September 22nd – September 29th 2007
www.autismnewsarticles.blogspot.com
Brockville Recorder and Times.
Autism lobby group holding vigil Monday
Supporters of increased provincial funding for autism treatment will hold a candlelight vigil in front of Leeds-Grenville MPP Bob Runciman's office Monday evening.
It's part of a provincewide event marking the start of Autism Awareness Month.
The Alliance for Families with Autism (AFA) is urging supporters across the province to hold vigils in front of MPPs' offices.
Among its priorities, the group wants the province to implement the recommendations from the so-called "Autism Reference Group Report" to the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Children and Youth Services; an end to waiting lists for autism services; and the creation of a National Autism Strategy including federal-provincial partnerships.
Local supporter Paul Sheppard, whose grandson, Oliver Charbonneau of Mississauga, is autistic, said the group is basically calling for fairer treatment of autism in provincial funding.
Oliver will turn six on Monday, said Sheppard.
By targeting MPPs' offices regardless of party affiliation, the effort aims to be non-partisan despite the ongoing provincial election campaign, he said.
"It's one (matter) on which all parties can agree," said Sheppard.
"It's our attempt to call attention to the issue."
Runciman has been sympathetic to the family's concerns in the past, said Sheppard, but members of other parties have also been supportive across the province, he said.
Sheppard and family members will hold the vigil from 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with lighted candles, and display a picture of Oliver, as well as a poster with information on autism.
• Published in Section A, page 3 in the Saturday, September 29, 2007 edition of the Brockville Recorder & Times.
• Posted 10:31:24 AM Saturday, September 29, 2007.
Newspaper Article in the Brockville, Perth area..... :)
For a half an hour on Oct. 1 families living with Autism will be outside their MPP's office across Ontario in an effort to bring awareness and understanding of the illness to the public and those in power.
This is the second year that The Alliance for Families with Autism (AFA) has held the quiet vigil. This year's Brockville event will be held at Bob Runciman's office, 243 Perth Street from 7 to 7:30 p.m. "We want people to come, bring their families, bring their candles and just enjoy their time with family," said Pat La Londe of AFA. Next Monday marks the start of Autism Awareness Month, which is held annually to educate and inform the public on Autism. "Even if there's one person in front of every MPP office provincially, it will still bring awareness," LaLonde said. At last count, there were 30 sites across the province taking part in the half-hour vigil. Information from an AFA press release explains that the MPP offices are chosen because they are well known in the community and in recognition of the power government has to create programs and supports for families impacted with Autism. "Although we are in the middle of a provincial election, the vigil is not a political event, but instead an opportunity to honour all individuals and families living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other related disorders," the release reads. Caring for a child with special needs comes with its own set of challenges and tasks that parents of an average child may not be aware of. For example, when an autistic child begins attending school, a team of caring adults, including their parents and eight outside professionals, must come together to plan and strategize the student's success through the system. Last year was the first time the Autism Vigil took place in Ontario and received such a positive response from a number of families asking to make it an annual event that is has returned this year. The Alliance for Families with Autism (AFA) will be hosting the event this year. AFA's mission is to improve the lives of children and adults affected by autism and to provide factual information in a non-partisan approach to all stakeholders.
From A listmate:
In September, the autism community lost a lovely person
who was instrumental in increasing awareness in her
community. This individual was only 28 years old and
leaves behind her pride and joy, a 5 year old son who has
autism. She will be missed by many and thought of often.
A trust fund has been set up to help care for her son and
we would like to contribute. So, in addition to the
portion that we donate to an autism charity, we will also
donate 10% of all sales from the month of October to the
trust fund.
Please feel free to pass this message on in your
community.
Thank you for your support.
Andrew & Cynthia
www.autismawareness.ca
We love someone with autism too.
Together, we can increase awareness!
From :GET ACTIVE NOW
September 2007
In This Issue …
- From the President, Dana Leeson
- Get Active Now® Photo Contest Winner
- Investing in More Services for Children and Youth with Autism
- Exciting Changes to the Get Active Now® Adapted Equipment Loan Program
- HydroOne’s New PowerPlay Grants Program Announced
- Relief Services for Families of Children with Autism
- Boccia Nationals Coming to London
- McGuinty Government Uploads $935 Million in Social Programs from Municipalities
- New Fall Programs Added to the Get Active Now® Online Database
- Celebration of People Awards Call for Nominations
- Upcoming eVents
From the President, Dana Leeson
As a concerned citizen of Ontario, I am asking all of you to remember that Tuesday, October 10th 2007 is Election Day. Please let your voice be heard (no matter what it is) and vote. Last night the Ontario election debate was held. I do hope you take time to evaluate and question the leaders, the platforms and your local MPP, why not visit our partner Parks and Recreation Ontario website at www.prontario.org for great resources to assist you in your discussions. With your help we can make a difference in providing a more accessible province.
Congratulations to our new Lieutenant-Governor David Onley. I hope you are as encouraged as I am at the passion he will exude as being a disability advocate.
Last month I mentioned about some exciting news, most recently we have expanded our way that we communicate to others by having our 1-800 line (1-800-311-9565) accessible to everyone in Canada and United States.
Finally more Good news! The Ontario Government has announced that it is extending the deadline for the public to give feedback on the weakly proposed Transportation Accessibility Standard to September 28, 2007. Take time and be apart of this.
As you have read, my message this month has a theme: Be Heard. Let yourself be heard and be your own advocate for disability issues.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at my email here at Get Active Now®.
Yours in Active Living,
Dana Leeson
President
Get Active Now® - Active Living Resource Centre for Ontarians with a Disability
Get Active Now® Photo Contest Winner
Over the summer Get Active Now® asked readers to send in photos showcasing their luggage tags in a unique environment. We are pleased to announce Louise Harnett as our winner of this contest. She will receive a limited edition Get Active Now® golf shirt. Stay tuned for more contests in upcoming eNews.
Investing in More Services for Children and Youth with Autism
The McGuinty Government is investing more than $12 million this year to provide Intensive Behaviour Intervention Treatment for 210 more children and youth with
autism, bringing the total number of children receiving the specialized care to approximately 1400. To read the full news item click here.
Exciting Changes to the Get Active Now® Adapted Equipment Loan Program
With summer winding down the fury of equipment bags rolling in and out of our office is settling down. The adapted equipment loan program will now offer bags for loaning for the first three weeks of every month in order to deliver consistent high quality service to consumers. Adapted equipment bags are specialized for children, youth, first nations, or seniors and there are over ten bags available through this program. For more information or to book your loan contact Heather Hiscock, Manager of Programs & Services, at heather@getactivenow.ca
HydroOne’s New PowerPlay Grants Program Announced
HydroOne is launching a new grants program called PowerPlay to support and enhance children’s sports and recreation facilities in Ontario communities serviced by the company. “We believe in investing our charitable dollars to help build strong, healthy communities where our customers and employees live and work,” explained Acting President and CEO Laura Formusa. “PowerPlay will do just that by helping fund great, safe community facilities where kids can play and grow.”
The program, open to municipalities and registered charities in HydroOne serviced communities, offers grants up to $25,000 for capital projects for community centres, indoor or outdoor ice rinks, playgrounds, splash pads and sports fields where the primary purpose is to support children’s community sports and active play. This includes new facilities and renovation of existing facilities that are open and accessible to the community at large.
Municipalities interested in the program should go to www.HydroOne.com and click on In Your Community for more info and to apply.
Relief Services for Families of Children with Autism
Relief services, provided by experienced autism support providers, offer care of children and youth as well as opportunities for further learning and development of independent living skills. Examples of relief services include social, play or peer groups, weekend and longer-term relief, March Break and summer programs.
www.respiteservices.com is a centralized website that provides information on relief services to families caring for an individual, including autism.
Boccia Nationals Coming to London
The Ontario Cerebral Palsy Sports Association recently announced that the London Cannonballs Boccia Club has been awarded the bid to host the 2008 Canadian National Boccia Championships. Competition will run from February 25th to March 3rd at the London Convention Centre. Stay tuned to www.OCPSA.com for more details. Contact Steve Dukovich at sdukovich@hotmail.com for volunteer opportunities.
McGuinty Government Uploads $935 Million in Social Programs from Municipalities
The Government is making an unprecedented contribution to municipalities by uploading the total cost of the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Ontario Drug Benefits (ODB) for social assistance recipients. The upload will begin in January and by the time it is fully implemented in 2011 it will save the municipalities $935 million. To read the full article click here.
New Fall Programs Added to the Get Active Now® Online Database
A variety of emails have been coming our way from several municipalities and organizations showcasing new fall programs. Be sure to visit our website’s activity search section to find out what recreation and fitness programs are available in your community. Click here for a direct link to the activity search.
