Parents blast McGuinty on autism
Dozens rally outside constituency office to put funding for treatment on agenda
Maria Cook, The Ottawa Citizen
Published: Sunday, September 16, 2007
About 25 parents of children with autism -- many struggling with medical bills that can exceed a year's salary -- rallied yesterday outside Dalton McGuinty's Ottawa South constituency office to make funding for autism treatment an election issue.
"We don't want Dalton McGuinty re-elected," said Andrew Kavchak, an Ottawa South voter whose son has autism. "He doesn't deserve our trust."
Among the parents were David and Lesley Lander, of Kanata , whose two-year-old son, Jordan, was recently diagnosed with autism. The couple is spending about $40,000 a year for behavioural, speech and occupational therapy.
Two-year-old Jordan Lander, who was recently diagnosed with autism, joined parents David and Lesley outside Dalton McGuinty's constituency office yesterday. The Landers spend about $40,000 per year on treatment.
Julie Oliver, The Ottawa Citizen
One-third is paid by private insurers, and two-thirds comes out of their pockets.
"I've been let down by the health care system," said Mr. Lander, a 35-year-old software developer. "The only thing I've ever received is a one-hour visit with a social worker."
The demonstration was organized by the Ontario Autism Coalition, which held similar events across the province.
The coalition wants specialized instructors to work with autistic children in schools and treatment provided to everyone who qualifies for it. The group is also pushing for proper training and formal accreditation for therapists.
"They have a very serious situation and they really need government support," said Richard Raymond, the Tory candidate running against Mr. McGuinty. "They seem to be falling through the cracks."
Parents of autistic children took the McGuinty government to court in 2003 over a broken election promise to fund what is known as intensive behavioural intervention (IBI) for autistic children over six years of age.
The treatment can cost up to $60,000 a year, but is considered the only scientifically proven treatment available.
The parents won the initial decision, but the province won on appeal.
Although Mr. McGuinty recently announced $10 million for IBI services in the classroom, some parents remain skeptical.
"For the last four years he denied our children," said Sam Yassine, an Ottawa member of the OAC executive committee. "Now, before the election, he announces $10 million. We find this very cynical. It's another promise to be broken."
The NDP yesterday announced they would provide publicly funded IBI services in classrooms and would clear the wait list for autism services.
"Every child who needs IBI therapy should have access to it," Ontario NDP leader Howard Hampton said. "It's a practical, doable and sensible thing we can do that will make an immediate difference to the day-to-day lives of today's families."
The PC platform on autism includes clearing the wait list for treatment for children under the age of six, offering parents direct funding for private services and expanding respite programs.
"Under Dalton McGuinty's watch, children on wait lists for autism treatment has grown from 89 to 1,100," said Lisa MacLeod, opposition critic for children and youth and Nepean-Carleton PC candidate.
It can take four years to get publicly funded treatment, even though experts stress the importance of early diagnosis and treatment for autism, a developmental disorder that affects communication.
Hampton Promises NDP Commitment To Autistic Children As Campaigns Near First Full Week
Saturday September 15, 2007
CityNews.ca Staff
As the campaigning closed in on the end of its first week in the race for Ontario 's next premier, NDP leader Howard Hampton promised to put the province's money where his mouth is, especially when it comes to autistic children.
"Our commitment is this," Hampton said Saturday at a Bradford playground flanked by parents and their autistic children. "We will increase the investment in autism services by $100 million a year."
And while Hampton did that, Conservative leader John Tory was on the fall fair circuit just east of Toronto , promising $200 million a year towards health care for residents of the 905.
As for incumbent Dalton McGuinty, the Liberal leader was focusing on students Saturday, promising more money for textbooks.
"We're going to put in place as of next September a new textbook and technology grant of $300 for all full-time undergraduate students in Ontario ," he said.
McGuinty also insists the Liberals will have at least $500 per semester for students who drive at least 80 kilometres one way each day to class.
Interesting Books.
Hi, Karen here. What can I say about this wonderful book?
I just began reading it a couple of days ago and finished last night. It took me awhile because I kept going back and reading parts over again because they were so compelling. I loved it!
That's Life with Autism
Tales and Tips
for Families with Autism
Edited by
Donna Satterlee Ross and
Kelly Ann Jolly
That's Life with Autism is full of advice and inspiration, written by parents for other parents and professionals caring for children on the autism spectrum. The overall message of this book is that people affected by autism are not alone.
Each chapter addresses a specific topic, and range from the effect of autism in the family on couple or sibling relationships and intervention options to educational issues, diet, and the role of friends and relatives. Points for reflection prompt the reader to discuss and think further about the issues covered. The contributors also provide starting points for the development of positive strategies, including networks of support in which parents can learn from and find support from others in similar situations.
"After my daughter was diagnosed with Autism. I searched everywhere for stories about other families and how they were coping and living. This book has packaged it all up and sorted it into catagories. Very clever.
Easy to read and I especially like these features:
1. Real stories from real families
2. Tips from the parents at the end of their story
3. Ages of children are included in the story intro
4. Well-organized catagories to easily find a story to read about
This is a great book and would even make an excellent gift to a parent of a child with autism. Excellent book! "
- L. Behrendt MN
The practical and positive book will be of interest to anyone working with children on the autism spectrum, from parents to professionals to school administrators.
"This book has so much in common for parents with children on the autism spectrum. This is a must! Just reading it allows you to relate to others with autism isolation and know you are not alone in the world. I would recommend to anyone working with or dealing with a child on the spectrum! A++++++++++++ "
- K. Jolly, PA
Book's Introduction
Out of the corner of my eye I noticed my husband's college newspaper lying open on the table. I skimmed the classified section with interest:
My name is Sarah. I am 4 years old and have autism.
Therapist needed for ABA program, flexible hours.
No experience necessary (will train). $9/hour.
Little did I suspect that the decision to answer the advertisement would change my life as I knew it. To me, at first, it was just a part-time job to pay the bills and keep my foot in the door of my profession. I thought I could drive to work, spend a couple of hours doing drills that someone else created and go home to be with my new baby--no responsibilities beyond the front door, no strings attached. There was no contract and I could leave whenever I wanted.
By the end of my first week at work I was hooked. Helping Sarah taught me a whole new way of looking at the world. When I arrived I didn't know the first thing about autism. My knowledge was limited to a horrible black-and-white film from the 1960s that I had watched in an Abnormal Psychology class as an undergraduate; it included footage of a boy repeatedly banging his head on a wall. Thanks to Jamie, Sarah's mother, my limited vocabulary soon included terms like Lovaas, thimerosal and casein. Catherine Maurice became my hero, as I'm sure she did for many of you, too. I also learned the correct use of prompting, reinforcers, and restraints.
More importantly, though, I didn't just feel like an employee--I felt like a member of the family. Through our conversations at the beginning and end of each session Jamie grew to be like a mother, sister, best friend, educator and mentor rolled in to one. In return I listened to her concerns about the therapy program, the school system, and her hopes and fears for Sarah. With my limited experience dealing with autism I wished I could do more, but I didn't know how.
I spent the next two years doing everything I could to keep the program going and ensure that Sarah received consistent therapy at home. Thinking up new drills, training therapists and ultimately hiring other therapists were all part of my expanding duties. I watched as Jamie slowly removed herself from the program, increasingly overwhelmed by the stress, until one day the strain became too much and she left. No one told the therapists exactly what had happened but one thing was obvious: she was out of the picture, at least temporarily. After that the program fell apart and I also left.
After a six-month stint away from autism, and the birth of my second child, I felt compelled to return to work. I found a new family and started the process of investing myself in their program--professionally and emotionally--and I integrated myself into the rhythm of the family and therapy team. Again, I was struck by how much the mother relied on me to talk through concerns and simply to listen. While my knowledge had definitely increased, I still felt inadequately prepared to answer her questions in the breadth and depth she needed. Ultimately the family left the state to be closer to a specialized school; again, I felt that although I had performed my duties as a therapist, I hadn't done enough to help the mother.
Then an idea came into my mind. What if there was a book, written for parents, by parents who wanted to share their experiences with autism in order to help other parents who were experiencing similar trials? I set a goal to interview two parents in every state, but quickly determined I had bitten off more than I could chew. My personal contacts in the autism community were limited and centralized in one state. I needed help and I didn't know where to turn. So I did what most parents in this book suggest and tried my luck on the Internet. Immediately I connected with people across the country that were willing to help. Two treasured resources I discovered were the Parent 2 Parent Network at Unlocking Autism (www.unlockingautism.org) and the co-editor of this book, Kelly Jolly. I found Kelly through a discussion board at www.parenthoodplace.com, which she hosts and, based on the merit of her story (see "Kelly and Shaelyn" in Chap ter 1) asked her to assist in collecting the stories for this book. She shared my vision to support the families of children diagnosed with autism.
This book is the end result of our passion and desire to help mothers and other family members to cope with autism in their lives. The original concept was to provide a forum for parents to help other parents, and to provide hope and healing; however, in the process of discovering the stories, it became so much more. Each story provides a unique look into "life with autism" but, more than that, the stories provide a basis for understanding common experiences, discussions, and personal reflection. This book is for you, as a testament to my love for those family members who sacrifice so much to make a difference in the life of a child.
Donna Satterlee Ross
"This book is an Excelent resours for Parents just learning an Autism Diagnosis because it shares what other parents and children have already lived thru and lets them say they are not alone .Autism really isnt the end of the world. It hurts but it but it also teaches us so much and in that we grow as people and as parents Angela AKA Codys Mom " - E. McDonough
"I am a teacher and summer residential camp director who has the pleasure of working with children, adults and their families on the autism spectrum.
