New Brunswick Ignores Adult Autism Early Death Crisis - Government Does Nothing, Media and Alleged Community Groups Remain Silent

Above members of the NB government ignoring the adult autism crisis in New Brunswick

Photo by Harold L Doherty

The AutisticaUK autism research charity published in 2015 a report, Personal Tragedies, Public Crisis,  which detailed horrific life shortening realities  of persons with autism disorders. From the autism without disability end of the autism spectrum where people die 9 years earlier than in the general population to the autism with intellectual disability end of the autism spectrum where people die 30 years earlier this is a serious health crisis.  The UK report was based on highly credible studies and there is NO reason to believe the same results do not occur here in NB.  

Here in NB the government has been made aware of these brutal realities.  They have also been made aware of possible approaches to address the very serious health and life issues confronting persons with autism disorders.

1. In 2008 the Autism Society New Brunswick of which I was a member of the Board of Directors at that time prepared and submitted an autism network proposal which would provided for autism specific oversight and care services for adult autistic persons in need.

2. In 2010 Professor Emeritus (Psychology) Paul McDonnell was interviewed by Dan McHardie of CBC and summarized the challenges facing adult autism care and treatment in NB:

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."  (Bold highlighting added - HLD)

3. in 2015 McDonnell, with parent autism advocate Cynthia Bartlett, and myself,  presented a paper, The New Brunswick Autism Spectrum Village, NEW BRUNSWICK SATELLITE MODEL FOR ASD SERVICES FOR ADULTS.

New Brunswick has made great gains in providing early intervention programmes for children with
autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurological disorder, and is currently developing a
comprehensive programme to train teachers and teacher assistants within the province to work in an effective manner with our students.  To date, no initiatives have addressed the needs of adults. Once a student reaches the age of 21 years, there are no services, no supports, and the entire burden of support and care falls upon parents and family.

It is therefore imperative that New Brunswick establishes an Autism Treatment and Residential Centre.  The centre should be situated in Fredericton so that it is physically close to regionalautism expertise at the UNB-CEL autism program and the Stan Cassidy  The Centre would provide treatment for all autistic adults who are too old for treatment at the Stan Cassidy program and permanent residential care for the most severely autistic some of whom have been sent to the Spurwink Facility in the State of Maine and to the Restigouche Regional Psychiatric Hospital in Campbellton.  Autism specific group homes around the province are required with autism trained staff and oversight from the Centre.  

In this sense, the model proposed could be characterized as a “satellite” model in which the centre in Fredericton would be linked directly to a number of satellite homes around the province.  Medical issues commonly associated with autism disorders including epilepsy and depression would also be treated in the context of persons suffering fromautism and the extra challenges it presents to treating those common co-morbid conditions.

The NB government despite being made aware of very serious health issues facing NB adults and despite being made aware of a well informed model to consider has chosen to ignore the problems. The NB media has also been silent on the autism tragedy in NB and the proposal made known publicly on social media.  Even alleged community groups have put their heads down and ignored the adult autism health care crisis as autistic adult continue to be sent to Campbellton or die in their parents homes.