Celebration of People Awards Call for Nominations
The Celebration of People Awards celebrates the accomplishments of people with disabilities. Who will win this year? It’s up to you! Nominate someone today! Nomination deadline is noon on Friday, October 12, 2007. Click here for the Call for Nominations.
Upcoming eVents
Lutherwood’s New Frontier Self-Employment Program for Persons with Disabilities
Would you benefit from accessible training? Do you encounter barriers related to a disability? The New Frontier Program assists persons with a disability by teaching small business start up through a variety of free workshops along with one-on-one coaching.
WHERE: Lutherwood, Waterloo, Ontario
MORE INFO: Contact newfrontier@lutherwood.ca or 519-743-2460
Stroke of Power Care-A-Thon
Join us for a walk-a-thon and community fair! All proceeds go to ErinOak Kids.
WHEN: September 22, 2007
WHERE: Mississauga, Ontario
MORE INFO: click here
Take a Stroll with Walk-n-Roll
Join Variety – The Children’s Charity for their first ever Walk-n-Roll. You and your neighbours can walk or roll the 5km course through the neighbourhood or choose the 1km “fun walk”. Go for a stroll, get some exercise and make a difference all in one day.
WHEN: September 23, 2007
WHERE: Scarborough, Ontario
MORE INFO: click here
Elgin-St. Thomas’s Launch of Active Living Week
This event is free and will include demonstrations, displays, and door prizes.
WHEN: September 24, 2007
WHERE: St. Thomas, Ontario
MORE INFO: call 519-631-2418 x 31
Episodic Disabilities Discussion
Presented by the Canadian Working Group on HIV and Rehabilitation. Join a network of leaders committed to changing policies to facilitate inclusion of employees with episodic disabilities.
WHEN: September 25, 2007
WHERE: Toronto, Ontario
MORE INFO: click here
Canada’s National Parks and Recreation Conference and Trade Show
This year’s conference theme is Connecting in the Capital
WHEN: September 26-29, 2007
WHERE: Ottawa, Ontario
MORE INFO: click here
Super Saturday and Saturday Night Dances
A day to chill and have fun. Super Saturday is a day that provides youth ages 13-17 an opportunity to experience the exciting programs that Tania’s Place has to offer.
WHEN: First session is September 29, 2007
WHERE: Ajax, Ontario
MORE INFO: click here
Walk21 Toronto 2007 “Putting Pedestrians First”
Greetings to walkers around the world! Walk21 Toronto 2007 is the 8th annual conference on walkable and liveable communities co-hosted by the City of Toronto and Green Communities Canada.
WHEN: October 1-4, 2007
WHERE: Toronto, Ontario
MORE INFO: click here
Living With/Living Well
Living With/Living Well is a public information series hosted by Toronto Rehab on a variety of rehab and preventative health topics.
WHEN: October 11, 2007
WHERE: Toronto, Ontario
MORE INFO: click here
Caring for Others, Healing Ourselves
Ms. Cariou will discuss the potent cocktail of emotions and challenges that are part of life with an ill or disabled family member. In the process, she will offer insight, options and hope for a better tomorrow.
WHEN: October 16, 2007
WHERE: Brantford, Ontario
MORE INFO: Contact Lill Petrella at 519-752-2998 ext. 112
2007 PRO Aquatics Conference
Join us at the Delta Pinestone Resort for top level training sessions and networking opportunities. Register by October 5th to save $$$.
WHEN: November 7-9, 2007
WHERE: Haliburton, Ontario
MORE INFO: click here
11th Annual Active Living Conference
Directions in Diversity, an Introduction to Inclusion
WHEN: November 9, 2007
WHERE: Variety Village/Scarborough, Ontario
MORE INFO: click here
2007 OACRS Conference
This year’s Ontario Association of Children’s Rehabilitation Services (OACRS) conference theme is Partnering for Quality: Integrating the Right Services, at the Right Time, In the Right Place
WHEN: October 21-23, 2007
WHERE: Waterloo, Ontario
MORE INFO: click here
Did you know that over 4000 (updated September 2007) professionals and individuals receive the Get Active Now® eNews across Canada every month? We would like to thank those of you who pass our eNews on to colleagues. However, in order to increase our network and maintain up-to-date records, we ask that people who wish to receive a personal copy of the eNews please send a message to info@getactivenow.ca and type “Subscribe to eNews” in the subject line.
To ensure this enews gets delivered straight in to your inbox please add info@getactivenow.ca to your address book so that this message is not stopped by a spam filter.
Do you have a program or an event that you would like to share? Get Active Now® is happy to help you spread the word by posting information on our website and including it in our next eNews. Acceptable submissions include those regarding advances in active living and accessibility for people with disabilities, as well as events and workshops, local and provincial updates, and/or partnerships in Ontario within the disability field. Click here for full submission guidelines. The next submission deadline is October 8, 2007.
If you would like your name removed from this list please send a message to info@getactivenow.ca and type “Unsubscribe to eNews” in the subject line.
_________________________________________________
Get Active Now®
213-120 Ottawa Street North
Kitchener, Ontario N2H 3K5
[P](519) 568-7083 or 1-800-311-9565
[E] info@getactivenow.ca
[W] www.getactivenow.ca
Ontario Autism Coalition
The Autism Election Issue #1, Debate Edition
September 21, 2007
Please forward to all lists.
A Special Report on the Leaders Televised Debate
The Leaders Debate for the Ontario election was televised from the CBC Front Street Studios on Sept 20, 2007. The Ontario Autism Coalition was there both before and after to remind the Leaders that Autism issues are important and much more remains to be done.
We are pleased to provide a special package of coverage at www.OntarioAutismCoalition.com:
This package includes photos of the OAC presence before and after the debate, video of the segments of the debate relevant to the Autism community, and press coverage of the Autism issues as debated by the party leaders. Please visit our website to learn more.
________________________________________
Donations
________________________________________
More News
The Alliance for Families with Autism (AFA) will be holding a candlelight Vigil on October 1, 2007, at local MPP offices, to honour individuals with autism, and continue the OAC's fire to keep the heat under political parties for better services. Our loved ones are short on time. For more information, please visit: http://ontarioautismcoalition.com/content/view/61/29/
From a Listmate, for our American Neighbours
Atlanta, We Have a Problem (and her name is Jenny McCarthy)
By J.B. Handley
http://www.rescuepost.com/rescue_post/2007/09/atlanta-we-have.html
Help Wanted: Director of Media Relations for the Atlanta-based Centers
for Disease Control. Must be able to spin cow pies into gold and make pigs
fly. Need you today!
In the always hot autism-vaccine debate, the CDC has taken their share
of hits in recent years: David Kirby's release of Evidence of Harm, Dan
Olmsted's consistently logical reporting for UPI (and now the Rescue Post),
screaming parents in front of CDC headquarters, and a full page ad we ran in
USA Today in 2006 blaming the CDC for causing the autism epidemic.
But, CDC has never met the category 5 sh_t-storm that blew into town
yesterday after two angry moms, Jenny McCarthy and Holly Robinson Peete,
appeared on Oprah (the last truly national TV show in our new media world,
with an estimated 10 million daily viewers).
The fun is just beginning. According to TACA's website, where Ms.
McCarthy now serves as national spokesperson, she is scheduled to
appear in the next 10 days on Larry King Live, 20/20, Good Morning America,
and The View. Kim Stagliano has listed Jenny's media schedule in a post
earlier this week, scroll down to see it.
To add insult to injury, Ms. McCarthy's book, Louder Than Words, is
climbing the charts. At Amazon.com, she's up to #8, and over at Barnes &
Noble, she's already #2! If you liked the Oprah interview, you'll love the
book, because Ms. McCarthy leaves nothing unsaid.
What's extraordinary about Ms. McCarthy's media blitz isn't just that
she's a celebrity talking about autism on our terms, it's that she's talking
about biomedical recovery for her son. While Don and Deirdre Imus did us all
a huge favor with their advocacy, they never addressed our community's true
trump card: recovered children.
Not only is Jenny doing that, she's doing that while being a former
Playmate of the Year, a popular comedic actress, dating Jim Carrey, and
presiding over a collection of national bestsellers about being a Mom.
If you missed it, here's a little excerpt from Oprah's show that they
put up on Oprah.com last night:
In recent years, the number of children diagnosed with autism has
risen from 1 in every 500 children to 1 in 150-and science has not
discovered a reason why. Jenny says she believes that childhood vaccinations
may play a part. "What number will it take for people just to start
listening to what the mothers of children who have seen autism have been
saying for years, which is, 'We vaccinated our baby and something happened."
