Time to re-locate the NB Legislature from Fredericton to Campbellton ?

True Fredericton is a more central location and is much closer to the bulk of NB's population and probably pays less in MLA and Leg staff expenses as a result but to quote former Restigouche MLA Donald Arseneault and current Fredericton North MLA Stephen Horsman "the people in the north have to travel south" .... I learned this shocking reality when I met with our Fredericton North MLA Stephen Horsman on behalf of my son with severe autism disorder, ID and epilepsy, he being one of Mr. Horsman's constituents, requesting that his Liberal government close the Restigouche Psychiatic Hospital autism unit and move towards building an Autism Centre in Fredericton for adults (in close proximity to UNB' and UNB-CEL's world recognized autism expertise and as a centre for autism care facilities in communities around the province (see Paul McDonnell, 2015 Autism Villlage). He refused to consider my request and read from a peace of paper "the people in the North have to travel south). I learned later that the statement was actually the mantra of Restigouche MLA Arseneault informed by a Fredericton area MP that it was stated often in the NB Leg by Mr Arseneault. 

The Progressive Conservative/Peoples Aliance party under Mr. Higgs and Mr. Austin also appear to be OK with exiling NBers with severe autism disorders to Campbellton... If banishing NB adults with severe autism challenges to Campbellton far from from Fredericton autism expertise and as far as possible from the vast bulk of the population in their families in the south why not punish er uh ... help the MLAs by relocating the legislature in Campbellton? Out of sight out of mind just like NB adults with severe Autism disorders?

Close the Restigouche Psychiatric Hospital NOW!

Close the Restigouche and Ignore the  "Weber" Report.

The Restigouche Psychiatric Hospital has been developed as a tool for economic development over the protests of the Autism Society New Brunswick, parent autism advocates and UNB Professor Emeritus (Paul McDonnell) for over 15 years. It lacks the Psychiatric Expertise of Moncton and the Autism Expertise of Fredericton. In Campbellton with a declining population (11,000 to 6000) It is as far as possible from the large population in South NB -  Fredericton, Moncton, Woodstock and Saint John and its abuse and failure to protect has been recently documented by the Ombud Report "Failure to Protect".

The Resitigouche PH  is a clear contravention of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to which Canada is a signatory. yet the Weber Report not released to the general public was tasked with finding ways to keep it.

Close the Restigouche PH and Close it NOW!

Inclusion Conor Style

Inclusion Conor Style - One of my favorite school pictures of Conor - picking apples. He was not happy in the allegedly "Inclusive" classroom where he was overwhelmed and bit his hands daily. He was accommodated & moved to a separate, quieter area with an ABA/autism trained aide & the biting stopped. Conor participated in many activities with other students, including this apple picking fun, over the years and loved school until aged out at 21. He was not stigmatized he was accommodated.

Andy Scott, Peter Stoffer, Shawn Murphy, Jim Munson 4 strong voices for a National Autism Strategy

Strong Voices for a National Autism Strategy

Shawn Murphy, Jim Munson, Andy Scott above 

and Peter Stoffer Below photos by 

 Harold L Doherty, Halifax 2007 

Current Petition for a National Autism Strategy  

https://petitions.ourcommons.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-2138&fbclid=IwAR0pBE0EAuBUkEcW92BU3H9Xy6nwWduLTo_4ksrWVVSMrOMMDwbvSzZ7qWo

In 2003  Andy Scott, made a public  call for  a National Autism Strategy at a tribute to his 10 years of service as an MP at the Boyce Famers' Market, an event I attended and reported on to the members of the Family Autism Centre for Education (FACE):

"October 19 2003

Hello everyone:

Some good news for those interested in autism issues emerged last night  at the Boyce Farmers' Market in Fredericton New Brunswick as Frederictonian's gathered to pay tribute to MP Andy Scott's  10 years of service as an MP on behalf of Frederictonians and as an advocate for human rights, services for the disabled, and cultural harmony. Andy announced that he would be meeting with Paul Martin in the hopes of pursuing a national Autism strategy. Although health care is primarily within provincial juridiction some health issues, such as breast cancer, HIV, etc. have been approached on a national level because of the magnitude of the issues involved.  While we have all heard political promises in the past,  Andy Scott has a proven track record of commitment to, and follow through on, disabilities and human rights issues.  Great news.

