News Release: MEDICARE FOR AUTISM NOW!

News Release: March 5, 2018:  MEDICARE FOR AUTISM NOW SOCIETY (MFAN) responds to Government of Canada budget funding for autism.

“$20 million of taxpayers’ money spread over five years to do what? Create a data base and programs to reduce the “stigma” of those living with autism spectrum disorder? REALLY?”, says Jean Lewis, Vancouver parent-advocate, co-founder and director of MFAN.

Eighteen years ago, our courts found that science-based treatment, ABA (applied behaviour analysis) was “medically necessary” and “there were no competing effective therapies”. This remains true today.

Eleven years ago, the Canadian Senate, after extensive study, found that “families living with autism were in crisis”.

This crisis continues to grow exponentially.

Today, according to Autism Speaks, autism spectrum disorder is the fastest growing and most commonly diagnosed neurological disorder in our country. An estimated one in 68 children in Canada are affected.

Two years ago, over 2000 delegates to the Liberal Party of Canada national convention overwhelmingly and enthusiastically passed a priority policy resolution instructing the Government of Canada to work with all provincial and territorial governments to ensure inclusion of ABA treatment for autism spectrum disorder within their respective Medical Services Plans, and, further, to provide funding to each province and territory to fully cover the costs associated with the provision of ABA treatment of autism spectrum disorder.

“Science-based, medically necessary autism treatment has existed but been financially inaccessible in Canada for more than 20 years,” says Harold Doherty, Fredericton parent -advocate and MFAN director, “What will it take for the Government of Canada to deal seriously with this national epidemic of staggering proportions?”

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For further information, contact Jean Lewis 604-290-5737 jean.lewis@telus.net

Autism Mother Katharine Cukier Calls Out Trudeau Liberals and Miriam Foundation for Betrayal of Autistic Children, Adults and Their Families

Katharine Cukier is the mother of an autistic son in Quebec who has called out the Trudeau Liberal Government  for donating $20,000,000 to for 2 organizations, one in Quebec and one in BC to "HELP" Canadians Impacted by Autism by paying for two "autism resource" web sites.  I agree with Ms Cukier. 

As a parent autism advocate I have advocated for early evidence based autism intervention, autism trained teachers and teacher aides and autism specific learning placement options and adult autism residential care and treatment.  I have asked my son's alleged MP Matt DeCourcey several times if the Trudeau government will be implementing the #WPG2016 E-03 Policy Resolution Medicare Coverage for the Treatment of Autism which was passed with strong support by the Liberal membership in Winnipeg in 2016 but he has not had the common decency to answer my question. 

Visit  Katharine Cukier's  Facebook page for her series of powerful comments on the falsehoods and betrayal of autistic persons and their families by the Miriam Foundation and the federal government.

Katharine Cukier shared her post.

February 28 at 10:40am · 

You offer me a $10 million dollar website, when the best outcome for my son with autism is to DIE before me? Give me a fucking break. Totally unacceptable.

Katharine Cukier

February 28 at 8:27am · 

ttps://globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/02/27/1396511/0/en/Pacific-Autism-Family-Network-and-Miriam-Foundation-Receive-Federal-Funding-to-Help-Canadians-Impa...

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Pacific Autism Family Network and Miriam Foundation Receive Federal Funding to Help Canadians Impacted by Autism

Government Invests in National Resource and…

GLOBENEWSWIRE.COM

Will Liberal Government Act on Liberal Party Canada Call for Medicare Coverage for the Treatment of Autism?

Harold L Doherty

63 Alder Avenue

Fredericton, NB

Conor Doherty displaying his medal for best smile

received at Leo Hayes High School, Fredericton

.