Jenny says even before Evan received his vaccines, she tried to talk
to her pediatrician about it. "Right before his MMR shot, I said to the
doctor, 'I have a very bad feeling about this shot. This is the autism shot,
isn't it?' And he said, 'No, that is ridiculous. It is a mother's desperate
attempt to blame something,' and he swore at me, and then the nurse gave
[Evan] the shot," she says. "And I remember going, 'Oh, God, I hope he's
right.' And soon thereafter- boom-the soul's gone from his eyes."
Despite her belief, Jenny says she is not against vaccines. "I am all
for them, but there needs to be a safer vaccine schedule. There needs to be
something done. The fact that the [Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention] acts as if these vaccines are one size fits all is just crazy to
me," she says. "People need to start listening to what the moms have been
saying."
Oprah actually read a statement from the CDC. It was painful to listen
to, and I'm sure the nation's bullsh_t meter went on high alert given how
qualified it was. Interestingly, the statement focused exclusively on
Thimerosal in vaccines, even though Ms.
McCarthy blamed the MMR for her son's regression, a Thimerosal-free
vaccine.
This is the only play left in the CDC's playbook, as I mentioned in a
post back in August, The Thimerosal Shield, where I noted, "they [CDC] know
that Thimerosal is only one of the possible ways that the vaccine schedule
could be the primary trigger behind the autism epidemic, but the spin seems
to be, `It's not Thimerosal so we should no longer consider vaccines'
despite the fact that neither point is true."
I'm popping the popcorn, snuggling the chair up to the TV, and looking
forward to the next few weeks. The Category 5 shit-storm is just getting
started, and we're all going to enjoy watching Ms.
McCarthy yell "Louder Than Words."
J.B.Handley is co-founder of Generation Rescue.
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=79f57270-0713-46b8-98c6-392ac4307cae
Google Alert
Alberta a mecca for parents of autistic kids
Tide of families attracted to publicly-funded school program strains resources
Josh Wingrove
The Edmonton Journal
Sunday, September 23, 2007
CREDIT: Shaughn Butts, the Journal
Nick Dimovski with his family, from left, Valentina, Zoran, 7, and Goran, 5, who has autism
EDMONTON - An influx of hundreds of autistic students to Alberta last year has put a strain on professionals in the Edmonton area, and prompted an audit of school programs for students with disabilities.
For the past three years, Alberta has led Canada in funding for treatment of autism, a neurological condition that affects one in 150 children. The result has been a caravan of families moving to Wild Rose Country to access services for their autistic children.
"It was a huge influx," says Lyn Parker, program director with the Edmonton Autism Society.
About 30 families with autistic children came to the Edmonton area from Ontario alone in the last year, her numbers show.
It has been a strain on aides and health workers, lengthening their waiting lists. Government funding that had been meeting needs hasn't kept up, forcing families to pay extra for services.
"The support services for children with autism (are) in great need," Parker said.
Edmonton public schools, for example, added three classes for autistic children midway through the last school year, and has three more starting this fall.
Exact enrolment numbers won't be available until later this month, but classes won't have many more than 20 children. Additional students will be mainstreamed with the help of aides.
A year earlier, the city's public schools had only 294 children in classes exclusively for autistic students.
Part of the draw for families is the coverage available in Alberta for a widely successful repetitive-learning program that costs as much as $60,000 each year.
Some provinces -- including Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick -- provide virtually no funding after age six for the early-intervention program, called Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA), leaving families to shoulder the load. In many cases, it means organizing fundraising events or even remortgaging homes.
Nick Dimovski, 44, came from Ontario last February with his wife and two children, including five-year-old Garon, who has autism. Within four months, his funding arrangements were set up; Garon begins his ABA treatment here at school this fall.
"So far, we're extremely happy," Dimovski says. "We could only ask for the services to be provided. From there, we'll see how it goes."
With so many new students, Alberta Learning will begin an audit of its funding of autism services next month "to see if in fact all these kids have as severe a need as the teachers are saying," says Parker, of the autism society.
"This is just going to gum up all of the physicians. We don't have enough people to do that assessment."
In Ontario, many parents fled when a lawsuit against the province, demanding funding until age 18, left government support uncertain. Parents desperate to get ABA treatment for their kids moved away while the lawyers worked it out.
"Early intervention is key to acquiring skills. This is why all of the urgency," says Karyn Dumble of Autism Ontario.
Many moved to Alberta because of "the perception that there were more services for their kids," Dumble said.
The province won the case last fall, but the Ontario government ignored the ruling and agreed to continue funding after age six. That slowed the exodus to Alberta, but services here still face hundreds of clients they didn't have last year.
Under the Alberta funding scheme, families choose the service provider that works best for their child (there are five major ABA providers in Edmonton). Parents bill Alberta Children's Services, and are fully reimbursed for most treatments. Occupational therapy, respite care and speech and language pathologists -- even car mileage -- are also paid for.
"One of the strengths here is that families have a lot of choice when it comes to treatments for their children with autism," says Dr. Lonnie Zwaigenbaum, one of Canada's foremost experts on autism, who himself came to Capital Health from Ontario in May.
"Sometimes the limiting factor is finding the right therapist."
Funding comes from Support for Families with Children with Disabilities, an Alberta program introduced in 2004 that has a $101-million budget this year. About quarter of the children it serves are autistic.
According to a Senate report this year, continued intervention and treatment are the keys to creating independent and functioning autistic adults.
Families that don't move to a province with better funding are forced to shoulder the cost of early intervention treatment themselves.
"People have gone basically bankrupt as a result of this," says Michael Lewis, president of the Autism Society of British Columbia.
B.C. families get $20,000 a year until age six, and $500 a month after that. But in many cases, families need full-time specialists, at a cost far higher than the monthly stipend.
"There are families that are making very good money and have remortgaged their homes to provide services for their child to be the best they can be," adds Tim Verklan, president of SASKFeat, Saskatchewan's autism society.
His son Joel, 11, was diagnosed eight years ago. Unlike other Saskatchewan families who jumped across the provincial boundary, Verklan chose to stay and run the family business, flying in specialists from Nevada at his own cost.
"Honestly, I think in hindsight we made the wrong choice," he says. "We should have taken the step and moved, and unfortunately we live with that decision.
"I know we've lost people in Saskatchewan to Alberta, because it's the best thing for your family."
The Autism Society of Canada is pushing for a national strategy on autism to guide research, co-ordinate services and standardize programs and credentials.
"I'm sure every parent and every person with autism would wish the government would take a serious look at the issue," says Sandra McKay of Autism Society Canada.
Funding in the U.S. is co-ordinated under federal law. In Canada, federal government action, except for the non-binding Senate report, has been limited.
"We have an increasingly large group of children who are not having their core health-care needs addressed in this country, and I think that is absolutely unacceptable," says Lewis of Autism B.C.
"And I think any government that doesn't do anything about it doesn't deserve to be our government."
Other provinces are catching up to Alberta.
Treatments for autistic children in Yukon now extends until age 18. In August, Ontario announced $12 million in new funding for autism treatment, which should take 210 children off an ABA wait list.
Even Saskatchewan, which trails far behind the other western provinces in autism funding, announced $3 million in specialist training this year. But Verklan says it's not nearly enough, especially when his home is only 400 kilometres from a province where nearly everything is covered.
"I give Alberta a ton of credit, because they're doing the right thing, the human thing to do. It's ethical," he says.
"And unfortunately, the rest of the country isn't doing it."
jwingrove@thejournal.canwest.com
From a listmate
This is a family from Durham that I have always supported by
sharing their work on the mailing list. They pass on the profits to various autism charity organizations in Ontario.
From:
To:
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2007 4:17 PM
autismawareness.ca update
> Good day!
> There are a number of new things at autismawareness.ca! Our biggest
change
> was the addition of a new little girl to our family. During the
first few
> months our shipping times may have been a bit slower while we
adjusted, so
> we thank you for your patience during this time of transition. As
you may
> have read on our website, we run autismawareness.ca in our free time.
We
> have dont have any paid help which keeps our costs lower and in turn
> allows us to donate more to charity.
> Also, our website has had a makeover, check it out!
> We also have a lot of new autism awareness products, such as:
> -briefcase style bag
> -great new hat
> -new style t-shirt
> -variety of new jewelry
> -handy new mood magnet
> -coat for fido (after numerous requests for a pet awareness
product!!)
>
> Check back frequently as we are often adding new products. Also look
for
> another email from us in the coming week regarding autism awareness
month
> (October in Canada).
>
> Thank you,
> Andrew & Cynthia
> www.autismawareness.ca
> We love someone with autism too.
> Together, we can increase awareness!