This book was a great read and provided me with much insight that I have already shared with my coworkers at school and plan to share with my staff at camp this summer. It provides a real down to earth outlook. Thank you! "
- S. Anderson
REMINDER
See last mailing for info..
Autism Ontario – Toronto Chapter Annual Ride, Stride and Glide for Autism Cycle is fast approaching. We look forward to seeing you there to support families of autistic individuals living in your community!
Date to remember: Sunday, September 23, 2007
Where: Thistletown Regional Centre/Rowntree Mills Park
On site Registration at: 9:00 am
Route Kick Off at: 10:00 am
Free BBQ lunch
Kids’ Activities
Free Parking at the Thistletown Regional Centre parking grounds
And More!!
Thanks so much. I’m enclosing our flyer in the event you can include the attachment too. Cheers!
Marti Veliz
Autism Ontario – Toronto Chapter
Volunteer
From a Listmate:
Sept. 7th
September 7, 2007 SAULT STAR (ON) PAGE: A1 (FRONT)
Candidates spotlight health care
Local hopefuls criticize, laud new SAH plan
Elaine Della-Mattia
All three candidates running for mainstream parties in the provincial election have one thing in common.
They believe that health care in Sault Ste. Marie is one of the main issues and that voters will take time to scrutinize party platforms. But that's where the common thread between candidates ends.
They each have their own views of what a vote for them will mean if their party gets elected Oct. 10.
Incumbent Liberal David Orazietti shows pride in his government's record.
"People are pleased with the progress we've made in the community and they're glad to see that the hospital is under construction," he said.
But his opponents put a different spin on the new hospital plan.
PC candidate Josh Pringle said the community is offended that it took so long to get the hospital underway and argues the Liberals offended Ontarians when they imposed the health-tax premium - the largest tax increase in the province's history - and at the same time cut coverage including chiropractic and optometry services.
NDP challenger Jeff Arbus agrees the health-tax premium and the services not covered are a sore spot with area residents.
"The people tell me they've been let down by (Premier Dalton) McGuinty. He's put himself first while the working people are working harder and falling behind," Arbus said.
Arbus said he's an advocate of private enterprise but insists it shouldn't be part of health care.
"The impact on our hospital has already been seen with contracting out cleaning services," said Arbus, who believes by not providing the right services and equipment, Sault Area Hospital had to fight the dreaded c. difficile bacteria.
All the candidates have plans they're pushing to improve long-term care or special services.
For Arbus it's ensuring children with autism receive intensive behavioural therapy treatment that has proven successful and improving long-term care facilities for seniors.
Pringle said the Conservative plan is to invest in more doctors and nurses and provide $35 million of long term care upgrades.
Orazietti said his government's plan is already in the works and the community will continue to see improvements due to investments such as the Northern Ontario Medical School , increasing amounts of foreign-trained doctors and a plan to provide for more long-term care services.
Arbus, an educator for 30 years, faults the McGuinty government for not keeping its promise to change the funding formula for publicly-funded schools.
"Local boards need to be allowed to generate funds and there needs to be a process to move more in that direction," he said.
He also lays blame on the provincial government for its lack of funding to post-secondary education, which has resulted in Ontario 's graduates holding the record for having the highest average debt load upon graduation in Canada .
Pringle, an Algoma University College graduate, said he wants to see his alma mater become an independent university but believes that more government funding will be needed to make that a reality.
Orazietti, a former AUC board member and member of the independence committee, said his personal goal is to work toward an independent charter for the post-secondary institution.
"I can tell you that ministry staff are working on it and it's an initiative I'm eager to see take place in our community," he said.
Orazietti believes post-secondary institutions are generally underrated as economic generators in the community.
"Steps towards independence mean a major step for the economy in this community," he said.
Each candidate has also established personal goals.
For Pringle, it's ensuring that the PC platform moves ahead.
"I'll keep my word and work on achieving the goals of the party platform through investment into the community and province," he said.
He also wants to ensure more jobs are created in Northern Ontario through the party's plan to decentralize 10 per cent of ministry jobs and improve infrastructure.
Arbus said he believes this election is about people and working families who want representation that they can count on.
"People would be electing a reliable leader who understands them and puts them first," he said.
He cites the government's inability to increase the minimum wage to $10 per hour.
"Instead, Mr. McGuinty gave himself a $40,000 raise," Arbus said.
Orazietti said he's seen the success with the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp and its $38 million of investments into Sault Ste. Marie.
While the fund's annual budget is $60 million, Orazietti wants to see that increased to $100 million and ensure the city can access the fund to create new jobs and move forward.
From Ellen Notbohm
Get on her NEWSLETTER List!
Ellen
Ellen Notbohm
(503) 452-7801
emailme@ellennotbohm.com
http://www.ellennotbohm.com
My website is www.ellennotbohm.com. We are currently working on setting up an archive on the site with past issues of the newsletter. It should be up in the very near future. I don’t have the September newsletter posted anywhere at the moment, but I’m happy to send it to anyone who expresses an interest, and I certainly encourage you to forward it to whomever you like.
From a Listmate
Ottawa Sun
August 28, 2007
Tories air out attacks on Grits
By ANTONELLA ARTUSO, QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU CHIEF
The John Tory Conservatives took to the radio airwaves yesterday with a series of negative ads tackling the record of the Dalton McGuinty government.
In one spot on the so-called Colle-gate scandal, Tory talks about a controversial $1-million grant to a cricket club that asked for $150,000. The Opposition leader criticizes the Liberals for sending taxpayer dollars to groups that later revealed Grit connections.
"Mr. McGuinty just sent your money to his friends while kids with autism, families without doctors and farmers in trouble were told there was none," Tory says in one of five ads.
In another ad on the topic of leadership, Tory says: "Misleading is saying what you think people want to hear, then backtracking. Sometimes, people call that deception."
Finance Minister Greg Sorbara said the Conservative leader has nothing new to add so he's attacking his opponents.
"It's so sad to see him basically try to grasp at whatever negativism he can in order to grab a headline."
Tory said he's telling people why he thinks a change in government is necessary, and why he believes he can do a better job. "With Dalton McGuinty, what taxpayers are right to expect and what they get are two very, very different things."
NDP Leader Howard Hampton said he plans to remain positive during the campaign. "I'm going to stick to the issues," he said.
From a Listmate
September 7, 2007 SAULT STAR (ON) PAGE: A1 (FRONT)
Candidates spotlight health care
Local hopefuls criticize, laud new SAH plan
Elaine Della-Mattia
All three candidates running for mainstream parties in the provincial election have one thing in common.
They believe that health care in Sault Ste. Marie is one of the main issues and that voters will take time to scrutinize party platforms. But that's where the common thread between candidates ends.
They each have their own views of what a vote for them will mean if their party gets elected Oct. 10.
Incumbent Liberal David Orazietti shows pride in his government's record.
"People are pleased with the progress we've made in the community and they're glad to see that the hospital is under construction," he said.
But his opponents put a different spin on the new hospital plan.
PC candidate Josh Pringle said the community is offended that it took so long to get the hospital underway and argues the Liberals offended Ontarians when they imposed the health-tax premium - the largest tax increase in the province's history - and at the same time cut coverage including chiropractic and optometry services.
NDP challenger Jeff Arbus agrees the health-tax premium and the services not covered are a sore spot with area residents.
"The people tell me they've been let down by (Premier Dalton) McGuinty. He's put himself first while the working people are working harder and falling behind," Arbus said.
Arbus said he's an advocate of private enterprise but insists it shouldn't be part of health care.
"The impact on our hospital has already been seen with contracting out cleaning services," said Arbus, who believes by not providing the right services and equipment, Sault Area Hospital had to fight the dreaded c. difficile bacteria.
All the candidates have plans they're pushing to improve long-term care or special services.
For Arbus it's ensuring children with autism receive intensive behavioural therapy treatment that has proven successful and improving long-term care facilities for seniors.
Pringle said the Conservative plan is to invest in more doctors and nurses and provide $35 million of long term care upgrades.
Orazietti said his government's plan is already in the works and the community will continue to see improvements due to investments such as the Northern Ontario Medical School , increasing amounts of foreign-trained doctors and a plan to provide for more long-term care services.
Arbus, an educator for 30 years, faults the McGuinty government for not keeping its promise to change the funding formula for publicly-funded schools.
"Local boards need to be allowed to generate funds and there needs to be a process to move more in that direction," he said.
He also lays blame on the provincial government for its lack of funding to post-secondary education, which has resulted in Ontario 's graduates holding the record for having the highest average debt load upon graduation in Canada .
Pringle, an Algoma University College graduate, said he wants to see his alma mater become an independent university but believes that more government funding will be needed to make that a reality.
Orazietti, a former AUC board member and member of the independence committee, said his personal goal is to work toward an independent charter for the post-secondary institution.
"I can tell you that ministry staff are working on it and it's an initiative I'm eager to see take place in our community," he said.
Orazietti believes post-secondary institutions are generally underrated as economic generators in the community.
"Steps towards independence mean a major step for the economy in this community," he said.
Each candidate has also established personal goals.
For Pringle, it's ensuring that the PC platform moves ahead.
"I'll keep my word and work on achieving the goals of the party platform through investment into the community and province," he said.
He also wants to ensure more jobs are created in Northern Ontario through the party's plan to decentralize 10 per cent of ministry jobs and improve infrastructure.