Harold Doherty

Family Autism Centre for Education (FACE)"

Andy's comments at the Boyce Farmers' Market were also featured in a 2003 Telegraph Journal article by Tali Folkins:

"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 did answer the call on behalf of autistic Canadians and  actively pushed for a National Autism Strategy which he ultimately realized with the passage of Motion M-172.  However, the motion was essentially a commitment in principle with few obligations being undertaken by our federal government but it did help put autism on our national agenda and it was Andy Scott being Andy ... getting done what could get done ... with a view to moving forward further in future.  One of the specific items that the federal government did commit to in the motion was a national surveillance program, a program that would tell us how many Canadians now suffer from autism disorders.  It is a commitment that has still not been honored 8 years later. 

Andy Scott himself did continue the fight   as demonstrated in his June 5, 2007 statement in the House of Commons:

"Autism 

[Table of Contents]

Hon. Andy Scott (Fredericton, Lib.):

Mr. Speaker, it is regrettable that we have seen little action by the government toward implementing a national autism strategy.

It has been more than a year since I introduced Motion No. 172. My private member's motion called for evidence based standards, innovative funding arrangements for diagnosis, treatment and research, and a national surveillance program.

The motion was adopted in good faith and supported by the government. However, it was very disappointing to see no reference to a national autism strategy in the recent budget or any discussion this spring.

Recently, I joined my colleagues from Charlottetown and Sackville—Eastern Shore and Senator Munson at a rally in Halifax that reinforced that there are families with autistic children across Canada who need the government's help.

The Conservatives should move off their default position of jurisdictional excuses, show creativity and compassion and start helping these Canadians."

Andy Scott's reference to his colleagues from Charlottetown and Sackville-Eastern Shore were  references to PEI's Shawn Murphy and Nova Scotia's Peter Stoffer both of whom, along with Andy Scott and Senator Jim Munson, also worked tirelessly toward achieving a National Autism Strategy. 

It is Time to Act!

New Brunswick's Shameful Treatment of Vicki's Autistic Son

New Brunswick's Shameful Treatment of Vickie's Autistic Son

By Vickie Carter:
""Hello everyone. As you all know the needs of adults with Autism are not being met in the province of New Brunswick. I did not know how dire the situation was until going through a horrible event this week with my 23yr old son.

His is diagnosed with Pervasive Development Disorder Not Not Otherwise Specified. He has been residing in a level 4 home since September of 2018. He has been struggling with instability on his meds for the past few weeks and was taken to the Moncton Hospital for treatment on Sunday evening by the RCMP. He was kept in emergency until 6:45 Monday morning when he was released to the street in his PJ's, sneakers and a light coat in the dark and rain. No one from emergency contacted his care home or me prior to his release. He walked about 1.5 miles to my home and luckily I had not left for work yet and was able to receive him and keep him for the day. We returned to his care home that evening and he again became aggressive and the RCMP were called again to find him as he had run away from the home and to return him once again to the Moncton Hospital for treatment. The ER doctor agreed he was very sick and admitted him on a 72hr psychiatric hold. Keep in mind this was roughly 12hrs after emergency released him to the street. He was then admitted to the psychiatric unit where he again became aggressive and police where called to diffuse the situation. At the time of the incident he spit at staff and uttered threats as well. Two of the staff pressed charges against him for his actions. I was called the next afternoon and told he would be going to court the next morning at 9:00 am to have a judge order him to be sent to Restigouche where he could be assessed for a care plan to meet his needs. I arrived in court yesterday morning to attend his hearing and no one knew anything about him coming to court. His name was not listed on any court papers for that day. The RCMP had picked him up from the Moncton Hospital at 8:30 in the morning so no one knew where he was at that time. With the help of a Crown Prosecutor we were able to locate him and he was being held in the detention center because he was to medicated to go to court in the morning. He appeared in court at around 1:00 pm and no one in the court room knew of his special needs and the Judge ordered he be sent to jail for a 5 day fitness evaluation.