From a listmate
A sibling on the spectrum
People with autism bring more to a relationship than meets the eye. Find out how.
http://www.nlconcepts.com/autism-siblings.htm
Fifteen Day Special
Purchase Two Learn to talk about sets and get a third set completely *FREE*
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http://www.nlconcepts.com
Natural Learning Concepts
http://www.nlconcepts.com
To unsubscribe reply to this message with unsubscribe in the subject
From a listmate
Oct 1, 2007
People Magazine
“Jenny McCarthy: Fighting for My Autistic Son” Pg 120.
From a Listmate
Ask Lindsay Moir:
No EA-- who finds the support?
Friday, September 21, 2007
Question:
I have heard you speak and am a regular reader of the FamilyNet "Ask Lindsay Moir" site. I understand your position is that "an EA is only one of the ways to meet a child's needs". Many students receive support from placement students, coop ed students and trained volunteers. I have followed your advice and clearly and concisely explained my child's specific needs. the school and I are (for the first time!) in total agreement that he needs:
• identified adult 1:1 supervision in all unstructured activities (ie recess, lunch, moving from class to class, and in assemblies). He is just fine in a classroom setting.
• he needs social skills instruction on a 1:1 basis and the creation of structured,supervised opportunities to practice emerging skills with peers.
I had a meeting with the principal and I agree that this probably does not require an EA (it would be nice, but given the other kids in the school with special needs, it is not necessary). The principal agreed to contact the board office just to see if he could get more EA resources. I agreed to get a social skills curriculum for the school.
The principal informed me today that the board answer was "NO", so I should get working on locating an alternate person. I was taken aback.... should I be the one locating placement students, volunteers etc?
Answer:
The responsibility to do this is the principal's!
Certainly if you have any leads, share them with the principal. I always model collaboration and support.
Most Community College placement people will want to talk to the school directly (there are supervision and reporting responsibilities to be worked out with the principal, not the parent). The principal is responsible to screen all volunteers and "approve" them for working in the school. There are Reference Checks and procedures to be followed.
The school board (and its agent, the principal) have the responsibility to meet your child's needs in Section 170(1)7 of the Education Act. Parents should always be willing to assist and support--- BUT not to assume the sole responsibility.
Lindsay Moir retired from the Ministry of Education in 1997 and has been assisting agencies, associations and parents in obtaining appropriate special education services for exceptional pupils.
Family Net welcomes your questions about special education in Ontario.
E-mail Lindsay at ask.questions@yahoo.ca He will answer as many questions as possible.
From a listmate
Autism Ontario ----------
Election Project
>From: "Karyn Dumble"
>To: "Karyn Dumble"
>Subject: Local Candidate responses to autism services
>Date: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 10:15:09 -0400
>
>This message has been sent to all who are listed on the Chapter
>Leadership Council contact sheets.
>
>Please forward this to your email lists. This may be widely
distributed.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Ontario Election 2007 - What does your candidate think?
>
>Autism Ontario is pleased to share with you our election project.
Check
>out the election section at www.autismontario.com
>
can
>access:
>
>-Elections Ontario to determine which riding you live in.
>
>-Questions posed to each Party Leader and their responses
>
>-The individual question posed to each candidate (what will be
different
>in the riding if he/she is elected) and their responses.
>
>-Resources such as a sample email that can be used to follow up with
>YOUR candidates.
>
>-Information on the referendum question and who is eligible to vote.
>
>
>
>How can you help?
>
>Contact your local candidates and ask them to respond to us. We're
>already drafted an email for you. It's important for each candidate to
>learn how constituents in their riding are affected by Autism Spectrum
>Disorders. They need to hear first-hand about the requirements for
>services for children, youth, and adults.
>
>
>
>Everything you need is in the Elections section of our website. (And
if
>it's not, let us know!)
>
Google Alert
http://communities.canada.com/nationalpost/blogs/ontarioelection/archive/2007/09/24/lying-to-mom-could-be-costly-on-election-day.aspx
Each week, the National Post will be checking in with Ontario voters for their thoughts on the Ontario election campaign. Look for it on Mondays
Mary Vallis, National Post
TORONTO - At first glance, one might expect the group of new mothers at an outdoor fitness class to be ideal Liberal voters. As they jog with strollers and heft their babies in unison, it seems clear education, health and child care are all top of mind.
But some of the mothers in this class are also contemplating Conservative leader John Tory's big point over the past two week: Dalton McGuinty broke his promises.
"I'm definitely not going to vote Liberal," said Fiona Marshall, the leader of the outdoor fitness class for new mothers, and a former teacher herself.
As her eight-month-old daughter Ailie plays on the grass, Ms. Marshall explained that while she voted for the party in 2003, she cannot do it again.
"This is a 'mom' thing to say, but we don't lie in our house. You don't make promises you can't keep."
Ms. Marshall said the Liberals' problem clearly went beyond the financial problems they inherited after taking office. Mr. McGuinty cannot lay the blame there for the many promises he did not keep, she went on.
"Wherever my politics lie, morally I can't support a party that has done basically nothing that it promised to do around education," Ms. Marshall said.
"I'm normally left of Liberal. But for the first time in our house, we're talking about voting right."
Other women in the class echo Ms. Marshall's sentiments. While most of the new mothers were too busy with bath times and household routines to follow the election campaign or watch the televised leaders' debate, Cheryl Hobbs caught "John Tory killing the Liberals," as she put it. It was interesting to see Mr. Tory call Mr. McGuinty out on so many issues, she said.
"It's not all the time we hear about everything," Ms. Hobbs said as she bounced her nine-week-old son, Noah, after the class. "I'm still undecided ... but probably going towards Conservative."
One of the issues Melanie Laskey is following is funding for children with autism. While her own son, Ryan, does not have the brain development disorder, the child of a colleague does. Ms. Laskey appreciates how much the cost of therapy can strain families.
But while opposition leaders criticize Mr. McGuinty for not keeping an election promise to immediately provide funding for autistic children over the age of six, Ms. Laskey is still wary of the Conservatives' plan. Back in February, Mr. Tory announced that his party, if elected, will clear the wait list for children under the age of six and provide flexible aut-ism programming.
"I'm more of a liberal-minded person. And I don't know whether the Tories would actually do anything that would put me over the edge to vote for them," said Ms. Laskey, an accountant. "I don't trust politicians too much."
Indeed, many mothers in the group are disillusioned about any of the promises the politicians make.
"It's all the same, really," said Cindy Boudah, loading her son, Connor, into his stroller. "They should stop making promises that can't be kept."
Fiona Marshall, with daughter Ailie, says broken promises by the Liberals will lead her to change her vote in the coming election. Peter Redman, National Post
Link to this | E-mail this | Digg this | Post to del.icio.us
Published Monday, September 24, 2007 10:46 AM by Shane Dingman
Filed under: Campaign notes, Other
Comments
Google Alert
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=85524987-581b-4bc2-aab2-a384bee57ed7&k=84565
Tory commits to extra $75M for autism treatment
Sets goal of getting every child off waiting list
CanWest News Service
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
LONDON . A Progressive Conservative government would commit an additional $75-million a year to autism treatment with a goal of getting every child off the waiting list for treatment as soon as possible, John Tory said Tuesday.
"Days before the 2003 provincial election, Mr. McGuinty wrote to the parent of a child with autism and promised help," Mr. Tory said after meeting with parents of autistic children.
"But Mr. McGuinty has not delivered, and those families are still waiting."
Mr. Tory said that when Mr. McGuinty became premier, 89 children in Ontario were waiting for autism treatment, but as of last month, the wait list had grown to more than 1,000.
The Conservative leader considers the issue so important that he dedicated his video airtime in advance of the televised leaders' debate last week to it. He is pledging to invest an additional $75-million annually on autism, provide in-school treatments and adopt international standards to accredit professionals to provide support for children. A Tory government would also spend $5-million of that money on respite programs to provide relief for families.
Mr. Tory said experts have told him it will take a minimum of two years to clear the wait list.
"If you never set the objective of getting rid of the waiting lists, then you never will," he said. "It won't be easy, but it must be done."
Mr. Tory visited a daycare inside a fitness centre and met with a group of parents of autistic children, including Steve Gensen and Leela Sharma, whose seven-year-old daughter, Madi, was diagnosed several years ago.
The family waited a year for their daughter to get a diagnosis and another year for treatment. Before her diagnosis, Madi would spend up to 14 hours a day humming, her mother said.
"We thought we were going crazy," Ms Sharma said.
"All she wanted to do was rock and stand in a corner ... and scream pretty much all day."
Intensive behaviour intervention (IBI) therapy can cost tens of thousands a year for each child. Days before the last provincial election, Mr. McGuinty promised in a letter to a month to extend IBI to children over the age of six, ending the previous Conservative government's "unfair and discriminatory" practice of not extending the therapy to older children.
