Bumping Into Shawn Graham - A Premier Who Made A Difference For NB's Autistic Children

Above Shawn Graham commits to allocate resources to autism children in New Bruswick, 2010

Below Shawn Graham and late Fredericton MP Andy Scott who advocated for autism services in Ottawa spend some time with the kids at Autism Intervention Services, Fredericton

On the way back from a visit to the Eagle's Nest with Conor I stopped to grab Conor a pop at a service station.  I didn't recognize the gentleman standing in front of me until he turned around and said hello.  It was a genuine pleasure to bump into Shawn Graham a genuinely nice guy and a premier who did much to help autistic children in NB.   

I know first hand that he expanded on the early intervention autism services begun by former premier Bernard Lord and provided an unambiguous commitment to train 400 teacher aides and resource teachers at the UNB-CEL Autism Intervention Training progam that had received international recognition. His specific commitment was to train 100 per year for 4 years and he kept that promise despite intense pressure from some in the Department of Education who saw career possibilities for themselves by bringing the program in house under their direction.   

NB is a small province and sometimes you bump into people of prominence. That is all well and good.  When it is a premier who did so much for autistic children it is a real treat and makes my day.

Another Conor Seizure Today; Fortunately It Happened On A Cushy Living Room Couch With Dad Right There

Conor very happy on Friday, April 29 2016.  This Friday things were a bit

different as Conor suffered a grand mal, tonic clonic seizure. On the positive 

side it happened on a cushy couch in our living room with Dad within arm's 

reach and Conor himself handled it well. It was still scary though.

At 3:35 today I had just finished a phone discussion on a legal matter and returned to the living room where I have a table and my laptop so I could do some work.  Conor was sitting directly in front of me on one of 2 living room couches.  As I sat down Conor's head kicked back and his eyes rolled back in his head.  He began convulsing  violently.  Fortunately the couch had large soft cushions and Conor suffered no impact to his head. He also turned to his side himself so that any fluids drained out without him choking and he then put his knees on the floor and bent over the cushion seats so he was not at any risk. I was there holding him throughout and timed the process.  The worst convulsions last between 45-60 seconds although his body still jerked for awhile and he did not regain bodily control or speech for a few more minutes.  ..  Not the first time I have been there for a Conor seizure.  It never gets real easy but it is not quite as scary as the first couple of times.  That said the location and an adult presence (me) assured a degree of safety that may not always be around for him and the outcome might be different on some future occasion.  ... For now though Conor is resting comfortably on the other living room couch .. eating pizza.  And life is good.

I Will Not Quit Fighting for Humane Services for NB Adults with Severe Autism - I Thank Ernie Steeves and All Who Join the Fight

Left  to Right: Brian MacDonald, Jane Mullin, Glen Savoie, Crystal Kelley,

 Ernie Steeves, Conor Doherty, Harold Doherty Stewart Fairgrieve, Charles Leblanc

It was a privilege yesterday to meet and enjoy the support of Ernie Steeves, Brian MacDonald, Glen Savoie and Stewart Fairgrieve in the NB Legislature fighting for decent autism services. Jane Mullin, Crystal Kelly and Charles LeBlanc  also took part outside.  Unfortunately Ernie Steeves motion seeking to improve autism services was thoroughly gutted by the Liberals of Donald Arseneault, and Stephen Horsman.  It is  important to say THANK YOU to those like  Ernie Steeves, Brian MacDonald, Glen Savoie and Stewart Fairgrieve who have made great efforts to improve autism services in New Brunswick. 

Although I was very ticked off  yesterday at Stephen Horsman, the MLA for my riding  and Minister of the newly named (yet again) Family and Childrens Services I bear him no ill will. I also have to give him some support.  As a parent who was involved with other parents in the successful advocacy for the establishment of NB's internationally recognized early intervention program and school services I know autism advocacy is not easy for anyone even a Deputy Premier and cabinet minister.   And Minister Stephen Horsman has contributed in his own way by walking with autistic children in Superhero walks and helping cut the cake for the reopening of the Autism Connections Resource center.  

It will obviously be necessary once again to fight entrenched interests to try and estblish the Adult Autism Center and Network that NBers with severe autism need so badly.  In the meantime many severely autistic adults will be banished to the Restigouche Psychiatric Hospital in Minister Donald Arseneault's riding on our northern border with Quebec.  

It will be important to gather the support of friends to overcome the entrenched interests in the Liberal Party that want all of NB's severely autistic adults to live in Minister Donald Arseneault's riding at the Restigouche Psychiatric Hospital.