NB Has Gone Backwards In Understanding and Commitment to Meeting Adult Autism Needs Since 2011

The province wants to build an autism residential facility, which would provide 

permanent care for severely autistic adults who can’t live on their own.

Mark Barbour, NB Department of Social Development spokesperson,

A Place for Conor, The Aquinian, by Karissa Donkin, March 24, 2011

Many politicians love to participate in Superhero Walks for Autism.  They get to actually have fun, along with the children on the walk, and then pose for publicity photos which imply that they are knowledgeable about autism and are working on the behalf of persons with autism.  Unfortunately such walks do not create any real autism awareness, or lead to needs being met; particularly needs of autistic adults.

In meetings with the Gallant Government's 2 Ministers of Social Development to date, including one held with Minister Stephen Horsman yesterday, there was civility and apparent understanding of the need to address adult autism needs.  It was clear yesterday though that no steps had been taken in addressing adult autism needs in the past year since I, along with NB autism expert Paul McDonnell and fellow autism parent advocate Cynthia Bartlett, met with then Minister of SD Cathy Rogers.  Minister Horsman yesterday actually made statements endorsing the role of the Regional Psychiatric Hopital in Campbellton and asked whether autism specific services were needed. An indication of the extent to which those statements indicate a regression in understanding of, and commitment to providing services to meet the needs of, autistic adults can be gleaned by reading information in a March 2011 article by Karissa Donkin then a journalist with the Aquinian.

On March 24 2011 an excellent article written in the Aquinian by then student Karissa Donkin (now a journalist with CBC after a tour with the Brunswick News papers) detailed the need for adult autism services in NB.  The following excerpt is from that article.  In the article Mark Barbour, then a Department of Social Developent spokesperson, stated very clearly that more had to be done to help autistic adults  including provisio of autism specific  services.  He also stated that the Province of NB wanted to build an autistic adult residential facility to provide permanent care for severely autistic adults who can't live on their own:

"Autism is a developmental disorder that affects a person’s communication and social skills. The severity of the disorder ranges from the severe form that Conor has to Asperger’s, a more mild form depicted in movies like Rainman. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention says one in 110 children have autism. [The CDC now estimates 1 in 68 - HLD]

New Brunswick provides care both in a patient’s home and in residential facilities for more than 6,250 adults under 65 with disabilities, including autism, says Department of Social Development spokesman Mark Barbour.

But Barbour admits the province needs to do more to help autistic adults.

“There is a need for more specialized services for autistic youth and adults, whose behaviours or conditions are severely impaired.

“These individuals require services and supports designed to specifically meet their high care needs.”

The province wants to build an autism residential facility, which would provide permanent care for severely autistic adults who can’t live on their own, Barbour said.

Not only is the current system not comprehensive enough for adults with varying degrees of autism, but it’s also expensive, says child psychologist and autism expert Dr. Paul McDonnell.

Autistic adults are often sent to privately run group homes or in extreme cases, sent to psychiatric care in Campbellton or out of province.

“It’s fairly expensive to put people in group homes and if you have to send people out of the province then it’s much, much more expensive,” McDonnell said.

“If they’re placed far away from their families, that creates a lot of hardship as well. A lot of people aren’t functioning at the level they could. They’re simply not having the quality of life they should be having.”

McDonnell thinks the province needs to train people to be prepared to deal with adults with severe behavioural challenges.

“They should have stimulating recreational, educational programs. That is absolutely essential.

“That’s what we need to aim towards is setting up a system where we have some really well-trained people.”