Arbus said he believes this election is about people and working families who want representation that they can count on.
"People would be electing a reliable leader who understands them and puts them first," he said.
He cites the government's inability to increase the minimum wage to $10 per hour.
"Instead, Mr. McGuinty gave himself a $40,000 raise," Arbus said.
Orazietti said he's seen the success with the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp and its $38 million of investments into Sault Ste. Marie.
While the fund's annual budget is $60 million, Orazietti wants to see that increased to $100 million and ensure the city can access the fund to create new jobs and move forward.
Google Alert
Attention News Editors:
Dalton McGuinty's Record on Autism
TORONTO , Sept. 7 /CNW/ - For a politician who claims he wants to run on
his record and who claims that he's "being straight with people," Dalton
McGuinty sure has a funny way of showing
it.
<<
Here are the facts:
- Dalton McGuinty promised the parent of a child with autism that he
would "devise a feasible way in which autistic children in our
province can get the support and treatment they need. That includes
children over the age of six" (E-mail from Dalton McGuinty to Nancy
Morrison, September 17,
2003).
- In April 2005, Dalton McGuinty chose to appeal a ruling of the
Ontario Superior Court that the age cut off for IBI treatment
violated the constitutional rights of children with autism
( Woodstock Sentinel-Review, April 6, 2005).
- Dalton McGuinty then took NDP MPP Shelley Martel to court when she
tried to find out how much the Ontario government spent on the court
case. This was after Dalton McGuinty fought Martel's freedom of
information request and was told by the Information and Privacy
Commissioner that he had to release the information (Globe and Mail,
March 14, 2007).
- Meanwhile, the waiting list for autism treatment has grown from 89
in early 2004 to nearly 1,100 children as of December 2006 ( Toronto
Star, January 19, 2007, Timmins Daily Press, August 18, 2007).
>>
Now, on the eve of an election, Dalton McGuinty is making yet another
promise to children with autism. And if, as he's so fond of saying, the best
predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour, then why should the parents
of autistic children trust Dalton McGuinty?
Leadership Matters.
For further information: Mike Van Soelen, (647) 722-1760
'Huge opportunity'
Posted By ALLAN BENNER
Posted 8 days ago
New Democratic Party leader Howard Hampton said the Oct. 10 election promises to be a "huge opportunity" for his party, considering the lack of faith people have in the province's Liberal government.
He said Liberal premier Dalton McGuinty is "now promising over and over again, things that he promised before and didn't do."
And the more promises McGuinty makes, "the more people shake their heads. The more people say, 'I can't believe this guy.'"
Hampton, the MPP for the Kenora-Rainy River riding, said the NDP can build on the strength of people like Peter Kormos from the current Niagara Centre riding, and Andrea Horwath from Hamilton east, to fill more seats in the provincial legislature following the election in their neighbouring ridings.
"We start with Peter and we go from there," he said.
Hampton was the guest speaker during the Welland riding nomination meeting, Wednesday.
He said the NDP went out of its way to find candidates that can relate to the impression that many people have that the Liberal government is "more concerned about itself than it is concerned about the issues that matter in my neighbourhood."
An example of that is the decision to increase the wages for MPPs. McGuinty's annual salary increased by about $40,000 he said during the meeting.
Another example of the Liberal's lack of credibility is concerning the discrimination against children with autism. Prior to the last election, he said McGuinty promised to restore funding for intensive behavioral Intervention for children over the age of six - slashed by the previous Progressive Conservative government.
"Imagine the hope you feel as a parent" when the treatment begins to make a difference in the life of a child suffering from autism.
"And imagine how desperate you'd feel to watch you child start to regress" after they were no longer eligible for the treatment after they turn six years old.
Those parents felt terribly desperate.
But six months after the election, he said the McGuinty government marched the parents "though every court, every appeals court, and every kind of legal mechanism, not just to stop them, but to fight them tooth and nail."
Even when the parents won their court battle, he said only $15 million of the promised $59 million actually went to helping children with autism.
Hampton said the candidates representing the party are people who can say "with credibility, 'I know the struggles you face, I know the difficult decisions you have to make and the challenges because I faced them myself.' That is important."
From a Listmate
http://www.youtube.com/user/HowardHampton2007
September 7, 2007
NDP TV AD EXPOSES McGUINTY RECORD OF BROKEN PROMISES
Ontario's NDP today unveiled a new TV ad that reminds working families about Dalton McGuinty’s miserable record of breaking promises. The ad highlights key McGuinty failures including broken-promise health tax, children with autism being denied treatment and McGuinty giving himself a $40,000 pay raise while denying working families a fair $10 minimum wage.
Watch the ad
Help us get the ad on TVs across Ontario ! Donate Now
McGUINTY'S PLATFORM REHASHES BROKEN PROMISES
NDP leader Howard Hampton says the McGuinty Liberals are insulting working families by trying to sell them the same platform of promises he spent the last four years breaking. Hampton says after four years of broken promises, hardworking Ontarians won’t believe Dalton McGuinty again.
NOW OR NEVER:
THE NDP PLAN TO FIGHT GLOBAL WARMING
After four years of Liberal inaction on the environment, NDP Leader Howard Hampton is inviting Ontario families to support “Now or Never”, his plan to meet Kyoto and fight global warming. The NDP’s practical solutions will make life healthier and more secure for working families by addressing the serious environmental problems that have gotten worse under McGuinty’s Liberals.
More
I READ THE NEWS TODAY, OH BOY
We should all pay attention to what Hampton says in the coming weeks, as today's NDP platform plank could become tomorrow's government policy.
— Ian Urquhart, Toronto Star, September 5, 2007
www.ontariondp.com
To be unsubscribed from the Weekly Digest List #8 mailing list, simply click on the link below:
Unsubscribe nancymorrison@rogers.com
From a listmate
Attention News Editors:
Dalton McGuinty's Record on Autism
TORONTO , Sept. 7 /CNW/ - For a politician who claims he wants to run on
his record and who claims that he's "being straight with people," Dalton
McGuinty sure has a funny way of showing it.
<<
Here are the facts:
- Dalton
McGuinty promised the parent of a child with autism that he
would "devise a feasible way in which autistic children in our
province can get the support and treatment they need. That includes
children over the age of six" (E-mail from Dalton McGuinty to Nancy
Morrison, September 17, 2003).
- In April 2005, Dalton McGuinty chose to appeal a ruling of the
Ontario Superior Court that the age cut off for IBI treatment
violated the constitutional rights of children with autism
( Woodstock Sentinel-Review, April 6, 2005).
- Dalton McGuinty then took NDP MPP Shelley Martel to court when she
tried to find out how much the Ontario government spent on the court
case. This was after Dalton McGuinty fought Martel's freedom of
information request and was told by the Information and Privacy
Commissioner that he had to release the information (Globe and
Mail,
March 14, 2007).
- Meanwhile, the waiting list for autism treatment has grown from 89
in early 2004 to nearly 1,100 children as of December 2006 ( Toronto
Star, January 19, 2007, Timmins Daily Press, August 18, 2007).
>>
Now, on the eve of an election, Dalton McGuinty is making yet another
promise to children with autism. And if, as he's so fond of saying, the best
predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour, then why should the parents
of autistic children trust Dalton McGuinty?
Leadership Matters.
For further information: Mike Van Soelen, (647) 722-1760
From a friend
Visit the Revolution Health Online College Mental Health Fair
Click on the above link and show your support for the Obsessive Compulsive Foundation. For every unique visitor to the OCF's Online Health Fair Page, Revolution Health will pay the OCF $.25 cent!
The OC Foundation has been invited by our partner Revolution Health to join with it and 10 other select nonprofit mental health groups to share important mental health information by participating in its first Online College Mental Health Fair. We will have our own “virtual” health booth featuring up-to-date information dealing with the mental health issues facing college students and their parents.
The OCF page features a description of OCD and information about the OC Foundation. There will be links from our Health Fair page to the Foundation’s website, www.ocfoundation.org, where you will find downloadable brochures about obsessive compulsive disorder. There will also be a link to Organized Chaos, our webzine for teens and young adults as well as a link to the Compulsive Hoarding section of our website.
Revolution Health will be making a donation to all participating organization that bring guests to visit the health fair, so be sure to come by and show your support.
Google alert
Attention News Editors:
John Tory Autism Fact Check: Who Sued Who?
TORONTO , Sept. 9 /CNW/ - As John Tory held one of the most negative
campaign launches in the history of Ontario politics, he also continued his
revisionist approach to how the Conservatives treated children with autism in
Ontario .
Today Tory incorrectly claimed that autism lawsuits were started by the
McGuinty government. He said the government "turned around and sued them
(parents of autistic children) in court."
Fact Check:
Who filed the lawsuit against
who?
On November 24, 1999, a group of families with autistic children filed a
lawsuit against the Conservative government. One of the parents said: "The
government is just trying to save money by excluding older children. We aren't
going to accept that our children's health would be compromised in this way."
The suit finally went to court in April 2003, still under the
Conservative government. It was one more mess the Conservatives left behind to
be cleaned up.
What did McGuinty Liberals promise?
"The Ontario Liberals support extending autism treatment beyond the age
of six. In government, my team and I will work with clinical
directors,
parents, teachers and school boards to devise a feasible way in which autistic
children in our province can get the support and treatment they need. That
includes children over the age of six."
Neither the Conservatives nor NDP even mentioned the word "autism" in
their 2003 election platforms.
What did McGuinty Liberals deliver?