But Mr. McGuinty did not meet that commitment until 2005 and continued to fight parents of autistic children in a court case that predated his government.
David Patchell-Evans, president of Autism Canada, said he trusts Mr. Tory to keep his word because he is more a businessman than a politician.
"In business, if you don't do what you say you're going to do, you know you're going to fail," said Mr. Patchell-Evans, who is also the CEO of GoodLife Fitness Clubs. His 11-year-old daughter, Kilee, has autism.
"He says he's going to do this, and I believe him."
Heading into the second half of the campaign, Mr. Tory also brushed off the results of the latest SES Research poll. The poll of 500 Ontarians shows support for the major parties is still stagnant, with the Liberals at 41%, the Tories at 33%, the New Democrats with 18% support and the Greens with 8%.
"If you look at a horse race and they're on the back stretch halfway through, it's not the time to be predicting who's going to win," Mr. Tory said.
"I'm very confident we're doing just fine."
National Post
© Mary Vallis
From a listmate
Attention News Editors/See CNW Photo Network and Archive:
Tory will provide long-awaited support to children with autism
LONDON, ON, Sept. 25 /CNW/ - Ontario PC Leader John Tory today vowed to
end years of waiting and give children with autism and their families the
support they need to learn, develop and reach their full potential.
"A John Tory government will make a real difference for children with
autism and the families who care for them, once and for all," said Tory. "We
will ensure early intervention. We will respect parents, and work with them
instead of against them. I will keep my word."
Days before the 2003 provincial election, Mr. McGuinty wrote to the
parent of a child with autism and promised help.
Not only has Mr. McGuinty backed out of this written commitment, he has
also fought parents who were struggling to hold him to his word in court. The
waitlist for services has grown, from 89 in 2003 to more than 1,000 as of
August 2007, and support services are still not available in schools.
John Tory will put an end to this and provide real help to these children
and their families. Tory's plan, which would include additional investments of
$75 million annually and be implemented after the October election, includes:
<<
- Clearing the waitlist for treatment for children with autism;
- Partnering with educators, child support workers and school boards to
ensure that upon reaching school age, children with autism have the
supports they need;
- Providing flexibility and choice for parents by giving them the
option of whether to use regional service providers for autism
therapy or take direct funding for accredited outside providers
instead;
- Streamlining support for children with autism by increasing direct
funding options and improving the assessment and regulatory
environment;
- Expanding respite programs so parents and children with autism can
have the opportunity to engage the broader community and develop
other experiences.
>>
"Our government will do what's right for these families. We will give
these children every possible opportunity to learn, grow, develop and live
full, meaningful lives," Tory said.
Aussi disponible en français.
/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available on
the CNW Photo Network and archived at http://photos.newswire.ca.
Additional archived images are also available on the CNW Photo Archive
website at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited
members of the media/
For further information: Mike Van Soelen, Tel: (647) 722-1760
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Star
Tory pledges $75M for autistic children
Sep 25, 2007 11:14 AM
THE CANADIAN PRESS
LONDON, Ont. – Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory says he would move quickly to wipe out a backlog of 1,000 autistic children in Ontario who are waiting for treatment.
Tory says there were only 89 children on the waiting list four years ago when Premier Dalton McGuinty promised parents he would get their kids the treatment they needed.
He says the Conservatives would immediately increase spending by $75 million to help autistic children and their families, and would work with schools to allow therapists into classrooms.
Tory met with parents of several autistic children in London today, admitting he knew practically nothing about the disorder until he entered public life.
He credits New Democrat Shelley Martel for leading the charge on autism, and says he'd be pleased to have her work on the issue for a Conservative government.
The New Democrats earlier announced a proposal to provide blanket therapy for all autistic children who need it right in their classrooms.
Parents are upset the province spent $2.4 million over seven years to fight parents who sued to get treatment for kids over six.
Before July 2005, autism treatment was extended only to children under the age of six.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CTV.CA
McGuinty willing to accept minority government
toronto.ctv.ca
Ontario Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty says he is willing to accept a minority government after next month's election, and he won't change his campaign strategy.
"The electorate will do its own thing in its own course and I accept that. That's fine by me," McGuinty told reporters in Barrie, north of Toronto, on Tuesday morning.
His comments came a day after NDP Leader Howard Hampton said he would only support a minority government if the premier adopts his party's six campaign commitments.
The NDP has focused its campaign on reducing the health tax, increasing the minimum wage, reducing tuition fees, better protecting the environment, better education funding and improving the health-care system with better senior care and more doctors and nurses.
Bringing in those policies would cost about $9.1 billion, the NDP estimates.
McGuinty insisted he has no plans to alter his campaign strategy to try to form a majority government.
"I will stay absolutely focused in a very intense way on the concerns that we share with Ontario families,'' he said Tuesday, which marks the halfway point of the election campaign. "We want to keep going in that direction.''
McGuinty's remarks came after he announced his government would restore GO service between Barrie and Toronto by the end of the year if re-elected.
"This community is growing," he told a local Barrie radio station. "It's growing because it offers a quality of life that is second to none, but what we've got to do is we've got to make sure that all the folks that are coming here don't compromise that quality of life, so we want to get ahead of it and plan for it."
McGuinty said his party's $17.5 billion transportation plan will pay for the $250 million expansion.
The Liberals say there will be four GO trains a day running between the two cities.
Barrie hasn't had GO train service since the provincial government cut the service in 1993.
Two-thirds of McGuinty's transportation plan -- which calls for 95 per cent of the 52 construction projects to be completed by 2020 -- will be paid for by the province. The province has asked the federal government to kick in the remaining third, but the Liberals say they haven't received a response.
The transit projects focus mainly on subway and light rapid transit lines in the Greater Toronto Area.
Hampton hammers McGuinty's record
Hampton, meanwhile, campaigned in Sault. Ste. Marie on Tuesday, reminding voters of McGuinty's broken promise to not raise taxes bye even one cent.
At a press conference, Hampton played a tape from the 2003 election debate during which McGuinty made the pledge.
Hampton is pledging to phase out the health tax for low-income earners and reduce it for middle-income taxpayers.
"The McGuinty health tax is grossly unfair to low and moderate income families, especially women whose average annual income is just over $25,000 a year," Hampton said.
"McGuinty's health tax increased personal income taxes for average families by 24 per cent, while those with incomes greater than $200,000 pay only three per cent more."
The NDP leader delivered his message while standing behind three large buckets overflowing with 45,000 pennies, which he said represented the money McGuinty has taken every year from low-income taxpayers as a result of the broken promise.
Hampton vows to would raise corporate taxes to make up for the tax cut so the health-care system doesn't suffer. He also pledges to bring in a new tax bracket for taxpayers that earn more than $150,000 a year.
Tory highlights autism
Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory campaigned in London, where he visited the families of autistic children. He promises to make a difference for children with autism, including early intervention plans.
"There are treatments available now that have proven effective in helping children with autism develop and integrate, effective treatments that are still too expensive for most families to afford," Tory said.
The Conservative leader promises to quickly wipe out a backlog of 1,000 autistic children in Ontario who are waiting for treatment.
Tory says there were only 89 children on the waiting list four years ago when McGuinty promised parents he would get their kids the treatment they needed.
He says the Conservatives would immediately increase spending by $75 million to help autistic children and their families, and would work with schools to allow therapists into classrooms.
Tory credits New Democrat Shelley Martel for leading the charge on autism. He said he would be pleased to have her work on the issue for a Conservative government.
The NDP have announced a plan to provide blanket therapy for all autistic children who need it in their classrooms.
Ontario voters go to the polls on Oct. 10.
With a report from CTV's Paul Bliss and files from The Canadian Press
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Globe
Tory vows to unclog autism aid
KAREN HOWLETT
Globe and Mail Update
September 25, 2007 at 1:12 PM EDT
LONDON, Ont. — Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory vowed today to invest an additional $75-million a year to help children with autism by unclogging the long waiting list for treatment.
Mr. Tory said the waiting list for treatment has soared to 1,000 children today from just 89 four years ago. He highlighted the enormous emotional, physical and financial strain this places on families by making the announcement at a daycare centre in London, Ont., where he was flanked by several parents of autistic children and seven-year-old Madi Gensen.
Madi's mother, Leela, told Mr. Tory at a roundtable session before the announcement that her daughter was not diagnosed with autism until she was two-and-a-half.
But she said she knew well before then that something was wrong with her daughter, who used to spend 12 to 14 hours a day humming and screaming, Ms. Gensen said.
“Steve and I thought we were going crazy,” she said, referring to her husband.