The hospital had not notified his Social Worker or mental health social worker of his court hearing. I then asked to speak and advised of his diagnosis and that we tried to get him help but it was declined. She refused to send him to Restigouche and was determined to send him to jail. The crown and legal aide called her into her chambers and after much debate she agreed to send him to Restigouche instead of jail. During his court appearance I saw him in the prisoner dock in handcuffs and shackles. His face was badly bruised and his eye was swollen shut. I advised the Judge that he did not have those injuries when I saw him on Monday and she dismissed my concerns. I went to the Moncton Hospital to ask about the incident and a staff member advised the police tackled him from behind and he fell face first on the floor. I'm not a doctor but from what I could see it looked like he had been punched in the face several times. I am still waiting for a call back from the nurse manager at the psych unit to discuss the incident and the injuries to his face. My son has spent extensive periods of time on this unit and he is very well known to staff there. It is my opinion the charges were laid because they didn't want to deal with him on the unit and simply wanted to push him off to another hospital. I wasn't even informed he had charges against him until I spoke with the lawyer at court. The hospital informed me Tuesday afternoon there where no charges and he didn't hurt anyone. I am very dissapointed in the lack of care he received at the Moncton Hospital especially since his illness is very well known to them. I did speak with Restigouche this afternoon and he is doing better. They were also kind enough to allow me to speak to him directly.

I am still in shock of the events that occurred this week. I'm ashamed to call myself a New Brunswicker at this time. Shame on the government of New Brunswick!! This is abuse of our most vunerable citizens.""

UPDATE: Dear NB Governments: No More Out of Sight Out of Mind: End the Cruel and Inhumane Treatment of Adults with Severe Autism Spectrum Disorders

NB governments have sent autistic adults with severe autism disorder challenges to Campbellton on NB's northen border for many years far from the bulk of the NB population and NB's autism populaton. It has been done for jobs in Campbellton and for political gain but it has not been done in the best interests of adults with severe autism challenges. It has been done in violation of sectons 25 (b) and (c) the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.:

Article 25 - Health 

  States Parties recognize that persons with disabilities have the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination on the basis of disability. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure access for persons with disabilities to health services that are gender-sensitive, including health-related rehabilitation. In particular, States Parties shall:

b) Provide those health services needed by persons with disabilities specifically because of their disabilities, including early identification and intervention as appropriate, and services designed to minimize and prevent further disabilities, including among children and older persons;

c) Provide these health services as close as possible to people’s own communities, including in rural areas;

As you now know thanks to the February  2019 Ombud Report FAILURE TO PROTECT  and the courageous investigating and reporting of the Ombud and the excellent crew that worked with him in investigating conditions in the Restigouche Hospital the residents there have been subjected to serious abuse and neglect. Out of sight, out of mind ... for government ... not for the family members who love them and will never forget them.

More recently CBC report Karissa Donkin  has reported on the numbers of employee disciplinary issues that have plagued the Restigouche. 

As the father of an adult son with severe autism, intellectual disability and epileptic seizures living in Fredericton I am not afraid of an autism centre, to provide training, oversight, treatment and for those most severely affected by autism spectrum disorders, permanent residential care and treatment, as part of the Autism Village Network proposed to the Liberal government by Paul McDonnell in July, 2015. 

I am afraid the NB government will continue the inhumane practice of sending people with severe autism disorders like my son to the Regional Psychiatric Hospital in Campbellton on our Northern Border far from the vast majority of families and far from the autism expertise already developed in Fredericton (UNB-CEL) to provide services to persons with autism aged 2-5, autism trained school aides and consultations to age 19 (Stan Cassidy). I am very afraid that out of obedience to political considerations NB govenment will continue to sacrifice the lives of adults with severe autism disorders and persons with mental health disorders to a cruel and inhumane future as bargaining chips for political seats in Restigouche and elsewhere in the increasingly scarcely populated North.   

Why abandon our severely autistic adults to life far from home and community instead of building the New Brunswick Autism Spectrum Village Network -Satellite Model  (McDonnel, 2015)2015 with autism specific group homes in facilities around the province (in addition to assisted individual living already existing) and a centre of autism expertise in Fredericton to provide training and oversight for the homes and permanent residence and care for those most severely impacted by autism and related co-morbid conditions of depression and epilepsy made more difficult by their autism disorders? 

