My son Conor Doherty wearing his Adult Autism Center T-Shirt before a visit to the NB Legislature in May of 2015. So far no one in government has taken action to prevent my son and others with severe autism and related conditions from being sent far from family to live in the Regional Psychiatric Hospital in Campbellton in MLA Donald Arsneault's riding on the Quebec NB border. They have ignored these harsh realities and cause actual harm to many autistic adults and their families. Meanwhile they ignore the successes in early autism training at UNB-CEL, early autism intervention developed at UNB in Fredericton and the consultation services at the Stan Cassidy Centre in Fredericton. They also ignore the sound advice of recognized experts like Paul McDonnell. The only obvious explanation that I can think of, which I do not suggest constitutes proof, but I can think of nothing else to explain such intransigent non action and cruelty, is political interests, promotion of riding interests over the best interests of NB's autistic adult population, particularly those with severe autism disorders who will be ripped apart from families to serve political interests.
Proof? No I have none. I just have no other better explanation.
Humane Professional Adult Autism Care is on my mind as it has been for many years prior to the statement by Professor Emeritus (Psychology)/Clinical Psychologist/NB Autism Expert Paul McDonnell in a CBC interview 6+ years ago:
"Paul McDonnell, September, 2010
"Our greatest need at present is to develop services for adolescents and adults. What is needed is a range of residential and non-residential services and these services need to be staffed with behaviourally trained supervisors and therapists. In the past we have had the sad spectacle of individuals with autism being sent off to institutional settings such as the Campbellton psychiatric hospital, hospital wards, prisons, and even out of the country at enormous expense and without any gains to the individual, the family or the community.
We need an enhanced group home system throughout the province in which homes would be linked directly to a major centre that could provide ongoing training, leadership and supervision. That major centre could also provide services for those who are mildly affected as well as permanent residential care and treatment for the most severely affected. Such a secure centre would not be based on a traditional "hospital" model but should, itself, be integrated into the community in a dynamic manner, possibly as part of a private residential development. The focus must be on education, positive living experiences, and individualized curricula. The key to success is properly trained professionals and staff."
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