Mr. Tory, who said he knew nothing about autism until he became leader of the Progressive Conservative Party three years ago.
But once in office, he said, he began learning about the disease by talking to parents of autistic children.
“I've seen the immense challenge represented by this,” he told reporters.
In announcing the additional funding, Mr. Tory was turning the focus of his campaign onto another broken promise by Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty.
Mr. Tory said that Mr. McGuinty promised just before the 2003 campaign that he would provide treatment for children over the age of six if the Liberals won the election.
“Like with so many of his other promises, Dalton McGuinty failed to follow through,” Mr. Tory said.
He said a Conservative Government would work with educators, child support workers and school boards to ensure that school-age children get the support they need. He conceded that he would have to “work out” how this would be done with educators.
“But I'm confident there isn't a teacher in Ontario who won't want to work with the parents and with the government to make sure that can happen,” he told reporters.
The Liberals have come under fire for delaying their promise to end the previous Tory government's practice of cutting off funding for Intensive Behavioural Intervention when children turned six.
The Liberals have said they plan to introduce additional special education reforms to expand support for students with autism. These include providing training to help school principals and teachers deal with children with autism.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Post
Tory renews $75-million autism treatment pledge
Mary Vallis, National Post
LONDON — A Progressive Conservative government would commit an additional $75-million a year to autism treatment with a goal of getting every child off the waiting list for treatment as soon as possible, John Tory said Tuesday.
“Days before the 2003 provincial election, Mr. McGuinty wrote to the parent of a child with autism and promised help,” Mr. Tory said after meeting with parents of autistic children.
“But Mr. McGuinty has not delivered, and those families are still waiting.”
Mr. Tory said that when Mr. McGuinty became premier, 89 children in Ontario were waiting for autism treatment, but as of last month, the wait list had grown to more than 1,000.
The Conservative leader considers the issue so important that he dedicated his video airtime in advance of the televised leaders’ debate last week to it. He is pledging to invest an additional $75-million annually on autism, provide in-school treatments and adopt international standards to accredit professionals to provide support for children. A Tory government would also spend $5-million of that money on respite programs to provide relief for families.
Mr. Tory said experts have told him it will take a minimum of two years to clear the wait list.
“If you never set the objective of getting rid of the waiting lists, then you never will,” he said. “It won’t be easy, but it must be done.”
Mr. Tory visited a daycare inside a fitness centre and met with a group of parents of autistic children, including Steve Gensen and Leela Sharma, whose seven-year-old daughter, Madi, was diagnosed several years ago.
The family waited a year for their daughter to get a diagnosis and another year for treatment. Before her diagnosis, Madi would spend up to 14 hours a day humming, her mother said.
“We thought we were going crazy,” Ms Sharma said.
“All she wanted to do was rock and stand in a corner … and scream pretty much all day.”
Intensive behaviour intervention (IBI) therapy can cost tens of thousands a year for each child. Days before the last provincial election, Mr. McGuinty promised in a letter to a month to extend IBI to children over the age of six, ending the previous Conservative government’s “unfair and discriminatory” practice of not extending the therapy to older children.
But Mr. McGuinty did not meet that commitment until 2005 and continued to fight parents of autistic children in a court case that predated his government.
David Patchell-Evans, president of Autism Canada, said he trusts Mr. Tory to keep his word because he is more a businessman than a politician.
“In business, if you don’t do what you say you’re going to do, you know you’re going to fail,” said Mr. Patchell-Evans, who is also the CEO of GoodLife Fitness Clubs. His 11-year-old daughter, Kilee, has autism.
“He says he’s going to do this, and I believe him.”
Heading into the second half of the campaign, Mr. Tory also brushed off the results of the latest SES Research poll. The poll of 500 Ontarians shows support for the major parties is still stagnant, with the Liberals at 41%, the Tories at 33%, the New Democrats with 18% support and the Greens with 8%.
“If you look at a horse race and they’re on the back stretch halfway through, it’s not the time to be predicting who’s going to win,” Mr. Tory said.
“I’m very confident we’re doing just fine.”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CityNews
GO Transit, Autism And Broken Promises Highlight Campaign Day
Tuesday September 25, 2007
CityNews.ca Staff
Elect a Liberal government and you'll GO farther. That's what Dalton McGuinty is promising voters in Barrie, as he pledges to restore train service from Toronto to the north by the end of the year. The Liberal leader vows the extension is part of the government's $17.5 billion transportation plan and that it will make getting from the Big Smoke to Fresh Air country a lot more convenient for those forced to make the long and sometimes difficult daily commute. The total cost for getting four trains a day back on track: $250 million. Barrie has been without GO Train service since the provincial government cut it back in 1993.
John Tory wasn't thinking about getting around but just getting by as he visited with the families of autistic children in London on Tuesday. The PC boss calls the Liberal record on helping those affected with the syndrome appalling, accusing the Grits of using every possible means of standing in the way of parents looking to help their kids.
The government pays for autistic children to receive intensive one-on-one therapy, but only until they reach the age of six. After that, they're expected to attend public school, where parents claim the benefits disappear. They can continue to send their kids to specialists, but it costs up to $70,000 a year - an amount that leaves most families bankrupt.
Tory promises to give those parents an additional $75 million a year to extend the treatment, which he claims can't wait. "Parents are being forced to choose between sending their kid to school without treatment or isolated at home to receive the therapy they need because their government has not done enough to provide that treatment in schools," he maintains. "I believe the current government and the current premier has failed these families." The PC leader claims the wait list for services has grown from 89 when the Liberals were elected to more than one thousand as of August.
And he wasn't the only one leading the charge on a lack of leadership. NDP boss Howard Hampton travelled to Sault Ste. Marie to hammer McGuinty on his record of broken promises. He and repeatedly played a tape from the 2003 election debate where the Liberal chief pledge not to raise taxes, and displayed 45,000 pennies reminding voters of the vow not to raise their expenses by a single cent.
"Mr. McGuinty has a record," Hampton reminds. "He doesn't want to talk about his record, he'd like people to forget about his record, but he has a four-year record of saying anything, promising anything to get elected and then walking away from those promises and disappointing people. Part of our campaign is to remind people this is not what you voted for."
A Hampton government wants to eliminate the health care tax for low income earners and reduce it by $450 for taxpayers that make up to $80,000 a year.
Google alert
PC leader Tory takes up autism cause to score points against Ont. Liberals
3 days ago
TORONTO - Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory tried to rub salt into an old Liberal wound Tuesday as he promised hundreds of Ontario families more money for costly but effective therapy for their autistic children - and hinted he'll enlist the help of a prominent New Democrat to get it done.
The backlog of autistic children waiting for therapy has grown to 1,000 from 89 under the Liberal government, said Tory, who accused Premier Dalton McGuinty of failing to honour a promise to the families of autistic kids.
A Conservative government would immediately increase annual provincial spending on autism by $75 million - up from about $140 million currently - to quickly wipe out the waiting list, Tory said after meeting with a group of parents of autistic children in London, Ont.
"If you never set the objective of getting rid of the waiting lists, then you never will," he said. "Those kids can't wait on those lists, they need the care soon. It won't be easy, but it must be done."
The charge of another broken promise angered Liberal officials, who insist they kept their promise to end a long-standing policy of cutting off access to intensive behavioural intervention (IBI) at the age of 6, nearly tripled spending on autism and more than doubled the number of kids getting access to treatment.
Public funding for treatment of children with autism is a thorny issue in Ontario. The Liberals insist money is best spent in training therapists and expanding college training programs, while the NDP and Conservatives are campaiging on pledges to dramatically increase services.
Some of the parents Tory met said they were encouraged by his pledge to help them and their children.
David Patchell-Evans, the founder and CEO of GoodLife Fitness Clubs, has an 11-year-old autistic daughter. He said society just doesn't seem to take autism as seriously as it should.
"People don't die of autism. They die of AIDS and they die of diabetes if it's not treated," Patchell-Evans said. "Autism is more prevalent of all those things, but people don't die of it, and so I don't think it gets the attention because it's not immediate, in your face."
He said the Liberals had done little to help autistic families, despite McGuinty's written pledge to them during the 2003 election campaign, but felt he could trust Tory's word as a businessman to keep his promise.
"What he's saying is they'll make a difference the moment they get into power. That's what I thought was going to happen last time," said Patchell-Evans.
"You wouldn't believe the heartbreak that happened last time, because these people are at the end of their ropes. We all want things for our children, but in this case we just want our children to talk."
Tory proceeded to prove the old adage that politics makes strange bedfellows when he heaped praise on longtime NDP stalwart Shelley Martel, a fierce critic of the Liberals on the autism file who announced her retirement from politics earlier this year.
