APAC Chose Not to Include NB Parents of Adults with Severe Autism and/or Intellectual Disability on APAC Speakers List and Their Adult Childrens' Residential Care and Treatment Issues were not Discussed at the Fredericton "APAC "Autism"" Conference

Adults with severe autism challenges and.or ID have been sent to the Restigouche hospital on the northern NB/Quebec border for decades far from families; out of sight and forgotten by government. The recent Ombud Report has confimed our fears that proper care is not provided in this location far from most NB families. This has been a serious issue in NB for many years and is referenced in the UN Convention on the Rights of persons with Disabilities.  Clearly in violation of the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities articles 25 and  26.  Canada is a signatory to the CRPD including the protocol provisions which were signed on to in late 2018. 

These facts and issues were not discussed at the recent Atlantic Provinces ""Autism"" Conference ....because NB parents were not included on the speakers list by APAC or UNB CEL. I could have attended at no cost to the APAC group as I  literally live in walking distance of UNB Fredericton. I have been actively involved, as have many other NB parents, in advocating for adult autism residential care and treatment. But we were not worthy of being consulted and as a result our adult childrens' interests were not discussed at the alleged "autism' conference.

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which has been ratified by Canada,  states in Health article 25(b) and (c) that parties to the CPRD have agreed to:

b) Provide those health services needed by persons with disabilities specifically because of their disabilities, including early identification and intervention as appropriate, and services designed to minimize and prevent further disabilities, including among children and older persons;

c) Provide these health services as close as possible to people’s own communities, including in rural areas;

(Underlining added HLD)

The Autism Society of New Brunswick submitted a request for  an Autism Village residential care and treatment network to the PNB government in 2008. 

Paul McDonnell, UNB Psychology Professor Emeritus identified adult residential care and treatment as NB's  greatest service need in a 2010 CBC Interview. 

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)

Professor McDonnell submitted a paper to government  in 2015 in conjunction with parents Cynthia Bartlett and myself which called for an autism village consisting autism trained staff facilities in communities around NB and a center to develop autism expertise and permanent residential care and treatment for those most severely affected by autism and related disorders. 

The issue of adult residential care and treatment however was not, according to people I have consulted, discussed at the Atlantic Provinces ""Autism"" Conference.  Given the Atlantic Provinces ""Autism"" Conferences decision to exclude NB parents of NB adults with severe autism and/or intellectual disability I am not surprised. 

It is almost 12 years since the Autism Society New Brunswick attempted to discuss the need for adult autism residential care and treatment with NB governments. We fought for NB's early autism program, UNBCEL autism trained education aides and reversal of the decision to close the Stan Cassidy autism team.  Yet almost 20 years later and many years of attempts of advocating for governments to address the needs of adults with autism for residential care and treatment NB governments still ignore those needs. 

APAC could have provided a forum for these important adult autism issues in NB and Atlantic Canada to be addressed. 

They chose not to consult us parents or invite us to speak on these important adult autism issues and I for one am not at all impressed.

Harold Doherty
Conor's Dad
Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal Recipient - Autism Advocacy