The Daily Gleaner article set out above, from January 17, 2011. indicates that autism advocates would fight to get a new treatment centre built. So far the PNB continues to ignore the need for an autism treatment and residential centre and group home network.
December 31, 2016
Premier Brian Gallant
Premier of New Brunswick and Minister
Responsible for the Premier's Council
on the Status of Disabled Persons
Re: Adult Autism Residential Care and Treatment in New Brunswick ; In 2017 Will Autistic Adults Remain Forgotten?
Premier Brian Gallant
Premier of New Brunswick and Minister
Responsible for the Premier's Council
on the Status of Disabled Persons
Re: Adult Autism Residential Care and Treatment in New Brunswick ; In 2017 Will Autistic Adults Remain Forgotten?
As this year draws to an end and a
new year approaches I hope that this government will not neglect the education, residential care
and treatment needs of New Brunswick adults with autism disorders including and particularly those with severe autism and related disorders.
I am the father of a 20 year old man with Autistic Disorder, assessed with profound developmental delays who, like many with autism disorders also suffers from epileptic seizures. . I have, because of his condition, been an
active autism advocate in New Brunswick over the past 18 years. New Brunswick
has enjoyed much success in addressing preschool and education needs of
autistic children and youth in recent years taking an evidence based approach
and we have done it in both of our official languages. These advances began
under the government of Premier Bernard Lord and grew during Premier Shawn
Graham's term in office.
I am pleased to see that this government is working to improve the early autism intervention program that has already garnered international recognition. I can speculate but not truly understand though why successive governments have seen fit to disregard the interests of adults with severe autism disorder by housing them on the grounds of a youth correctional centre and general hospitals, sending them to a centre in the Maine, USA and by sending them to the Restigouche Psychiatric Hospital in Campbellton far from most of their families and the autism expertise that has been developed, and continues to develop, in Fredericton.
The success that has been enjoyed with autistic preschoolers and students stands in stark contrast, to the lack of progress in helping NB's autistic youth and adults who are severely disabled by their disorders and who have need of residential care and treatment which have not been provided in any meaningful sense in New Brunswick.
I am pleased to see that this government is working to improve the early autism intervention program that has already garnered international recognition. I can speculate but not truly understand though why successive governments have seen fit to disregard the interests of adults with severe autism disorder by housing them on the grounds of a youth correctional centre and general hospitals, sending them to a centre in the Maine, USA and by sending them to the Restigouche Psychiatric Hospital in Campbellton far from most of their families and the autism expertise that has been developed, and continues to develop, in Fredericton.
The success that has been enjoyed with autistic preschoolers and students stands in stark contrast, to the lack of progress in helping NB's autistic youth and adults who are severely disabled by their disorders and who have need of residential care and treatment which have not been provided in any meaningful sense in New Brunswick.
In 2005 the national media reported
that an autistic New Brunswick youth was being held on the grounds of the
Miramichi youth correctional facility. At that time NB autism advocates had
already been advocating for several years for a modernized residential care and
treatment system for NB youth and adults. No significant progress has been made
over the past 15 years.
During the 2010 election campaign Professor Emeritus (Psychology) and Clinical Psychologist Paul McDonnell was interviewed by CBC and described a comprehensive modernized approach to autism residential care and treatment:
During the 2010 election campaign Professor Emeritus (Psychology) and Clinical Psychologist Paul McDonnell was interviewed by CBC and described a comprehensive modernized approach to autism residential care and treatment:
"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 behaviorally trained supervisors and therapists.
Some jurisdictions in the United States have outstanding facilities that are in part funded by the state and provide a range of opportunities for supervised and independent living for individuals with various disabilities."
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."
The model described by Paul McDonnell
has been described and advocated for in meetings with senior civil servants
over the past decade and a half but no action has resulted. Today we still have autistic
adults living in in a variety of ad hoc
accommodations. The most seriously challenged persons live in the psychiatric
hospital in Restigouche far from families and from the Fredericton based autism expertise. The current group homes lack autism trained staff .
We need a modernized, centrally located facility that could provide treatment and permanent residential care for those most severely disabled by autism disorders and community based residential facilities around the province with properly trained staff. In 15 years there has been no progress in addressing the residential care and treatment needs of autistic youth and adults.
I respectfully ask that your government begin efforts, in 2017, to provide an evidence based system, comprised of a central autism facility and a group home network, as described by Dr. McDonnell, that will address these needs and provide a decent and humane quality of life for our autistic youth and adult population.
We need a modernized, centrally located facility that could provide treatment and permanent residential care for those most severely disabled by autism disorders and community based residential facilities around the province with properly trained staff. In 15 years there has been no progress in addressing the residential care and treatment needs of autistic youth and adults.
I respectfully ask that your government begin efforts, in 2017, to provide an evidence based system, comprised of a central autism facility and a group home network, as described by Dr. McDonnell, that will address these needs and provide a decent and humane quality of life for our autistic youth and adult population.
Mr. Premier please reply directly, not through communications staff, and advise whether your government will take action to begin addressing the needs of adults with autism including those with severe autism and related conditions in 2017.
Respectfully,
Harold L Doherty
Fredericton, New Brunswick
hldoherty5463@gmail.com
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