Autism and Related Disorders in New Brunswick: I Will Not Quit Fighting for Humane Services for NB Adults with Severe Autism - I Thank Ernie Steeves and All Who Join the Fight

Friday, July 1, 2016

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.

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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."