March 2, 2018

Matt Decourcey, MP

Fredericton, New Brunswick

Re  #WPG2016 Liberal Party Canada Resolution E-03

       Medicare Coverage for Autism Treatment 

Dear Mr. Decourcey:

I am writing to you again, as a follow up to my letter of February 2, 2018, on behalf of my son Conor who is, theoretically at least,  represented by you in the House of Commons. Conor suffers from severe autism disorder, intellectual disability and epilepsy a very common combination of conditions among persons on the autism spectrum. In my Feb 2 letter I informed you of the results of autism research, particularly a recent high quality Swedish study reported, and brought to public attention, in a publication by Autistica, the respected UK Autism Research Charity, Personal Tragedies, public crisis. The urgent need for a national response to early death in Autism.  Among the many persons with autism, intellectual disability and epilepsy early death arrives 30+ years earlier, on average, than among persons in the general population. I asked you whether the current Liberal government intends to act to implement #WPG2016 Resolution E-03, passed with strong support which called for Medicare coverage for the treatment of autism.  Since then I have received 2 of your self promotion publications but I have not received an answer to my question. Resolution E-03 is attached below following 2 Hansard statements by highly respected former Liberal MP's the late Andy Scott, Fredericton and Shawn Murphy, Charlottetown.  

I ask you again, on behalf of my son Conor Doherty:

Will this current Liberal government act on and implement #WPG2016 Resolution E-03 calling for Medicare Coverage for Treatment of Autism?

Respectfully,

Harold L Doherty

Conor's Dad

Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal Recipient (Autism Advocacy)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

APPENDIX A

M-172 — MAY 15, 2006 — MR. SCOTT (FREDERICTON) — THAT, IN THE OPINION OF THE HOUSE, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CREATE A NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER THAT WOULD INCLUDE: (A) THE ESTABLISHMENT, IN COOPERATION WITH PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS, OF NATIONAL STANDARDS FOR THE TREATMENT OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER AND THE DELIVERY OF RELATED SERVICES; (B) THE STUDY, IN COOPERATION WITH PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS, OF THE FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CARE OF THOSE WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER, INCLUDING THE POSSIBILITY OF TRANSFERRING FEDERAL FUNDS TO ASSIST PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS TO PROVIDE NO-COST TREATMENT, EDUCATION, PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND OTHER REQUIRED SUPPORTS FOR CANADIANS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER WITHOUT UNREASONABLE WAIT TIMES; (C) THE CREATION OF A NATIONAL SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER TO BE MANAGED BY THE PUBLIC HEALTH AGENCY OF CANADA; AND (D) THE PROVISION OF FUNDING FOR HEALTH RESEARCH INTO TREATMENTS FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER.

APPENDIX B

"HEALTH

40TH PARLIAMENT, 2ND SESSION

EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 020

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2009

HEALTH

HON. SHAWN MURPHY (CHARLOTTETOWN, LIB.):

MR. SPEAKER, ON DECEMBER 5, 2006, EVERY MEMBER OF THE HOUSE, INCLUDING THE PRIME MINISTER, SUPPORTED MOTION NO. 172. THE MOTION DIRECTED THE MINISTER OF HEALTH TO CONVENE A MEETING OF THE PROVINCIAL HEALTH MINISTERS WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF DEVELOPING A NATIONAL STRATEGY ON THE TREATMENT AND SUPPORT OF CANADIANS WITH AUTISM. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PREVIOUS MINISTER OF HEALTH AND THE PRESENT MINISTER OF HEALTH HAVE TOTALLY IGNORED THIS MOTION.

MY QUESTION IS FOR THE PRESENT MINISTER OF HEALTH. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION AND CANADIANS ARE LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER. HOW LONG DOES THE GOVERNMENT INTEND TO IGNORE CANADIAN FAMILIES DEALING WITH AUTISM?"

APPENDIX C

Today is Conor's Birthday No. 22 and Today is Family Day for MOST New Brunswick Families: What Does The Future Hold?

Today is Conor's 22nd Birthday and we started early with some yummy Birthday cake.  Conor was very happy to show us how to eat Birthday Cake.  Below Conor's birthday cake munching photo is a picture of Conor with his Mom a few days after his actual birthday followed by a picture when he was just 3 days old with his wonderful brother Brandon and his Dad looking slightly younger than when I looked in the mirror this morning.  The last picture shows Conor with his Dad on his second birthday, the day before we received his autism disorder diagnosis. 

We have celebrated every day of Conor's wonderful life and we have many, many happy, smiling Conor pictures to prove it. But I have to pay attention and continue to try and bring  public attention to the harsh realities of autism disorders including the premature mortality by as much as 30 years for those with autism and intellectual disability established in solid studies including the recent Swedish study reported on by the UK Autistica charity in its report Personal tragedies, public crisis: The urgent need for a national response to early death in autism. I am NOT speaking for those adults with higher functioning levels who can speak for themselves.  I AM speaking for my son who will face a harsh life after his Dad, with whom he lives can no longer be of help either through old age or by meeting that inevitable "train at the end of the tunnel".

