Photo of the New Brunswick Legislature by Harold L Doherty 2012
L: Brian Kenny, NB's New Education Minister
R: Harold L Doherty, Parent, Autism Advocate
Adult Autism Center Advocacy Protest, NB Legislature, May 2015
R: Harold L Doherty, Parent, Autism Advocate
Adult Autism Center Advocacy Protest, NB Legislature, May 2015
Dear Honourable Premier Gallant, Honourable Ministers and other respected recipients:
I have been active for over 16 years in autism advocacy in New Brunswick for the simple reason that I have a son Conor, now 20, who is severely autistic with profound developmental delays and like many with his condition he also suffers from seizures including grand mal or tonic clonic seizures. In adult autism care no significant system gains have been made over the past 16 years. Group homes with untrained staff are still the norm along with temporary apartment settings, again with untrained persons providing oversight. The alternative, for more severely affected autistic adults, people with conditions very similar to my son, is a life spent in psychiatric care at the Restigouche Pyschiatric hospital in Campbellton.
My son currently resides with me and when I can no longer provide the care he needs he will in all likelihood be sent to the Restigouche Psychiatric Hospital in Campbellton on NBs northern border, a 5 1/2 hour drive, each way, from our home in Fredericton. I am asking you and your ministers of health, social development, education and post secondary education to take action to provide the autism long term care network described by Professor Emeritus and Clinical Psychologist Paul McDonnell in a 2010 CBC interview.
Autism is shorthand for Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Centers for Disease Control in the US, a highly respected authority, estimates that the numbers of persons with ASD is now approximately 1 in 68. The World Health Organization and another recent study estimate that 50% of those with autism also have intellectual disabilitiies. Studies estimate 25-40% of persons on the autism spectrum also suffer from seizures. A number of serious behavioral challenges often accompany the autism disorder diagnosis while anxiety and depression are also present in significant numbers.
My son currently resides with me and when I can no longer provide the care he needs he will in all likelihood be sent to the Restigouche Psychiatric Hospital in Campbellton on NBs northern border, a 5 1/2 hour drive, each way, from our home in Fredericton. I am asking you and your ministers of health, social development, education and post secondary education to take action to provide the autism long term care network described by Professor Emeritus and Clinical Psychologist Paul McDonnell in a 2010 CBC interview.
Autism is shorthand for Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Centers for Disease Control in the US, a highly respected authority, estimates that the numbers of persons with ASD is now approximately 1 in 68. The World Health Organization and another recent study estimate that 50% of those with autism also have intellectual disabilitiies. Studies estimate 25-40% of persons on the autism spectrum also suffer from seizures. A number of serious behavioral challenges often accompany the autism disorder diagnosis while anxiety and depression are also present in significant numbers.
On the CBC website in September 2010 Paul McDonnell offered a proposal to improve NB's adult autism care and treatment needs:
"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."
Paul McDonnell, CBC Analysis, September 2010
I would add that if this government will consider the model he proposes including the secure centre for the long term care of the severely autistic and for a source of expertise for the community based homes for less severely impaired autistic adults then Fredericton is the only viable location for the center.
The Autism Society NB considered the location of such a centre many years ago and conducted a survey picking Fredericton for the following reasons:
1. Access to NB's autism expertise which is primarily located in Fredericton.
2. Fredericton can provide bilingual service as shown by the UNB-CEL Autism Intervention Training Program itself which provides instruction in both official languages.
3. Central location. Sending autistic adults to a general psychiatric hosptial on our norther border does not assist families around the province in visiting with autistic family members receiving temporary care or residing in a professional autism center.
To those features I would also add cost savings. Money has been sent in the amount of $200-300,000. per year, per person, to send a few autistic adults to Spurwink, Maine. I have no figures to provide for the variety of ad hoc solutions which currently exist but do not provide a solution for many adults with severe autism and autism related challenges but I understand as much as $50,000 per year may be required. Many more families would be able to afford the expense and time to visit their adult autistic children in a central location in Fredericton then if they have to travel a further 5-6 hours to visita at the general Restigouche Psychiatric Hospital in Campbellton.
To those features I would also add cost savings. Money has been sent in the amount of $200-300,000. per year, per person, to send a few autistic adults to Spurwink, Maine. I have no figures to provide for the variety of ad hoc solutions which currently exist but do not provide a solution for many adults with severe autism and autism related challenges but I understand as much as $50,000 per year may be required. Many more families would be able to afford the expense and time to visit their adult autistic children in a central location in Fredericton then if they have to travel a further 5-6 hours to visita at the general Restigouche Psychiatric Hospital in Campbellton.
As the father of a son with severe ASD, I ask that this government begin work as soon as possible to provide a center with professional expertise for treatment and long term residential care as described by Professor Emeritus (Psychology) and Clinical Psychologist Paul McDonnell, one that can provide expert assistance to the community based group homes around the province. It could also result in cost savings for the PNB in providing effective, evidence based long term care to many live in a variety of settings and to parents who have to travel long distances to our northern border to see their adult children who reside their.
The need for an adult autism treatment and long term care network has been discussed for over a decade. 1 in 68 New Brunswick adults with autism can not afford to wait another decade before action begins to be taken.
My son can not afford to wait any longer.
Please take action now.
The need for an adult autism treatment and long term care network has been discussed for over a decade. 1 in 68 New Brunswick adults with autism can not afford to wait another decade before action begins to be taken.
My son can not afford to wait any longer.
Please take action now.
Respectfully,
Harold L Doherty
63 Alder Avenue
63 Alder Avenue
Fredericton NB
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