We ended the unfair Conservative age cut off. Now kids have access to
autism treatment beyond the age of 6. We also more than tripled our investment
in autism services, more than doubled the number of children being served,
created a new college program to train more therapists, and are for the first
time expanding IBI into
schools.
Here's what one parent of an autistic child says now
"I am very pleased that over 200 additional IBI spots have been funded
while children over age 6 continue to remain in this program. I have
confidence that Minister Chambers and her ministry will ensure that families
will be able to access these services quickly and that children will be
receiving high quality treatment." - Tammy Star, parent of an autistic child
(Ministry of Children and Youth Services press release, August 17, 2007)
For further information: Ben Chin, (416) 961-3800 ext. 412,
ben_chin@ontarioliberal.ca
From a Listmate, Adam Feinstein
Dear conference delegate,
Just a quick note to say that the latest issue of my 40-page monthly
international autism newsletter, Looking Up (www.lookingupautism.org),
is out now. Each month, we publish the most recent research findings,
news and views from the world of autism.
The latest issue
includes:
GENETICS RESEARCH SPECIAL: All the latest autism findings from around
the world
BIOMEDICAL STUDIES: New research into effect of gluten- and
casein-free diet on autistic children
AROUND THE GLOBE: Electric shocks rightly condemned - but parents
insist: 'Our autistic son needs electric prod to stop him banging his
head'
EMPLOYMENT: 'People with autism can be valued workers'
We cast an eye back on just a few of the many
stimulating presentations
at the second World Autism Congress, including contributions from
Professor RITA JORDAN, WENDY LAWSON and Dr PETER VERMEULEN
Misuses of the word 'autism'
AUTISM AND THE ARTS: Playwright honoured for dark comedy; Icelandic
documentary tackles all aspects of autism; Hindi film brings autism
into
the mainstream
We pay tribute to SYBIL ELGAR, world pioneer in autism education
In the next few issues of LOOKING
UP:
Interview with Raun Kaufman, director of the Son Rise Institute
Education special
Language issues in autism
Autism in Asia and Africa
Autism and sports
A report from the Autism-Europe congress in Oslo
You can find more details about how to obtain Looking Up by going
to the website (www.lookingupautism.org). You will also find a new,
improved index and search engine, full contents of all back issues, as
well as some free
articles from previous editions (including interviews
with Dr Gary Mesibov, Dr Tony Attwood, Theo Peeters, Dr Eric
Courchesne,
Professor Digby Tantam and Professor Christopher Gillberg), and
extracts
from many other articles.
Please feel free to e-mail me if you need further information.
Best wishes,
Adam Feinstein
--
Adam Feinstein
http://www.lookingupautism.org
OAC Update
Ontario Autism Coalition
Event Invitiation: Update
September 9, 2007
Please distribute to all lists.
This is an update with exact times of the events and contact information for the OAC Executive Members hosting the event at each riding.
The Ontario Autism Coalition (OAC) is declaring Saturday, September 15th 2007 as a Day of Action for Autism and is inviting you to join us at one of the several elected MPP riding offices in Ottawa, North Toronto, Toronto, Windsor, Essex, and Sarnia where events will be taking place throughout the day to bring awareness to the autism crisis in Ontario.
Each of us know the challenges we face in attempting to secure appropriate publicly funded programs and services for our children with autism. If we want this situation to change, we must be the change. Make an effort to join us at one of the riding offices listed below. Our message will be stronger when our voices unite. This is our opportunity to bring attention to the autism issues and this opportunity will only return four years from now in the next election campaign. Now is the time for action.
Let's believe that together we can make the necessary change for appropriate publicly funded autism programs and services in Ontario . Please join us at one of the following locations:
Ottawa
Premier Dalton McGuinty's office
1795 Kilborn Av
Ottawa ON K1H 6N1
Tel :613-736-9573
Fax :613-736-7374
dmcguinty.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Time: 11:00am to 1:00pm
Contact OAC Executive Member, Sam Yassine for more information:
613-841-3886
Sam_yassine@rogers.com
North Toronto
Greg Sorbara's office (Minister of Finance)
Unit AU8- 140 Woodbridge Ave
Woodbridge ON L4L 4K9
Tel :905-851-0440
Fax :905-851-0210
gsorbara.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Contact OAC Executive Member, Sharon Gabison for more information:
647-892-4418
shar.gabison@utoronto.ca
Toronto
Kathleen Wynne's office (Minister of Education)
146 Laird Dr, Suite 101
Toronto ON M4G 3V7
Tel :416-425-6777
Fax :416-425-0350
kwynne.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Contact OAC Executive Member, Malcolm Stanley for more information:
416-275-3562
amstanley@rogers.com
Windsor
Sandra Pupatello's office (Minister of Economic Development and Trade)
1483 Ouellette Ave
Windsor ON N8X 1K1
Tel : 519-977-7191
Fax :519-977-7029
spupatello.mpp@liberal.ola.org
Time: 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Contact OAC Executive Member, Mary Beth Rocheleau for more information:
519-734-6387
grocheleau6@hotmail.com
Essex
Bruce Crozier (Deputy Speaker)
78 Talbot St N
Essex ON N8M 1A2
Tel :519-776-6420
Fax :519-776-5763
bcrozier.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Time: 1:00PM - 3:00PM
Contact OAC Executive Member, Mary Beth Rocheleau for more information:
519-734-6387
grocheleau6@hotmail.com
Sarnia
Caroline DiCocco (Minister of Culture)
4th Floor - 201 Front St. North
Sarnia ON N7T 7T9
Tel :519-337-0051
Fax :519-337-3246
cdicocco.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org
Time: 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Contact OAC Executive Member, Dan Fentie for more information:
519-869-4198
autism@coolgoose.com
Nancy Morrison
NDP
ndpyorksimcoe@yahoo.ca
It was the kind of introduction to provincial politics a new candidate can only dream of.
Provincial NDP leader Howard Hampton and his high-profile wife, MPP Shelley Martel, joined a room full of supporters for Nancy Morrison’s nomination meeting earlier this year.
Mr. Hampton said Ms Morrison embodies the principles of the NDP.
“That’s why I’m so proud and pleased she has come forward as our candidate,” he said.
Now, Ms Morrison is on the campaign trail hoping to pay back Mr. Hampton’s endorsement with a big win in the York-Simcoe riding.
She’ll also have federal candidate Sylvia Gerl on the stump.
Ms Morrison, 47, who lives in Bradford West Gwillimbury with husband Phil and their two children, said she is proud to carry the NDP banner.
She was originally introduced to politics through her advocacy work for children living with autism. Ms Morrison said she hopes to continue her work for children with autism once she is elected MPP.
Her community volunteerism includes offering training in autism awareness for EMS workers, volunteering at the Eaglewood Folk Festival in Pefferlaw, instructing smoking cessation for the lung association and was an executive member of a Big Sisters organization.
From a listmate
Fifteen things about me
This is a letter to your child's teacher. It will help your child adjust to a new classroom and make the teacher's life easy too. Download and print this free document now.
http://www.nlconcepts.com/autism-teacherletter.htm
Back to school offer
Conversation starters teach children to converse. Buy three and get the 4th one free! We can only offer this great deal for 10 more days and on a first come, first serve basis.
http://www.nlconcepts.com/
*We wish your child a successful year, surrounded by people who believe and who care!*
Natural Learning Concepts
http://www.nlconcepts.com
From a listmate
From the Ottawa Sun
September 8, 2007
Ontario leaders full of toxin
Tests on the three main party leaders show the number of toxins in their bodies is higher than the average person. Tory leads with the most pollutants, which are associated with cancer and other health problems, and Hampton follows closely, just in front
By ANTONELLA ARTUSO, SUN MEDIA QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU
TORONTO -- Tests of Ontario 's Big Three political party leaders have revealed above-average pollutant levels.
On the eve of Ontario 's election campaign that begins Monday, the just-released tests show a toxic horse race of sorts between the Liberal, Conservative and NDP bosses.
Conservative Leader John Tory had the most pollutants in his blood, 44, followed closely by New Democrat Leader Howard Hampton at 42 and, at 41, by Premier Dalton McGuinty, the Liberal leader.
Carried out as part of a campaign by Toronto-based Environmental Defence, the tests show the three men have more toxins in their bodies and higher pollution levels than the average person.
The 46 different substances found in the trio are associated with cancer, developmental problems, respiratory illness, damage to the nervous system and hormone disruption.
McGuinty said he has "no idea" why he tested highest for organophosphate insecticide metabolites, used on fruits and vegetables, lawns and as mosquito and pest control.
"I think what it means is that we're all affected," the premier said.
"There's something going on here which is not good for our health."
McGuinty said he volunteered for the test to help raise awareness of the toxins everyone has in their blood, even people outside urban centres.
"I'm confident, based on discussions I've had, that people living in northern Ontario -- who think the air would be pristine and subject to far fewer smog days -- also have toxins in their blood," McGuinty said.
Environmental Defence released the test results to determine the leaders' exposure to potentially dangerous toxins found in the environment and everyday products.
The group, which has run similar tests on federal leaders, hopes to focus attention on the effect of environmental toxins on human health.
All three Ontario leaders showed more toxicity than families who took part in the group's Polluted Children, Toxic Nation study.
Tory scored tops in PCBs, PFCs and organochlorine pesticides.
Hampton tested highest for phthalates.
McGuinty's sample found pollutants including the highest level of organophosphate insecticide metabolites.