Youths and adults with autism have, for many years, been sent to general hospital wards, to facilities outside of Canada and to a Regional Psychiatric Hospital in Campbellton a small town that straddles the NB Quebec boundary on New Brunswick's Northern border.  New Brunswick intentionally sends autistic adults to our Northern Border for political reasons to help elect politicians like lobbyist and former Liberal Party power figure Donald Arseneault.  NB's population to the extent that it is still growing is growing in the South in Fredericton, SJ and Moncton.  Fredericton which is the most centrally located city in NB is also the home of autism expertise in NB with the Early Autism program at UNB-CEL and the Stan Cassidy autism team which provides autism services to age 16.

In 2010 UNB Professor Emeritus (Psychology) Paul McDonnell  Ph. D. was interviewed on CBC and pointed out the pressing need for an autism centre for those with autism who require long term residential care and treatment which could also provide training for autism group homes around the province.   That expert advice, backed by the parent advocates who fought successfully for the establishment of the UNB-CEL program, for the early autism program, for autism trained Teacher Aides and for the reversal of the decision to close the Stan Cassidy autism team, has been ignored by governments every since.  

The rationalizations for refusing to provide the decent, humane autism network recommended long ago by Prof. McDonnell vary from misguided, non evidence based philosophy of incessantly repeating "community, inclusion" day after day, year after year, while ignoring the evidence of autistic adults being sent to institutions far from their families to the cowardice and corruption of the current government which sends people like my son to Campbellton for purely political reasons causing them immeasurable harm.

Prominent Liberals Bernard Richard and Michael Murphy QC identified the liberal government decision to establish a mental health centre in Campbellton as one of the worst decisions they had ever seen.  Murphy a former Health Minister, a former Justice Minister,  clearly stated that the Liberal government decisions are politically based and that it illustrated Donald Arseneault's influence within the Liberal government. 

I submit that the refusal to establish the autism centre and network called for by Professor MacDonnell and parent autism advocates many years ago, while sending severely autistic adults to Campbellton on our northern border for purely political reasons is corrupt, cruel and cowardly.

I will continue to fight the corrupt cowards of any party that continue to banish autistic adults like my son to Campbellton and general hospital wards when they know that solutions exist as recommended by Professor MacDonnell 8 years ago and as advocated for many parents for many years prior thereto.  

I will also continue to find joy in my son, and to try bring as much joy to my son's life, as I can for as long as I can. 

Family Day in New Brunswick For Most New Brunswick Families

Some adults with severe autism disorders and related conditions are sent to the Restigouche Psychiatric Hospital in Campbellton for temporary and permanent residential care and treatment far, far from their family members in the south. Family Day is great for an end of winter holiday but it would be nice if NB govrernments thought about adults with severe autism and the families who love them and care for them for as long as age permits

As this map from the NB Government Family Day site shows Campbellton, which has a declining population, is far from the bulk of the NB population in the southern part of the province in Fredericton, Moncton, Saint John.  Unlike Fredericton which is the most centrally located of New Brunswick cities the Campbellton facility does not have the growing expertise of the Fredericton area where the Stan Cassidy Centre autism team provides autism consultation to age 16 and the UNB-CEL autism program has provided services to NB, Saskatchewan and France. .

In my opinion Family Day itself is an excellent idea and I thank NB governments for providing a holiday at a point in our winter when NBers can use a day off, a break to just enjoy time, hopefully with our Families. I am disappointed though that the NB government does not recognize the importance of family in the well being and care of adults with severe autism conditions. 

When the Liberal government announced that a mental health centre would be situated in Campbellton prominent Liberal Bernard Richard made his displeasure known calling it "the worst decision he has seen in a while".

In  the same article former  NB  Health and Justice Minister Michael Murphy stated that this Liberal government bases its health decisions on political considerations in this case benefiting Donald Arseneault who has now gone on to a full time lobbying career:

"Bernard Richard...appalled by location of new centre.  I agree," tweeted Murphy.