"I just watched her and her great passion for this, and the degree to which she is held in such high regard and is seen as having so much credibility by people in (the autism) community," he said.
" I hope I have the privilege to do something about this, and she'd be certainly somebody I'd love to call on."
WIth their success directly dependent on the demise of the Liberals, the Conservatives and the NDP have long maintained an unholy alliance of sorts on the campaign trail. Recent polls that suggest a minority government have only served to amplify the rhetoric of late, and embolden the NDP, which would hold the balance of power.
On Monday, NDP Leader Howard Hampton said a minority government would need to pledge allegiance to the New Democrat agenda, a shopping list of social services improvements that carry an estimated $9.1-billion price tag.
A day later, McGuinty acknowledged for the first time the possibility that he could be leading a minority when the dust settles after voting day Oct. 10.
"The electorate will do its own thing in its own course; I accept that, and that's fine by me," he said during a campaign stop in Barrie, Ont. "They have their responsibility to come to understand the issues and, of course, to get out and vote."
Ontario's "just-in-time" economy demands a nimble and agile Liberal majority to keep moving forward, he said.
McGuinty was courting commuters Tuesday as he talked up a plan to expand commuter rail service between Toronto and Barrie, Ont., a rapidly expanding city suburb about an hour's drive north - when there's no traffic.
Hampton, meanwhile, made a stop in Sault Ste. Marie, where he hauled out buckets filled with pennies - 45,000 of them, to be exact - to illustrate the $450 a year the Liberals have cost low-income taxpayers by breaking their pledge to hold the line on taxes.
The NDP has said it would phase out the contentious Ontario Health Premium for low-income earners and reduce it by $450 for taxpayers earning up to $80,000.
"Mr. McGuinty . . . has a four-year record of saying anything, promising anything to get elected and then walking away from those promises and disappointing people," Hampton said.
"Part of our campaign is to remind people this is not what you voted for, this is not what you were promised and you deserve someone you can count on."
-With files from Keith Leslie
Google alert
Tory promises $75M for autistic children
Last Updated: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 | 4:44 PM ET
The Canadian Press
Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory says he would move quickly to wipe out a backlog of 1,000 autistic children in Ontario who are waiting for treatment if he is elected premier on Oct. 10.
Tory says there were only 89 children on the waiting list four years ago when Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty promised parents he would get their kids the treatment they needed.
He says the Conservatives would immediately increase spending by $75 million to help autistic children and their families, and would work with schools to allow therapists into classrooms.
Tory met with parents of several autistic children in London in southwestern Ontario on Tuesday, admitting he knew practically nothing about the disorder until he entered public life.
He credits New Democrat Shelley Martel for leading the charge on autism, and says he'd be pleased to have her work on the issue for a Conservative government.
The New Democrats earlier announced a proposal to provide blanket therapy, right in the classrooms, for all autistic children who need it.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ontariovotes2007/story/2007/09/25/ot-autistic-070925.html
google alert
Tory pledges additional funding for autism
Mary Vallis
CanWest News Service
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
LONDON - Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory on Tuesday pledged to eliminate Ontario's waiting list for children's autism treatment, but Premier Dalton McGuinty urged voters to be wary of the Tories' spending plans.
The NDP, meanwhile, said it would reinsure physiotherapy, chiropractic care, and eye exams under OHIP, the province's health plan.
The Conservative leader is promising to spend an additional $75 million annually on autism, provide in-school treatments and spend $5 million of that money on respite programs to provide relief for families.
"Days before the 2003 provincial election, Mr. McGuinty wrote to the parent of a child with autism and promised help," Tory said after meeting with parents of autistic children.
"But Mr. McGuinty has not delivered, and those families are still waiting."
Tory said that when McGuinty became premier, 89 children in Ontario were waiting for autism treatment, but as of last month, the wait list had grown to more than 1,000.
Experts have told him it will take a minimum of two years to clear the wait list, he said.
McGuinty has been widely criticized for promising in a letter to a motion for a child with autism to extend expensive therapy to children over the age of six, ending the previous Conservative government's "unfair and discriminatory" practice of not granting the treatment to older children. Although McGuinty penned the letter before the last provincial election, he did not meet that commitment until 2005.
At a campaign stop in Mississauga, the premier pointed out the Liberals boosted funding for autistic children from what the previous Conservative government provided. The party spends $140 million a year on autism, which is says is triple the amount spent by the previous Tory government.
McGuinty urged Ontarians to be "very careful" when considering Tory's commitments when there is a cost involved.
"Now he's telling us that he can cut our taxes, he can deliver more services, and he can balance a budget," McGuinty said.
"That's what the last guy (Premier Mike Harris) said and then he closed our hospitals, fired our nurses, fired our water inspectors, underfunded our schools, and stuck all of us with a $5.6-billion deficit."
Also on Tuesday in Elliot lake in northern Ontario, the New Democrats also zeroed in on health with leader Howard Hampton promising to re-list a number of medical services under the province's health-care plan and offer relief from the McGuinty government's health tax.
An NDP government would invest $100 million in physiotherapy, chiropractic care, and eye exams to reverse what Hampton deemed a Liberal "flirtation with privatization." Uproar ensued in March 2005 when the Ontario government removed the procedures from coverage for most patients between 20 and 64 years old.
In other developments Tuesday, McGuinty said that if elected, Ontario will spend $100 million on trains, buses and track in and around Toronto.
At a campaign stop at the Mississauga Transit hub Tuesday afternoon, McGuinty arrived - a few minutes late - on a municipal bus to tout his government's investment.
"Our families are counting on us to ease gridlock so they can spend more time together, and our economy is counting on us to ensure that we can move people and goods more efficiently, so we need to act now," McGuinty said.
MoveOntario 2020 will deliver 52 rapid transit projects, covering 902 kilometres, at a cost of $17.5 billion. Construction begins next year, though the project will take till 2020 to be 95 per cent complete.
The first $100 million announced will pay for 20 new GO trains, 10 new double-decker GO buses, expanded GO track, a new transit terminal in Markham, and six new hybrid buses for Hamilton.
Earlier Tuesday, McGuinty was in Barrie to promise GO train service to that fast-growing city.
The Conservatives dismissed the announcement as recycled news, as did the NDP.
"There's no clearer sign that the McGuinty Liberals have nothing new to offer Ontarians than today's fourth re-announcement of expanded GO Train service to Barrie," says an NDP release. "Barrie is paved with re-announcements. It's just more of the same double talk from McGuinty."
with files from Andrew Thomson, Ottawa Citizen and Craig Pearson, Windsor Star
National Post
Sun
Wed, September 26, 2007
Autism lifeline vowed
Tory promises $75M program
By PATRICK MALONEY, SUN MEDIA
LONDON, Ont. -- John Tory yesterday promised $75 million to help autistic kids and their families, a segment of Ontarians he says Dalton McGuinty has failed.
An advocate for autistic kids, GoodLife Fitness founder David Patchell-Evans of London, called the Progressive Conservative leader's pledge a "breath of fresh air."
"I can guarantee people that were listening to this were ... crying with hope," said Patchell-Evans, whose autistic daughter Kilee is 11. "The (PCs) seem to be the only (party) that would commit to making something different."
The autism issue has dogged the Liberals and critics say they didn't go far enough to fund a costly but effective therapy for the disorder, which causes impaired social and communication skills.
Tory met with parents with autistic children yesterday before announcing his plan to clear the list of kids waiting for so-called intensive behavioural intervention therapy.
"The current government and the current premier, Mr. McGuinty, have failed these families," he said.
The Liberals say 1,400 kids will get IBI this year. Tory says there were 59 kids on a waiting list in 2003 and 1,200 today.
But Tory insisted fully funded IBI shouldn't be a partisan debate. He praised Shelley Martel, the retiring NDP MPP, for her work and expressed interest in working with her on the issue.
Also, Tory said a PC government would work with educators to increase the in-school support system and put $5 million toward expanding a "respite program," allowing parents brief chances to get away and relax.
After the 2003 Liberal win, Patchell-Evans said he and other parents of autistic kids thought help was on the way. They were met with what he called "heartbreak" when it wasn't delivered.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Globe
Tory pledges to break autism treatment logjam
By KAREN HOWLETT
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
With a report from Caroline Alphonso in Barrie
LONDON -- Seven-year-old Madi Gensen used to spend hours humming and screaming every day when she was a baby, leaving her parents feeling totally helpless.
"Steve and I thought we were going crazy," said Leela Sharma, Madi's mother. "We felt pretty helpless."
Ms. Sharma said she and her husband knew something was wrong with their daughter, but it was not until she was 2½ that she was diagnosed with autism.