Bisphenol A, a hormone disrupter under review by the federal government and found in hard plastic bottles and tin- can linings, was highest in Hampton and McGuinty.
Meanwhile, all three parties are ramping up for what's promising to be a close and nasty campaign.
Disagreements have broken out as Liberal campaign staff try to videotape Hampton at his events, raising NDP fears he's being targeted for negative ads or YouTube spots.
The NDP released its own new TV ads yesterday, focusing on "broken" Liberal vows in areas such as autism and taxes.
" Dalton was hoping his record wouldn't stick to him. You can tell him he's wrong. Don't get mad. Get Orange . Howard Hampton and Ontario 's NDP," the ads say.
The Liberals issued an accounting of their election promises in which they acknowledge they didn't meet commitments on taxes and closing coal-fired power plants, but say they've implemented the vast majority of their 231 promises from 2003.
Autism the Musical
Autism Speaks, In the News, Autism the Musical Screens Nationwide
http://www.autismthemusical.com/
from a listmate
This was written by David Thompson on his group on 'Facebook'.
Just to clarify what was presented to the Trustees regarding the additional funding.
The Govt has announced additional $2,154,776 for the 2007 school year.This funding may continue for 2008/09 school year if the present government is re-elected.
The Govt has said that we can spend the new monies anyway we feel fit except for the following: $101,322 for Primary Class sizes and $600k for transportation which is to be paid directly to the bus companies. We have created a surplus in this envelope so there is a question of whether we still get this amount or how to spend it.
At our Information Session of August 28, the following options were presented to the trustees:
Option 1- Spend the $600k on transportation
$102k on Primary Class size
$1.4 million and bring back as many positions as possible for this amount which equate to about 32.7 staff which includes EA's, Child Development Councilors, Principal-elementary, VP Secondary. Secretaries in both Elementary and secondary and custodial staff.
Option 2
spend $600k on transportation
$102k on primary class size
$1.4 million into reserves
Option 3 $600 k on transportation
$102k on Primary class sizes
$800 K into reserves
$600k and bring back a many staff as possible
These are the three options presented to the trustees but our options are not limited to these three...and this is where trustees can make our own decisions.
These new monies will not bring back all effected education staff but it will assist.
Hopefully this clarifies some miss information.
From a listmate, excerpts
5 Ways
Dalton let kids with
autism down
1. Broke his promise to
provide autism services for
every child who needs them
2. Gave lawyers $2.4 million
to fight parents in court so
he could break his promise
3. ...then took Shelly Martell
to court to try and hide
how much he was paying
lawyers
4. There were 89 kids
on the waiting list for
autism services when the
McGuinty Liberals took
office - now there are 1,100
5. Forced parents like the
Aslanbogas to sell their
home to pay the $5,000-
a-month bill for their son’s
autism services
Our campaign was the first out of the
gates yesterday and we were able
to tell Ontarians what this election is
about – delivering a fair deal for today’s
working families.
Today, we’re going to talk about who
this election is about. It’s about working
families who have been betrayed by
McGuinty and who are suffering as
result of his broken promises, like
children with autism and their families.
While McGuinty saw fit to give himself a
$40,000 raise and millions of slush fund
dollars to Liberal insiders, he broke his
promise to deliver services to children
with autism. McGuinty gave lawyers
$2.4 million to fight parents in court so
he could break his promise. He even
took my wife Shelley Martel to court to
hide how much public money he wasted
fighting the parents in court.
That’s someone who will do or say
anything to win votes but won’t keep his
promises after the election. McGuinty
Liberals have disgraced themselves by
breaking their promises to Ontario ’s
most vulnerable citizens and their
families.
Let’s keep working over the next 29
days to make sure we elect more NDP
MPPs to stand up for working families
and to stand up for the children Dalton
McGuinty has turned his back on.
Howard Hampton
Leader, Ontario ’s NDP
Orange
PRESS
E-29 • Tuesday 11 September 2007
Orange
PRESS
A message from Howard
DAILY PULP
Howard Hampton by far
has the most aggressive
campaign going.
Alex Pierson,
Global TV,
September 10, 2007
Give us a sign
Need signs? Canvassing empty handed? What are you waiting for? Contact your lovely and talented regional
comunications officer.
You’re on the air
The campaign website is live - you can find your candidate on the “team” page. Let us know if we’re missing any
info from your campaign and we’ll make sure your page is up to date.
Don’t forget
As of today nominations are now officially open. All you need to do is get your forms from
www.electionsontario.on.ca, make a date with your returning officer to meet in person, collect 50
signatures from voters in your riding – just in case (officially you only need 25), get a $200 certified cheque,
money order or cash for your deposit and you coud be the first in your riding to be nominated. Sweet.
Wanna see dalton’s record stick?
If you haven’t caught the NDP’s ads on your TV, go to www.ontariondp.com and click on the stickies.
PEELIN’ DOWN THE ROAD
Kicking off the 2007 provincial election campaign this morning in front of Queen’s Park, Howard Hampton
outlined the campaign for the coming weeks.
“This campaign is about Ontario ’s hard-working families and who they can count on to stand up for a fair deal.
It’s about making sure Dalton McGuinty’s record sticks to him. No more $40,000 MPP pay hikes when working
families are struggling to make ends meet. No more multi-million dollar slush funds and payoffs for McGuinty’s
friends when thousands are losing their jobs. No more broken promises,” said Hampton .
“Our campaign will focus on practical ideas that will make life more affordable for everyday families, a fair day’s
pay for a hard day’s work, a cleaner, healthier environment, removing barriers to university, college and training,
and making sure all kids, including kids with autism, get the education and support they deserve.”
After launching the campaign in Toronto , Howard was the first leader to visit Hamilton , where he was joined
by Hamilton Centre MPP Andrea Andrea Horwath and candidates Juanita Maldonado (Ancaster- Dundas -
Flamborough-Westdale), Paul Miller ( Hamilton East – Stoney Creek), Bryan Adamczyk ( Hamilton Mountain ),
and Anthony Crawford ( Oakville ).
“Hamiltonians deserve fairness – and they can depend on the NDP to deliver,” said Hampton . “The McGuinty
Liberals have done nothing to solve the province’s manufacturing crisis and help working families keep goodpaying
jobs.”
Howard ended the day back in Toronto with Cheri DiNovo and other Toronto-area candidates in the riding
of Parkdale – High Park . It’s been almost a year to the day since DiNovo beat the Liberal candidate in a byelection.
New Democrats from across the GTA joined Howard at the same venue where Cheri celebrated last
year’s victory.
“We took a Liberal stronghold here last year – in this campaign, we’re going to take many more,” said Hampton .
Authorized by the CFO for the Ontario New Democratic Party
September 11, 2007
Hampton challenges McGuinty betrayals of working families
Richmond Hill – NDP Leader Howard Hampton says this election gives Ontarians the chance to choose between McGuinty Liberal betrayals and the NDP’s plan for a fair deal for today’s working families.
“Dalton McGuinty’s priorities are wrong. He put himself and his friends ahead of working families,” Hampton said while speaking at Leaps and Bounds, a centre that provides treatment for children with autism.
“Mr. McGuinty gave himself a $40,000 raise and handed out millions of slush fund dollars to his friends. But he broke promises to working families, like children with autism and their families. He denied them services he said he would deliver. That’s someone who will do or say anything to win your vote but won’t keep his promises after the election,” the NDP Leader said.
Joining Hampton at today’s press conference was NDP York Simcoe Candidate Nancy Morrison. Her son has autism. During the last election, McGuinty wrote Morrison a letter that promised autism services for every child who needs them. But after the election, McGuinty broke that promise. He even gave lawyers $2.4 million to fight parents in court so he could break his promise.
As of March 31, 2007, 1,100 children were languishing on waiting lists for autism services. That's an increase of 1,200 per cent from when the McGuinty Liberals took office. That includes Burak Aslanboga. His parents Cemil and Nazile Aslanboga had to sell their home because that’s the only way they could raise the money they need to pay the $5,000-a-month bill for their son’s autism services. Hampton says that’s unacceptable – and a clear sign that McGuinty is out of touch with working families.
“McGuinty Liberals have disgraced themselves by breaking their promises to Ontario ’s most vulnerable citizens and their families. You can’t count on Liberals,” Hampton said. “Ontarians want a provincial government that puts people first, that guarantees opportunities for all our young people, including children with autism. To make that happen, Ontario needs more NDP MPPs standing up for working families.”
– 30 –
Media Inquiries: Jon Weier (416) 591-5455 x290 / Kaj Hasselriis x 271
the Star
Autistic kids let down, Hampton charges TheStar.com - News - Autistic kids let down, Hampton charges
September 11, 2007
Kerry Gillespie
Queen's Park Bureau
If every Ontario resident put $7.50 into Sharon Gabison's fishbowl, the waiting list for services for autistic children could be eliminated, she says.
Gabison and other parents of autistic children were at a press conference in Richmond Hill this morning in support of NDP Leader Howard Hampton.
Hampton had no problem putting his $7.50 in Gabison's bowl but he wasn't willing to say exactly what his party would do for autistic children if elected.
Parents will have to wait "a couple of days" to hear his plans, he said.
But he did have plenty to say about how badly the Liberals have handled the autism file, starting with breaking a 2003 election promise to provide intensive autism therapy to kids who need it regardless of age.
The "McGuinty Liberals have disgraced themselves by breaking their promise to Ontario 's most vulnerable citizens and their families," Hampton said.
More than 1,000 children are on the list for Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) in Ontario , which can cost more than $50,000 annually per child.