Murphy blamed the decision on Liberal party politics and pointed to his former cabinet colleague Donald Arseneault as the likely source of the decision. Arseneault is the current minister of energy and mines and represents the riding of Campbellton-Dalhousie in the legislature. Arseneault made the actual announcement in Campbellton on Saturday, rather than Health Minister Victor Boudreau.

"Power of Donald Arseneault is evident by this," tweeted Murphy. "The location away from family for most young patients may only aggravate the condition.  But this government is intensely political."

Before Monsieur Arseneault departed for greener pastures he did reply to a tweet from me:

In his tweet Donald Areneault ignored the very large differences in the numbers of people  affected in Woodstock, Fredericton, Moncton and Saint John. In his mind it was OK for the large numbers of persons affected in the south to suffer because the far smaller population in the north would suffer from being sent south.  He also ignores the fact that autism expertise has been developing in Fredericton and received international recognition. Both in terms of central location and autism expertise it would make much more sense to develop the adult autism care facility for the most severely affected in Fredericton with smaller group homes around the province including Campbellton. Staff in the group homes could be sent to Fredericton for training and there would be far more adult autistic persons living humane lives with professional oversight near their families. He also lacked the honesty to admit that the decision to dump severely autistic adults in Campbellton on our Northern Border was done for political reasons ... to benefit him.

I did seek the assistance of my MLA, and my son's MLA Stephen Horsman, to discuss developing an adult autism care facility in Fredericton, building on the autism expertise and the central location of Fredericton,  Unfortunately for my son Conor Mr Horsman followed the party line in much the same wording later tweeted by his colleague Donald Arseneault and dismissed my request condescendingly.  

Health care is an important issue in New Brunswick as for most of Canada.  Before die hard Liberals vote for a second consecutive term they may want to consider the implications for their families of a government making health decisions based on political considerations.

Dear PM Trudeau Have You Forgotten Canadians with Autism? Have You Forgotten #WPG2016

Dear PM Trudeau,  Have you Forgotten?  

PM Trudeau Have you forgotten children and adults with autism? Have You Forgotten #WPG2016? Have you forgotten Resolution E-03 the Medicare Coverage for the Treatment of Autism Resolution?  Have you turned your backs on children and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders needing effective,  evidence based treatment? At #WPG2016 the Liberal Party of Canada, as stated by Bob Rae, expressed overwhelming support for Medicare Coverage  for the Treatment of Autism so WHY has PM Justin Trudeau failed to act to ensure Parliament ensures effective, evidence based treatment for all Canadians with autism disorders regardless of their age or province of residence?  PM Trudeau could you take a few minutes out of your busy day and talk to a gentleman named Bob Rae about autism and the need to ensure effective, evidence based treatment for autism across Canada from sea to shining sea?

PM Justin Trudeau appears to have turned his back on the Liberal Party of Canada's #WPG2016 Resolution calling for Medicare Coverage for the Treatment of Autism.

, 

Prominent Liberal Bob Rae expressed very strong support for the Liberal Party of Canada   #WPG2016  Medicare Coverage for Treatment of Autism Resolution which passed with overwhelming support. 

264 Days Until the New Brunswick Election. How Many Days Until a NB Adult Autism Care & Treatment Network Is Established?

New Brunswick Liberal Association Leader Brian Gallant
Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick Leader Blaine Higgs
Green Party of New Brunswick  Leader David Coon
New Democratic Party of New Brunswick  Leader Jennifer McKenzie
People's Alliance of New Brunswick Leader Kris Austin

Dear NB Leaders:

On behalf of Autism Advocacy NB, and as a long time autism advocate,  I ask each of you, and the party, alliance or association which you lead, to commit to establishing an Adult Autism Residential Care and Treatment Network as articulated by Paul McDonnell Ph.D. in a CBC interview in the run up to the 2010 provincial election. The basic principles as stated  in 2010 were:

"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 can do much, much better.

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."

Since the 2010 election the sad spectacle of individuals being sent off to the Campbellton psychiatric hospital and to hospital wards has continued.  You are respectfully requested to commit, as part of your 2018 election platforms,  to ending this non evidence based, cruel and inhumane treatment of vulneralble New Brunswick adults with severe autism disorders.  A centre could be established now in Fredericton which has developed some autism expertise and has been recognized as such from Saskatchewan to the US to France.

Please act on behalf of this vulnerable group of New Brunswickers.

Respectfully,


Harold L Doherty