Media Advisory - Autism community and their allies will protest Wynne government's plan

TORONTO, May 3, 2016 /CNW/ - On Thursday May 5th, between 12:00 noon and 3:00 p.m., hundreds of members of the autism community will protest in front of Queen's Park to show their opposition to the government's decision to cut Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) therapy for children aged five and older. People with ASD, their families, and the professionals who work with them will stand together against this unethical decision.

In an extraordinary show of bi-partisanship, both Progressive Conservative and New Democrat MPPs have declared their opposition to the plan. Both party leaders and their shadow cabinet critics will speak at the protest. In addition, labour union leaders from CUPE, ETFO, OSSTF, OPSEU, and the OFL will lend their voices to the movement opposing the Wynne government's decision.

Since the announcement, the members of the Ontario Autism Coalition have been raising their voices across the province. Over 20 rallies have taken place outside the offices of Liberal MPP's. Petitions have been gathered, letters and emails have been written, and families have been confronting the Premier directly at public appearances. So far, the Premier has kept to the same script she has been reciting since the original announcement. In response, parents have vowed that they will not stop their protests until their children get what they need.

The Ontario Autism Coalition is a non-profit Ontario corporation dedicated to advocacy and political action on behalf of people with autism.
www.ontarioautismcoalition.com

SOURCE Ontario Autism Coalition

Image with caption: "Ontario Autism Coalition (CNW Group/Ontario Autism Coalition)". Image available at:http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160503_C3790_PHOTO_EN_681518.jpg

Image with caption: "#AutismDoesntEndAt5 (CNW Group/Ontario Autism Coalition)". Image available at:http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160503_C3790_PHOTO_EN_681523.jpg

For further information: Ontario Autism Coalition: Bruce McIntosh, President, 416-451-8315, bruce.mcintosh@ontarioautismcoalition.com; Laura Kirby-McIntosh, Vice-President, 416-315-7939, laura.kirbymcintosh@gmail.com; Sharon Gabison, Secretary-Treasurer, 647-892-4418, shar.gabison@utoronto.ca; Parents available for interviews: Brianne Brown, 519-217-4352, b_besley@hotmail.com; Steven Sherwood, 416-566-7234, steven_sherwood@yahoo.com; Behaviour Analysis Professionals available for interviews: Dr. James Porter, 289-937-6096, portejam@hhsc.ca; Nancy Marchese, BCBA, 416-889-7572, nancy@breakthroughautism.ca

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NB Needs an Adult Autism Center and Network

"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."