Autism and Related Disorders in New Brunswick: 264 Days Until the New Brunswick Election. How Many Days Until a NB Adult Autism Care & Treatment Network Is Established?

Monday, January 1, 2018

264 Days Until the New Brunswick Election. How Many Days Until a NB Adult Autism Care & Treatment Network Is Established?

New Brunswick Liberal Association Leader Brian Gallant
Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick Leader Blaine Higgs
Green Party of New Brunswick Leader David Coon
New Democratic Party of New Brunswick Leader Jennifer McKenzie
People's Alliance of New Brunswick Leader Kris Austin

Dear NB Leaders:

On behalf of Autism Advocacy NB, and as a long time autism advocate, I ask each of you, and the party, alliance or association which you lead, to commit to establishing an Adult Autism Residential Care and Treatment Network as articulated by Paul McDonnell Ph.D. in a CBC interview in the run up to the 2010 provincial election. The basic principles as stated in 2010 were:

"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 can do much, much better.

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."

Since the 2010 election the sad spectacle of individuals being sent off to the Campbellton psychiatric hospital and to hospital wards has continued. You are respectfully requested to commit, as part of your 2018 election platforms, to ending this non evidence based, cruel and inhumane treatment of vulneralble New Brunswick adults with severe autism disorders. A centre could be established now in Fredericton which has developed some autism expertise and has been recognized as such from Saskatchewan to the US to France.

Please act on behalf of this vulnerable group of New Brunswickers.

Respectfully,

Harold L Doherty

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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."