During the 2003 election campaign, McGuinty promised to end the previous Conservative government's "unfair and discriminatory" practice of cutting off IBI funding when children turned 6. But he then delayed doing it and continued to fight parents in an existing messy court case.
The government spent $2.4 million — enough to provide treatment to 50 children — on legal bills fighting parents in court, Hampton said.
Even though the Liberals have doubled annual funding for autism over the past two years to $115 million, the issue of the broken promise has dogged them and many parents of autistic children have gotten involved with other parties.
Nancy Morrison - who received the promise letter from McGuinty in the last election — is now the NDP candidate in York Simcoe.
Parents will like what they hear from Hampton on autism, she said.
Autistic children have been betrayed, says NDP
JEFF GRAY
Globe and Mail Update
September 11, 2007 at 12:45 PM EDT
RICHMOND HILL, Ont. — Dalton McGuinty has betrayed children with autism, NDP Leader Howard Hampton charged Tuesday morning at a campaign stop flanked by parents of children with the condition.
But Mr. Hampton refused to outline or cost out his proposals to help autistic children, saying the details would be revealed in the coming days.
Mr. Hampton opened his second day of campaigning at a centre that offers programs for autistic children north of Toronto, and read from a letter Mr. McGuinty wrote to an autistic child's parent — Nancy Morrison, now an NDP candidate in York-Simcoe — in which the Liberal Leader promised before winning the 2003 election to extend funding for treatment for children over the age of six.
“After the election, what we saw from Dalton McGuinty was a complete about face,” Mr. Hampton said, saying that the Liberals not only broke their promise but spent $2.4-million — an amount the government tried to keep secret — fighting the parents of autistic children in court.
The province's fight with parents of autistic children began in April, 2003, when 29 families sued the then Progressive Conservative government for denying their autistic children special therapy after age six.
Despite his campaign promise, Mr. McGuinty did not increase funding for autism treatment until mid 2005, after the courts ruled that the province was violating the children's constitutional rights by denying them treatment. The province then successfully appealed that ruling last year.
The Liberals hit back on Tuesday, with campaign chair Greg Sorbara saying Mr. Hampton and the NDP were putting politics ahead of principle.
“The McGuinty Liberals ended the unfair age cutoff, more than tripled investments for children with autism and more than doubled the number of kids receiving IBI therapy. The NDP voted against those investments,” Mr. Sorbara said in a press release.
“It's beyond cynical to use these families as the NDP have.”
Mr. Hampton and his wife, MPP Shelley Martel have raised the autism issue repeatedly in recent years, and the NDP campaign has drawn a number of advocates for children with autism, including Ms. Morrison. “He let us all down,” said Ms. Morrison, 48.
She said her fight for treatment for her eight-year-old son, Sean, drove her into politics. While she wouldn't say what the NDP would promise to do for parents like her, she said she was confident the party's platform would address her concerns.
Treatment for autism, which can severely impair a child's ability to communicate, can cost as much as $5,000 a month without government help, and the NDP says that as of March of this year, 1,100 children were on a waiting list for autism treatment, an increase of 1,200 per cent over the Liberals' term.
At Tuesday's press conference, in a basement gymnasium decorated with animal murals and with a toddler-sized tricycle in the corner, Mr. Hampton was joined by Nazile Aslanboga and her husband Cemil, a couple who said they had to their sell their home in Toronto west end and move to an apartment in Etobicoke to afford treatment for their 11-year-old autistic son, Burak.
Ms. Aslanboga said her son, one of three children with a fourth on the way, had to wait two years for treatment, but then lost access to it when he turned six. She said new alternative therapies were starting to help him.
“His seizures get less [frequent] and he's less aggressive with his sisters, and his behaviour gets better,” she told reporters in halting English.
She was going to bring her son to the press conference, but a seizure prevented him from attending, an NDP official said.
Questioned repeatedly, Mr. Hampton said he would lay out the NDP's detailed plans on autism funding and other issues in the next few days.
Mr. Hampton's campaign tour was to head Sudbury and Thunder Bay for the rest of the day, to attend events with local NDP candidates.
Google alert
Autistic children ignored by McGuinty: Hampton
Dalson Chen, Windsor Star
Published: Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Provincial New Democrat leader Howard Hampton held a press conference Tuesday morning to hammer the McGuinty government for its "trail of deception" regarding services for children with autism.
But Hampton remained vague about the Ontario NDP's own financial plans for helping the needy group.
"We'll be laying out exactly how we're going to approach this issue in some detail in a couple days," Hampton said. "I'll be happy to lay it out in a couple days. Along with some other educational services that are interlinked and interwoven."
Pressed for hard figures, Hampton replied: "This is a 30-day election campaign, and in the next couple of days, we'll be laying out a detailed plan on the kinds of fiscal arrangements that need to be made to pay for these services. For right now, this is about who the election is about."
Hampton made the comments at a Richmond Hill centre for children with autism and special needs called Leaps and Bounds.
Flanked by York-Simcoe NDP candidate Nancy Morrison and York South-Weston MPP Paul Ferreira, Hampton criticized Ontario Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty for allowing the list of children waiting for autism services to reach 1,100 names - 12 times higher than when the Liberals took office.
"This has been a terrible game by Dalton McGuinty and his government at the expense of some of the most vulnerable children in Ontario today," Hampton said.
Also standing with Hampton were Cemil and Nazile Aslanboga, a family of five whose eldest son has autism. The boy was unable to attend the press conference due to suffering a seizure.
According to Hampton , the Aslanbogas had to sell their Toronto home to cover the $5,000-per-month services required to help 11-year-old Burak.
"What we need is so expensive financially," said Nazile Aslanboga, Burak's mother.
Nazile - who emigrated from Turkey in 1992 - said the family now lives in a small apartment in Etobicoke. Her husband works in construction. She is currently pregnant with their fourth child.
According to Nazile, Burak has spent two years on a waiting list for the special treatment known as intensive behaviour intervention (IBI).
"It's very hard to live with a child with autism, especially when there's no help from the government," Nazile said.
In 2003, a group of families with autistic children took the McGuinty government to court for reneging on an election promise and not funding IBI treatment for kids over the age of six.
The case went to the Supreme Court, with the government eventually winning an appeal.
Although the McGuinty government has since eliminated the age cutoff, Hampton said the Ontario NDP has discovered - after much trouble - that it cost the government $2.4 million in legal fees to fight the families in court.
"We want to quantify that for you. $2.4 million would've provided IBI treatment for 50 children," Hampton said.
Morrison, herself a parent of an 8-year-old child with autism, said she decided to run for MPP because she wanted to hold Dalton McGuinty accountable for not fulfilling the promises he made in a personal letter he wrote to her.
Read aloud by Hampton at the press conference, the letter pledges to extend autism treatment, including IBI.
"That was before the election," Hampton said. "After the election, what we saw from Mr. McGuinty was a complete about-face. Instead of keeping the promises he made to Nancy Morrison ... Mr. McGuinty fought these parents and their children with every tactic at his disposal."
Despite Hampton 's lack of elaboration on how the Ontario NDP will serve children with autism better than the Liberals, Morrison said she has full confidence in Hampton and the party.
"I have been in discussion with him about what they will be doing, and I want the party to be able to release their stuff when they choose to release it," Morrison said.
Asked how other parents with autistic children can trust the party when they don't know what's planned, Morrison replied: "They will know what the party plans to do in the next two days ... I am very reassured. I have no worries at all about what the platform will be with the NDP."
Google alert
Tories slam health tax as ‘granddaddy of broken promises'
SHAWN MCCARTHY and KAREN HOWLETT AND JEFF GRAY
Globe and Mail Update
September 11, 2007 at 5:10 PM EDT
OTTAWA and RICHMOND HILL , Ont. —
Labelling it "the granddaddy of all broken promises," Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory today slammed Dalton McGuinty's decision to impose a $2.6-billion tax increase after signing a pledge in the 2003 campaign not to raise taxes.
Speaking on the fourth anniversary of the Ontario Liberal Leader's pledge, and the second day of the Ontario election campaign, Mr. Tory made Liberal broken promises the centrepiece of his strategy, arguing that voters cannot trust that Mr. McGuinty will keep his commitments this time.
"Mr. McGuinty not only broke his promise not to raise taxes. He shattered it beyond all recognition," the Conservative Leader said.
"He waited less than a year before ramming his new tax through the legislature. ... It was the largest new tax burden ever imposed on Ontarians."
Ontario Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty talks to the media in a classroom at Charles Hulse Public School on the as he starts his election campaign in Ottawa on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2007. (Fred Chartrand/CP Photo)
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* ‘No tax' pledge? Not this time, says McGuinty
* Disconnect with voters could leave Tory out in the cold
* McGuinty evokes the spectre of Harris
* Broken promises in Canada aren't necessarily fatal
* Autistic children have been betrayed, says NDP
* Ontario campaign officially under way
Mr. McGuinty is shying away from such a stand this time, saying on Tuesday that he has no intention of signing his name to another document promising not to raise taxes.
Four years ago today, Mr. McGuinty signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge during the 2003 election campaign. He broke that pledge the following year by introducing the annual $2.6-billion health premium, the single-largest tax increase in the province's history.
Mr. McGuinty is once again promising not to increase taxes as he seeks to win a second term. This time, however, he will not put it in writing, he said in response to questions from reporters.
"I've been in politics for 17 years," he said. "The toughest decision I ever had to make in my life was to ask Ontarians to invest more in their health-care system."
