now is estimated to directly affect 1 in 150 Canadians and their families.

In particular I found objectionable your government's stated position that there is no consensus on a gold standard of treatment for autism. That position is simply inconsistent with the professional literature as I understand it, admittedly from the perspective of a mere parent. State and federal agencies in the United States over the past decade from Maine to New York to California have routinely described ABA, Applied Behavior Analysis, as an evidence based effective intervention for autistic children; the only intervention to be accorded that level of recognition of its efficacy.

This week the American Academy of Pediatrics released two autism reports one dealing with, and setting out recommendations concerning the need for very early diagnosis of autism disorders in children. The other report included a review of the professional literature on autism interventions. In Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders the AAP stated with respect to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) :

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

With all respect Honourable Minister, the position that there is no Gold Standard treatment or intervention for autism, is not in the language of the legal profession of which I am a member, "credible". I ask you to reconsider this stand by your government. I also ask you to look past the strict interpretation of Canadian constitutional jurisdiction over health matters on which your government and Mr. Duceppe's Bloc Quebecois relies in opposing federally funded ABA treatment for autism. Cooperative federalism has worked well in many instances in this country and to my knowledge is not inconsistent with the ultimate separatist aims of Mr. Duceppe's party. Before his party achieves full sovereignty autistic children will be growing older and needing ABA services in Quebec where autistic children despite claims of "we do it differently" are also badly in need of funded ABA services.

I ask you to put aside petty politics and help autistic children wherever they reside in Canada. Put the ideology and rhetoric in a drawer for safe keeping and help autistic children with some of the multi billion dollar federal surplus. Help autistic children now. Tomorrow is too late.

Harold L Doherty
Fredericton NB

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