Autism and Related Disorders in New Brunswick: On September 24 I Will Be Voting for An Adult Autism Residential Care and Treatment Network

Monday, July 30, 2018

On September 24 I Will Be Voting for An Adult Autism Residential Care and Treatment Network

On September 24 2018 I will be voting for an Adult Autism Residential Care and Treatment Network as described in a summary of principles stated by Paul McDonnell in the course of an interview with CBC's Dan McHardie in 2010 and reiterated in detail in a submission to then Social Development Minister in 2015.

I don't know what person or party that will mean. I hope to find out more on August 18 2018 when we have the adult autism services in NB meeting at THEVILLE Cooperative, 241 Canada St., Fredericton. It may be that none of the parties will make a commitment to an adult autism residential care and treatment network in New Brunswick based on the model submitted over the last 10 years for which we have worked very hard but I will try my best to see if any party will make an honest commitment to achieve that goal. And I will never quit, I will never surrender, in the words of the late great Tom Petty I will not back down. I could never look my youngest son Conor in the eyes again if I quit on him.

My son Conor, above, getting ready for our 2015 protest at the NB legislature and below, with Dad on his 2nd birthday, the day before he received his autism disorder diagnosis.

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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."