The principles set out in the McDonnell 2015 proposal were articulated in 2010 in a CBC interview the Professor Emeritus (Psychology) enunciated in a 2010 interview with CBC reporter Dan McHardie. Apart from setting out evidence based, humane principles to address adult autism residential care and treatment needs McDonnell also noted that the Campbellton psychiatric hospital was not an appropate setting for adult autism residential care and treatment, 8 1/2 years BEFORE the recent Ombd Report. Government however has ignored his expert suggestions in favor of using adults with severe autism challenges and other persons with mental health issues as chips in political bargaining chips.

Paul McDonnell, September, 2010, CBC Interview with Dan McHardie (emphasis added).

"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."

9 years later in 2019 NB still needs an enhanced group home system throughout the province linked to a major centre, centrally located in Fredericton near NB autism expertise.

Please begin to address adult autism residential care and treatment in he humane model presented by McDonnell and stop selling adults with severe autism challenges for political gains in the increasingly lightly populated northern boder far from families and autism expertise. 

Higgs Diggs In; Will Spend to Send Mentally Ill and Autistic Youth and Adults to Campbellton on Our Northern Border FAR From Most Families - That Is Wrong and Violates UN Convention on Rights of Persons With Disabilities

Article 25 - Health 

  States Parties recognize that persons with disabilities have the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination on the basis of disability. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure access for persons with disabilities to health services that are gender-sensitive, including health-related rehabilitation. In particular, States Parties shall:

b) Provide those health services needed by persons with disabilities specifically because of their disabilities, including early identification and intervention as appropriate, and services designed to minimize and prevent further disabilities, including among children and older persons;

c) Provide these health services as close as possible to people’s own communities, including in rural areas;

Canada is a signatory to the UN CRPD and provisions set  out above. You would never know it though the way NB continues to send youth and adults with mental illness and autism far from families, communities and disability relevant expertise ... all for political gain. 

"Premier Blaine Higgs confirmed Friday that a review of the youth centre is underway. He said if the province can safely operate both the current psychiatric hospital and the youth facility, with proper staffing, the new facility will open."

CBC, Saturday, February 9

New Brunswickers have known for years that the Restigouche Psychiatric Hospital has been located on our Northern Border FAR from the vast majority of New Brunswick families and communities for purely political reasons - to provide jobs for Campbellton a city which has lost a substantial number of its residents.  The Connecting the Dots consulted people including experts across NB about a youth mental health Centre and Dots co-chair Bernard Richard expected that to be done in what is now NB's largest city Moncton which has psychiatric and psychological expertise and is also more centrally located to other population areas than Campbellton. He was outraged when the Donald Arseneault dominated Liberal government picked far away  Campbellton for the Centre. 

Autism parents have long been concerned since at least 2005 with the placement of autistic youth and adullts at the Restigouche Psychiatric Hospital.  We were hopeful that we would see progress though when we presented the Village Autism Proposal (McDonnell, 2015) to in 2015 in a meeting with Liberal Social Development Minister Cathy Rogers. I was present, along with Professor Emeritus Paul McDonnell and fellow parent Cynthia Bartlett. The meeting seemed positive but ... Rogers was soon transferred and the Gallant government continued to commit to political gain in Restigouche at the expense of the lives of mentailly ill and autistic adults. Higgs has shown himself willing to continue this corrupt and disgusting practice. 

Canada is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Articles 25(b) and (c) provide that persons with disabilities have a right to treatment specific to their conditions in locations as close as possible to their communities. By those standards Campbellton is the worst possible location of any municipality in NB for mental illness or autism 

Article 25 - Health 

  States Parties recognize that persons with disabilities have the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination on the basis of disability. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure access for persons with disabilities to health services that are gender-sensitive, including health-related rehabilitation. In particular, States Parties shall:

b) Provide those health services needed by persons with disabilities specifically because of their disabilities, including early identification and intervention as appropriate, and services designed to minimize and prevent further disabilities, including among children and older persons;

c) Provide these health services as close as possible to people’s own communities, including in rural areas;