A Promise Kept
NB Liberal Party leader Shawn Graham signs a $2.5 Million commitment for autism services on the cast of prominent Miramichi autism advocate Lila Barry prior to the 2006 NB Election.
Dear Premier Brian Gallant:
Prior to the 2006 Provincial election the Liberal Party led by Shawn Graham made the following
autism commitments to the Autism Society of New Brunswick:
1) Funding for existing autism therapy programs for children under the
age of 6 will continue
2) An additional 2.5 million dollars yearly have been set aside to
expand upon autism services.
3)1 million of the 2.5 million will target training 400 teacher
assisants and method and resource teachers at a training rate of 100 per
year over four years at UNB-CEL
4) remaining 1.5 million to attack specific issues as increase therapy
funding for young children, training through UNB-CEL, and
5) the development of a long term service plans for autistic adults
including residential care
6) ASNB will be a full member in the development of autism strategies.
Most of those promises were kept to a significant extent especially promises to continue funding
existing autism therapy programs for children under the age of 6, an additional 2.5 million dollars
yearly were set aside to expand upon autism services and :
training 400 teacher assistants and method and resource teachers at a training rate of 100 per
year over four years at UNB-CEL,
With those promises a solid commitment to assistance and support for NB'ers with autism disorder challenges was launched and made NB a recognized leader in delivery of meaningful autism treatment and care. There was, however, one promise that was not kept, and as of today has still no commitment to being kept by yours or any other political party as NB heads toward another provincial election:
5) the development of a long term service plans for autistic adults
including residential care.
There are many flawed reasons for the failure of Liberal and Conservative governments to implement
promise #5 to develop a long term service plans for autistic adults including residential care. It is not for lack of being informed though. UNB Professor Emeritus Paul McDonnell was interviewed by CBC journalist Dan McHardie prior to the 2010 election and outlined
an autism network plan consisting of an autism centre that could build off the growing autism expertise available in Fredericton to develop an autism network consisting of a centre that could provide training for autism specific group homes in communities around the province and could also provide permanent, education oriented, humane residential care and treatment for those most severely affected by autism disorder challenges. That autism network outline was elaborated on in a submission by Mr. McDonnell with contributions from me and another parent autism advocate Cynthia Bartlett. The submission was presented by all 3 of us to then Minister of Social Development Cathy Rogers in a 2015 meeting with the Minister and several members of her department.
The name of the Department was changed and a new Minister was appointed shortly after that meeting. Little progress was seen on adult autism care though until Minister Horsman's department funded a 2 day presentation by the highly respected Prof. MacDuff late in 2017 at UNB. In a recent personal meeting involving me and my severely autistic adult 22 year old son and 3 department members Minister Horsman stated very convincingly that he has been attempting for some time to study the needs of autistic adults in NB and hoping to address those needs. I am never easily convinced but I did leave the meeting with Minister Horsman with some hope for progress on adult autism residential care and treatment in the near future.
It would be helpful if the Ministers of Health and adult Education could also be involved along with one other member of your government .... you the Honourable Premier of New Brunswick. No one except omniscient, all knowing experts can say who will win the next election this September. Regardless of that future event's outcome I respectfully ask that you show some real interest in the need for humane, professional adult autism residential care and treatment Mr. Premier. Much of the substantial progress in early autism training, autism specific training of teacher aides and resource teachers and the decision to revive the Stan Cassidy Centre Autism team, which had been scheduledd for closure, happened because the relevant Ministers took action .... and because of the direct involvement of premiers Lord and Graham.
Please get involved in adult autism residential care and treatment Premier Gallant. It will help ensure that the necessary steps are taken to address these challenges. That is my humble opinion as one of the parents involved in advocating for the progress we have made in autism services that have made NB a recognized leader in provisions of autism services in Canada.
Respectfully,
Harold L Doherty
Conor's Dad
QE II Diamond Jubilee Medal Recipient - Autism Advocacy
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