Ontarians can now take comfort that there will be no more hidden deficits, because the provincial Auditor-General has vetted the province's books, he said.
The campaign for the Oct. 10 provincial election is only in its second day, but it is clear that broken promises are haunting Mr. McGuinty.
NDP Leader Howard Hampton also started his day by accusing Mr. McGuinty of betraying children with autism by breaking promises to extend treatment for children older than six.
Mr. Hampton opened his second day of campaigning at a York Region centre for autistic children, where he read from a 2003 letter from Mr. McGuinty to an autistic child's parent — Nancy Morrison, now an NDP candidate in York-Simcoe — in which he promised to extend the funding.
"After the election, what we saw from Dalton McGuinty was a complete about-face," Mr. Hampton said.
Mr. Hampton said the Liberals not only broke their promise but spent $2.4-million — an amount that the government tried to keep secret — fighting the parents of autistic children in court.
Mr. McGuinty did not fund treatment for children over six for autism treatment until mid-2005 after the courts ruled that the province was violating the children's constitutional rights by denying them treatment. The province then successfully appealed that ruling last year.
But Mr. Hampton refused to outline or cost out his proposals to help autistic children, saying the details would be revealed in the coming days.
Mr. Tory was also under close scrutiny, though, receiving lukewarm support for his proposal to extend funding to religious schools from a partisan business audience in Oakville , west of Toronto .
He admitted the idea isn't "universally popular," but he vowed to continue defending the policy in the face of Liberal attacks and waning support from party supporters.
The Conservatives' proposal to build more nuclear plants and put scrubbers on Ontario 's coal plants isn't "universally popular" either, Mr. Tory said.
But — like the plan to extend funding to private religious schools who opt into the public system — Mr. Tory said he's not backing down.
"I understand that our commitment to expand public education is not universally popular but for me, it's a matter of inclusiveness," he said.
The audience seemed less convinced. While the partisan crowd of about 150 enthusiastically applauded Tory's vow to lower taxes, some notably kept their hands in their lap when Tory talked about funding religious schools while others clapped politely.
From NDP Provincial Candidate Nancy Morrison, York Simcoe Riding:
POLITICS BEFORE PRINCIPLE™: A McGuinty Trademark
NDP Candidate Nancy Morrison, the woman to whom Dalton McGuinty directly promised IBI autism services for her son, says "politics before principle" should be a McGuinty trademark.
"If there’s anyone who knows politics before principle, it’s Dalton McGuinty", said Morrison. "It’s beyond cynical to suggest somehow that the McGuinty Liberals – who have done nothing but fight families of children with autism every step of the way – are somehow the antidote to threats to autism services. They are the threat," said the York Simcoe candidate. "Dalton McGuinty will say anything and do anything to get elected. I’m running for politics to step up my advocacy and show Ontario ’s hardworking families can stand up for ourselves, our communities, and our children."
On September 17, 2003 Dalton McGuinty wrote to Morrison personally and made this promise: "I believe that the lack of government-funded Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) treatment for autistic children over six is unfair and discriminatory. The Ontario Liberals support extending autism treatment beyond the age of six."
He broke that promise. Then he wasted $2.4 million fighting families of children with autism in court instead of providing the services they need.
Nancy Morrison’s family has mortgaged their home four times in order to pay for the IBI therapy her son Sean requires to help overcome the challenges of living with autism. It’s just not fair.
As a direct result of McGuinty’s promise and the hard work of the NDP to ensure children with autism are no longer ignored, Morrison decided to run for politics: for the NDP.
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Media Inquiries: Jon Weier (416) 591-5455 x 290
From a listmate
Autism Advocacy - Parents Tossed by Autism Ontario
The message from the Supreme Court of Canada in the Auton and Deskin-Wynberg cases was clear - the courts, and the Canadian Constitution, are of little assistance to families seeking to help ensure their autistic children get treatment or a real education. It is absolutely necessary that autism advocates Get Political. In Ontario Dan and Susan Fentie have been doing exactly that. And for their efforts they have been tossed by their local chapter of Autism Ontario . The Fenties indicate that the local autism charity fears losing its charitable tax exempt status.
I have no personal knowledge of the Fenties' situation in Sarnia , Ontario but here in New Brunswick the Autism Society of New Brunswick has been cautioned in the past that it could lose its tax exempt status if it was too political. The ASNB has been more political than most Autism Societies in Canada . And the ASNB received a warning, not directly from government or a government agency, but from a former executive officer of the Autism Society of Canada, that it risked losing tax exempt status because of its advocacy efforts.
Why do autism societies and organizations exist if it is not to advocate on behalf of persons with autism and their famlies? If autism organizations are more concerned about their tax charitable status than advocating forcefully for autistic persons then they have no reason to exist. Our priorities should always lie with our autistic loved ones and we should be prepared to fight on their behalf.
A local couple who helped put autism on the political agenda in Ontario has been forced to resign from the local Autism Ontario chapter, The Observer has learned.
Dan and Susan Fentie resigned last week after the local agency's board asked Susan Fentie to step down for criticizing the Liberal government.
In a July 19 story in The Observer, Fentie said the government should be ashamed for spending $2.4 million fighting a lengthy court battle with parents seeking treatment for autistic children.
Susan Fentie said she was disappointed but refused to criticize the board.
They're good people put in a very bad position, she said.
Dan Fentie, who resigned along with his wife from the five-seat board, said it's under pressure from both head office in Toronto and the government to conform.
He said the charity fears losing its tax exempt status and future funding if members speak out against government policy. The local chapter already missed out on money awarded to six other Autism Ontario chapters for offices and local co-ordinators, he said.
We were told (by Autism Ontario ) the reason we weren't picked was because we wouldn't carry their message. What message? We thought this was about fighting for families.
Susan Fentie said the local board was increasingly uncomfortable with the couple's outspoken advocating style. The relationship was further strained when she announced her intention to seek the local Progressive Conservative nomination in the October provincial election. Fentie lost the nomination but remains a party member and actively works with party leader John Tory.
Tricia Edgar, a spokesperson for Child and Youth Services Minister Mary Anne Chambers, denied the government sought the Fenties' removal. Chambers is on a first-name basis with the couple, she said.
We've had folks at our announcements that had been suing the government, Edgar said. The Minister has met with them . . . There is absolutely no such pressure from the government.
The Fenties also helped found a group called the Ontario Autism Coalition, which has lobbied the government and staged rallies to increase services and spending on autism.
Ian Naylor, board president of Autism Ontario Sarnia-Lambton, denied the provincial government or head office had anything to do with the request for Susan Fentie's resignation.
The chapter has to remain neutral when it comes to the government, Naylor said. Susan and Dan belong to the Autism Coalition, and they have a great function, but we as a board felt the two (groups) could not be together.
http://www.theobserver.ca/
Google alert
Hampton hammers McGuinty over treatment of autistic children
Dalson Chen
CanWest News Service
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
RICHMOND HILL , Ont. - New Democratic Partly Leader Howard Hampton hammered the McGuinty government on Tuesday for its "trail of deception" regarding services for children with autism.
But Hampton remained vague about the Ontario NDP's own financial plans for helping the needy group.
"We'll be laying out exactly how we're going to approach this issue in some detail in a couple days," Hampton said. "I'll be happy to lay it out in a couple days. Along with some other educational services that are interlinked and interwoven."
Pressed for hard figures, Hampton replied:
"This is a 30-day election campaign, and in the next couple of days, we'll be laying out a detailed plan on the kinds of fiscal arrangements that need to be made to pay for these services. For right now, this is about who the election is about."
Ontario voters head to the polls on Oct. 10.
Hampton made the comments at a Richmond Hill , Ont. centre for children with autism and special needs called Leaps and Bounds.
Flanked by area NDP candidates Nancy Morrison and MPP Paul Ferreira, Hampton criticized Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty for allowing the list of children waiting for autism services to reach 1,100 names - 12 times higher than when the Liberals took office.
"This has been a terrible game ... by Dalton McGuinty and his government at the expense of some of the most vulnerable children in Ontario today," Hampton said.
Also with Hampton were Cemil and Nazile Aslanboga, a family of five whose eldest son has autism.
According to Hampton , the Aslanbogas had to sell their Toronto home to cover the $5,000-per-month services required to help 11-year-old Burak.
The parents of autistic children took the McGuinty government to court in 2003 over a broken election promise to fund what is known as intensive behaviour intervention (IBI) for autistic children over six years of age. They won that initial decision, but the province appealed, arguing the intensive one-on-one process works best for children under age six and that other forms of treatment work better for older children.
In July 2006, the government won the appeal, and earlier this year the Supreme Court of Canada announced it would not hear their appeal case.
Although the McGuinty government has since eliminated the age cutoff, Hampton said the Ontario NDP has discovered - after much trouble - that it cost the government $2.4 million in legal fees to fight the families in court.
"We want to quantify that for you. $2.4 million would've provided IBI treatment for 50 children," Hampton said.
Also on Tuesday Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory commemorated the fourth anniversary of McGuinty's ill-fated promise not to raise taxes if elected.
On Sept. 11, 2003, McGuinty signed a pledge drafted by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) stating he would "not raise taxes or implement new taxes without the explicit consent of Ontario voters." After he was elected, his Liberal government introduced the Ontario health premium, which costs middle-class residents an average of $750 annually.
"Dalton McGuinty not only broke his promise not to raise taxes, he shattered it beyond recognition," Tory said on Tuesday a joint press conference with the CTF. "He waited less than a year before ramming his tax through the legislature."
