Scottish Based Study Highlights Double Disadvantage Of Persons with Autism AND Intellectual Disabilities, Substantial Health Inequalities

Conclusion

This is the first study to report the population prevalence of coexisting intellectual disabilities and autism, and the substantial influence this double disadvantage has on general health status, apparent across the entire life course. This highlights a group in need of wider recognition for whom resources should be focused on and planned for, informed by evidence. Staff in services for people with either of these conditions need to be trained, equipped, resourced and prepared to address the challenge of working for people with this duality. This is essential, to address these substantial health inequalities.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jir.12573

Conor Enjoying His Window Washer T-Shirt Christmas Gift

Conor enjoying the T-Shirt he got as a Christmas gift from his brother Brandon. In our family we know how much physical, emotional ... and social ... benefit Conor has received from Washing Windows at the Willie O'Ree Place. Many people have seen Conor and some have met with him as he did the window washing work that he loves. Many thanks to Jobs Unlimited for the good work they have done with Conor and others to enable them to make positive contributions and to benefit as Conor has done.

Adult Autism NB 2020? Will NB Continue to Violate the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability or Will it ......

Adult Autism Disorders NB 2020? 

Proper Residential Care and Treatment?

Will NB Continue to Violate the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability of NB adults with severe autism and intellectual disabilities or Will it End the Restigouche Hospital Atrocity, close the Restigouche Hospital and start work on a Fredericton based autism centre with a village of autism specific care homes in communities around the province for adult persons with autism and a variety levels of need of autism residential care and treatment? 

I asked this question of our MLAs in November 2018.  I received no real answer to my question.   

The Ombud Report issued in 2019 "Failure to Protect" provided clear and compelling evidence that  the proposed youth mental health centre which has now been scheduled to be established in Moncton would not provide appropriate services and care.  The evidence in that report confirms confirms that the Restigouche does NOT provide proper services and is not an appropriate setting for adults with serious autism and intellectual disabilities.  

The Karissa Donkin CBC report on disciplinary issues "Violence and threats, negligence, insubordination led to discipline at troubled hospital" also confirms that there are very serious disciplinary issues at the Restigouche which is located on our Northern border as far as possible from our larger populations and far from most NB families. The location  makes it difficult to retain professionals for the Restigouche and to maintain a disciplined, properly trained work force.

In New Brunswick very substantial gains have been made with respect to the provision of health, education and social services to persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders.  Our early autism intervention program has achieved national AND international recognition based on the excellent work of the UNB-CEL Autism program at UNB Fredericton. Teacher aides and Resource Teachers have received autism training from the UNB-CEL program and the Stan Cassidy Centre Autism team provides autism consultations up to age 19. NOTHING however has been done to provide for professional, decent, humane autism residential care and treatment for adults. 

Paul McDonnell Ph.D., and a Canada wide leader in developing evidence based autism treatment,  was a key player in establishing the program which forms the basis of these services and he also, in consultation with parent advocates, developed the NB Autism Spectrum Village Proposal which was presented to the Gallant Government, then Social Development Minister Cathy Rogers, in 2015.  The "Village Proposal" would provide for the establishment of an Autism Centre in Fredericton, the home of NB's current autism expertise and centrally located. The centre would provide training and oversight for staff in homes around the PNB close to families in all parts of the province.  It would also provide, from its central location, permanent residential care for those most challenged by autism and related conditions. 

Paul McDonnell - 2010 - Adult Autism - What NB Needs Now 2010 - 2020

Adult Autism: What NB Needs - Paul McDonnell September 2010 ( will still be true in 2020 HL Doherty):

"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."