The Conservatives have promised to repeal the health tax if elected.
Tory continued his line-of-attack over lunch in Oakville , telling a business crowd at a suburban motel that McGuinty "did more than break a promise. He broke faith with the people of Ontario ."
With the official election campaign only two days old, it is clear Tory intends to make the health tax the hallmark issue of his campaign.
Tory casts himself as a man willing to make difficult decisions and keep promises, regardless of the political consequences.
"A real leader makes decisions even if they are not universally popular," Tory said.
He also acknowledged the Conservatives' promises to build more nuclear plants and extend funding to faith-based schools will not be supported by all voters.
However, he said he believes in his "heart" that they are the right things to do.
The premier spent his first morning of the provincial election campaign on Tuesday in Ottawa , where he pledged online homework help for students.
McGuinty said he'll expand the Ask a Teacher program by two hours each day and add online help on Fridays at a cost of $25 million per year.
The change is part of a $66 million package announced on Tuesday at Charles H. Hulse elementary school in McGuinty's Ottawa South riding.
"Now is the time to build on the progress we've already achieved for Ontario 's students and move our schools forward - not go backwards," McGuinty said in a statement.
McGuinty also slammed a Conservative pledge to limit homework to about 10 minutes per grade. He called it an "artificial cap."
"It's a tough world out there," he told reporters. "I think it's a mistake to shelter our children from some of those challenges associated with that world."
Canada.com
From a listmate
Globe
Liberals, Tories aim for weak spots as campaign nears
MARIA BABBAGE
Canadian Press
September 8, 2007 at 8:42 PM EDT
TORONTO — The Liberals and Tories took aim at each other's Achilles heel Saturday, cementing Ontario's controversial health-care tax and public funding for religious schools as dominant issues leading up to an election campaign that won't officially begin until Monday.
Ontario's governing Liberals attacked the Conservatives' plan to bring religious schools into the public system, saying it would cost far more than the $400-million Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory has suggested.
Mr. Tory, meanwhile, took another stab at the province's health-care “premium,” a sore spot for the Liberals who broke an election promise when they imposed the tax in 2004.
Deputy premier George Smitherman launched the Liberal offensive with a pre-emptive strike, summoning reporters to the diverse Toronto neighbourhood of St. James Town to blast Mr. Tory's plan to fund religious schools, just one hour before Mr. Tory was set to speak at an east-end hospital about health care.
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The campaign rhetoric begins
Ontario Liberals and Tories take aim at each other's Achilles heel
Mr. Tory recently got into hot water by musing that such public religious schools could teach creationism as well as the theory of evolution, drawing fire from the Liberals and support from some religious groups.
If elected Oct. 10, Mr. Tory promised to give $400-million in public money to religious schools if they opt into the public system, hire accredited teachers, teach the Ontario curriculum and administer standardized tests.
But providing funding for the 53,000 students attending private religious schools in Ontario would cost at least $500-million and divert crucial taxpayer dollars from students in the public system, Mr. Smitherman said.
“We don't think it's fair to divert attention from the core responsibilities for those two million kids in Ontario in favour of a policy that encourages people to divide up on religious and ethno-cultural bounds,” he said, echoing the comments of many of his cabinet colleagues.
However, the Liberals have maintained their support for public Catholic schools while panning Mr. Tory's plan, a stand some groups have criticized as favouring one faith over others.
The government's obligation is to ensure that the current and long-established public education system works well before diverting money away from its students, Mr. Smitherman said.
He also rejected Conservative claims that several prominent Liberals, including Premier Dalton McGuinty, had previously supported the idea of providing funding to faith-based schools.
“I'd never, I'm quite sure, done that,” he said. “That'll be another example where they'll say anything and don't think it through.”
The health minister would have better used his time talking to voters about their problems with the province's health-care system, countered Mr. Tory, who used the hospital tour to launch another plank of his election platform and slam Mr. McGuinty on the health tax.
“I look more to what people have been telling me at the door and on the streets,” he said.
“They've been coming up to me and telling me their stories about Dalton McGuinty and their inability to find someone to look after their health ailments, their children with autism that are getting no treatment ... the fact that they're paying a health tax today they were promised they would never have to pay.”
In the four years since the Liberals came to power, Mr. McGuinty has failed to make significant progress in addressing the shortage of family doctors or seniors left in sub-standard long-term care facilities, even after imposing the tax, Mr. Tory said.
The tax requires every eligible taxpayer in the province to pay as much as $900 more a year — worth $2.6-billion annually to Ontario 's health-care coffers.
Mr. Tory, who plans to phase out the tax, says he'd boost health-care funding by $8.5-billion over the next four years, including $540-million to support the implementation of electronic health records — widely seen as key in improving wait times — and $400-million to recruit and retain doctors and nurses.
The money would come in part from projected growth in government revenues and by cutting down on government waste, he said.
Mr. McGuinty said earlier this week that the Liberal platform is focused on education and health care, his two top priorities, and that the province can't afford to eliminate the health “premium” imposed in 2004 despite a promised tax freeze.
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Star
Autistic kids let down, Hampton charges
Sep 11, 2007 12:14 PM
Kerry Gillespie
Queen's Park Bureau
If every Ontario resident put $7.50 into Sharon Gabison's fishbowl, the waiting list for services for autistic children could be eliminated, she says.
Gabison and other parents of autistic children were at a press conference in Richmond Hill this morning in support of NDP Leader Howard Hampton.
Hampton had no problem putting his $7.50 in Gabison's bowl but he wasn't willing to say exactly what his party would do for autistic children if elected.
Parents will have to wait "a couple of days" to hear his plans, he said.
But he did have plenty to say about how badly the Liberals have handled the autism file, starting with breaking a 2003 election promise to provide intensive autism therapy to kids who need it regardless of age.
The "McGuinty Liberals have disgraced themselves by breaking their promise to Ontario 's most vulnerable citizens and their families," Hampton said.
More than 1,000 children are on the list for Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) in Ontario , which can cost more than $50,000 annually per child.
During the 2003 election campaign, McGuinty promised to end the previous Conservative government's "unfair and discriminatory" practice of cutting off IBI funding when children turned 6. But he then delayed doing it and continued to fight parents in an existing messy court case.
The government spent $2.4 million — enough to provide treatment to 50 children — on legal bills fighting parents in court, Hampton said.
Even though the Liberals have doubled annual funding for autism over the past two years to $115 million, the issue of the broken promise has dogged them and many parents of autistic children have gotten involved with other parties.
Nancy Morrison - who received the promise letter from McGuinty in the last election — is now the NDP candidate in York Simcoe.
Parents will like what they hear from Hampton on autism, she said.
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Star PM
Hampton slams Liberals
Sep 11, 2007 03:41 PM
Kerry Gillespie
Queen's Park Bureau
If every Ontarian put $7.50 into Sharon Gabison's fishbowl, the waiting list for services for autistic children could be eliminated, she says.
Gabison and other parents of autistic children were at a press conference with NDP Leader Howard Hampton in Richmond Hill this morning and Hampton had no problem putting his $7.50 in Gabison's bowl, but he wasn't willing to say exactly what his party would do for autistic children if elected.
But he did have plenty to say about how badly the Liberals have handled the autism file.
"McGuinty Liberals have disgraced themselves by breaking their promise to Ontario 's most vulnerable citizens and their families," Hampton said.
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Windsor Star
Kids' centre gets $2.8M
As election looms, province allots money for expansion
Grace Macaluso, Windsor Star
Published: Friday, September 07, 2007
With an election call just days away, MPP Sandra Pupatello (Liberal -- Windsor West) announced Thursday an additional $2.8 million in funding for an estimated $16.8-million expansion of the John McGivney Children's Centre.
"This is more than a building project," Pupatello told a news conference at the Matchette Road facility. "This $2.8 million is about increasing the number of children and families who can access the quality treatment provided by the dedicated and talented staff at the John McGivney Centre."
The province had already committed $8 million to the project, bringing its total to $10.8 million.
View Larger ImageView Larger Image
'ADDITIONAL SUPPORT': Students Christina Bially, right, and Brayden O'Gorman, centre left, are joined by other children as they listen to resource teacher Anita Hayes, not shown, during a program at the John McGivney Centre. The children's centre will receive $2.8 million for its expansion.
Nick Brancaccio, Windsor Star
On Monday, Premier Dalton McGuinty is expected to call an Oct. 10 election, but Pupatello said the plan to provide additional funding had been in the works for several months.
The expansion was originally slated to cost $12 million.
"Once they got the go-ahead with the project when the $8 million (from the province) was announced, then the organization had to go through all of the machinations to develop the plans," she said.
55,000-SQUARE-FOOT EXPANSION
"While that was happening over the course of the last year it became very obvious that the amount was going to be far in excess of the fundraising component and the $8 million ... they needed more support and we'd been working for the last year to secure that."
The centre must raise another $6 million for the 55,000-square-foot expansion, which would to be ready for occupancy in 2009, said Stephen Payne, chairman of the fundraising committee.
Established by the Rotary Club in 1978, the centre is one of 20 children's treatment centres in Ontario and one of only three that provides comprehensive rehabilitation and integrated preschool and elementary school in one location.
It serves 150 clients and provides services to 2,100 children a year with conditions such as spina bifida, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and autism. There are about 345 children on the centre's waiting list, said Payne.
"The additional support will allow us to move forward and realize our vision to be the centre of hope, support and inspiration for children with disabilities and their families," said Arla Peters, president of the centre's board of directors.
© The Windsor Star 2007
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