Madi's parents, along with their curly-haired little daughter, were among a group of parents who joined Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory at a roundtable discussion on autism at a daycare centre in London yesterday.
Mr. Tory was there to call attention to the plight of parents struggling to find treatment for autistic children, and promised to invest an additional $75-million a year to help children with autism by unclogging the long waiting list for treatment. It's a list he said has soared to 1,000 children today, under the Liberal government, from just 89 four years ago.
Ms. Sharma said she and her husband spend thousands of dollars on treatment for their daughter, who cannot be left alone for "30 seconds."
Mr. Tory criticized Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty for not fulfilling the promise he had made just before the 2003 campaign to provide treatment for children over the age of 6 if the Liberals won the election.
"Like with so many of his other promises, Dalton McGuinty failed to follow through," Mr. Tory said.
However, the Liberals pointed out yesterday that they removed the age-6 cutoff for intensive behavioural intervention treatment in 2005 and have more than tripled spending on autism services to $140-million a year.
Mr. McGuinty questioned whether Mr. Tory could inject more funding into autism treatment and, at the same time, live up to his promise to phase out the $2.6-billion annual health premium.
"I would ask all Ontarians to be very careful when considering commitments made by Mr. Tory where there is a cost associated with those commitments, because he's now telling us that he can cut our taxes, he can deliver more services and he can balance the budget," he told reporters.
Mr. Tory said a Conservative government would work with educators, child-support workers and school boards to ensure that children get the support they need. He conceded that he would have to "work out" how this would be done with educators.
"But I'm confident there isn't a teacher in Ontario who won't want to work with the parents and with the government to make sure that can happen," he said.
The Liberals have said they plan to introduce additional special-education reforms to expand support for students with autism.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windsor Star
Tory promises autism funding
McGuinty warns Ontarians to be "very careful" about PC promises when there's cost involved
Mary Vallis, with files from Andrew Thomson and Craig Pearson, CanWest News Service; with files from Ottawa Citizen and Windsor Star
Published: Wednesday, September 26, 2007
LONDON - Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory on Tuesday pledged to eliminate Ontario's waiting list for children's autism treatment, but Premier Dalton McGuinty urged voters to be wary of the Tories' spending plans.
The NDP, meanwhile, said it would reinsure physiotherapy, chiropractic care, and eye exams under OHIP, the province's health plan.
The Conservative leader is promising to spend an additional $75 million annually on autism, provide in-school treatments and spend $5 million of that money on respite programs to provide relief for families.
"Days before the 2003 provincial election, Mr. McGuinty wrote to the parent of a child with autism and promised help," Tory said after meeting with parents of autistic children.
"But Mr. McGuinty has not delivered, and those families are still waiting."
Tory said that when McGuinty became premier, 89 children in Ontario were waiting for autism treatment, but as of last month, the wait list had grown to more than 1,000.
Experts have told him it will take a minimum of two years to clear the wait list, he said.
McGuinty has been widely criticized for promising in a letter to a motion for a child with autism to extend expensive therapy to children over the age of six, ending the previous Conservative government's "unfair and discriminatory" practice of not granting the treatment to older children. Although McGuinty penned the letter before the last provincial election, he did not meet that commitment until 2005.
At a campaign stop in Mississauga, the premier pointed out the Liberals boosted funding for autistic children from what the previous Conservative government provided. The party spends $140 million a year on autism, which is says is triple the amount spent by the previous Tory government.
McGuinty urged Ontarians to be "very careful" when considering Tory's commitments when there is a cost involved.
"Now he's telling us that he can cut our taxes, he can deliver more services, and he can balance a budget," McGuinty said.
"That's what the last guy (Premier Mike Harris) said and then he closed our hospitals, fired our nurses, fired our water inspectors, underfunded our schools, and stuck all of us with a $5.6-billion deficit."
Also on Tuesday in Elliot Lake, the New Democrats also zeroed in on health with leader Howard Hampton promising to re-list a number of medical services under the province's health-care plan and offer relief from the McGuinty government's health tax.
An NDP government would invest $100 million in physiotherapy, chiropractic care, and eye exams to reverse what Hampton deemed a Liberal "flirtation with privatization."
Uproar ensued in March 2005 when the Ontario government removed the procedures from coverage for most patients between 20 and 64 years old.
In other developments Tuesday, McGuinty said that if elected, Ontario will spend $100 million on trains, buses and track in and around Toronto.
MoveOntario 2020 will deliver 52 rapid transit projects, covering 902 kilometres, at a cost of $17.5 billion.
Construction begins next year, though the project will take till 2020 to be 95 per cent complete.
The first $100 million announced will pay for 20 new GO trains, 10 new double-decker GO buses, expanded GO track, a new transit terminal in Markham, and six new hybrid buses for Hamilton.
The Conservatives dismissed the announcement as recycled news, as did the NDP.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Star
Tory pledges autism help
Aims to cut waiting lists for families needing assistance, boost funding by $80 million
Sep 26, 2007 04:30 AM
Rob Ferguson
QUEEN'S PARK BUREAU
LONDON, Ont.–As the mother of an autistic girl, Leela Sharma remembers how tough life was before young Madi was diagnosed at age 2 1/2 after a long wait.
"All she wanted to do was rock and stand in a corner and rub her back and scream all day," Sharma recounted to Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory yesterday as he detailed his election promise to help families dealing with autism.
"We felt pretty helpless," she added as Madi played quietly with a Groovy Girls doll.
Tory said a Progressive Conservative government would aim to eliminate waiting lists for autistic children needing treatment as soon as possible and provide therapists to accompany autistic children in school where recommended by a professional.
"We have to work out how this gets done with educators," Tory said, referring to concerns in some schools that allowing autistic children with therapists into classrooms could be disruptive for other children.
Experts have suggested it would take a minimum of two years to clear the long waiting list, but Tory did not set an exact deadline, although he called a time limit the only way to make progress.
"It won't be easy but it must be done," Tory said after a roundtable discussion with parents of autistic children, promising an extra $75 million a year in funding to help tackle the issue plus $5 million in respite care for exhausted parents.
There are now 1,000 children on the waiting list for treatment that can cost $50,000 a year per child, up from 89 children when Premier Dalton McGuinty was elected in 2003. The number of children diagnosed with the disorder has climbed exponentially, in what Dr. Derrick MacFabe of the University of Western Ontario called an "epidemic."
The Liberals say they have tripled autism funding to $140 million and have doubled the number of children receiving Intensive Behaviour Intervention treatment to 1,200.
Tory said he'd like to hire retiring Nickel Belt MPP Shelley Martel, a New Democrat and long-time champion of better services for autistic children, to help fix the system if his party is elected.
Martel's husband, NDP Leader Howard Hampton, brushed off the suggestion.
"I wish Mr. Tory good luck, but my wife is rather fussy about who she hangs around with," Hampton said in Hamilton.
"Believe me, I know. It took me about six years."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canada.com
Tory pledges additional funding for autism
Mary Vallis, with files from Andrew Thomson and Craig, CanWest News Service; National Post; with files from Ottawa Citizen and Windsor Star
Published: Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Article tools
LONDON - Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory on Tuesday pledged to eliminate Ontario's waiting list for children's autism treatment, but Premier Dalton McGuinty urged voters to be wary of the Tories' spending plans.
The NDP, meanwhile, said it would reinsure physiotherapy, chiropractic care, and eye exams under OHIP, the province's health plan.
The Conservative leader is promising to spend an additional $75 million annually on autism, provide in-school treatments and spend $5 million of that money on respite programs to provide relief for families.
"Days before the 2003 provincial election, Mr. McGuinty wrote to the parent of a child with autism and promised help," Tory said after meeting with parents of autistic children.
"But Mr. McGuinty has not delivered, and those families are still waiting."
Tory said that when McGuinty became premier, 89 children in Ontario were waiting for autism treatment, but as of last month, the wait list had grown to more than 1,000.
Experts have told him it will take a minimum of two years to clear the wait list, he said.
McGuinty has been widely criticized for promising in a letter to a motion for a child with autism to extend expensive therapy to children over the age of six, ending the previous Conservative government's "unfair and discriminatory" practice of not granting the treatment to older children. Although McGuinty penned the letter before the last provincial election, he did not meet that commitment until 2005.
At a campaign stop in Mississauga, the premier pointed out the Liberals boosted funding for autistic children from what the previous Conservative government provided. The party spends $140 million a year on autism, which is says is triple the amount spent by the previous Tory government.
McGuinty urged Ontarians to be "very careful" when considering Tory's commitments when there is a cost involved.
"Now he's telling us that he can cut our taxes, he can deliver more services, and he can balance a budget," McGuinty said.
"That's what the last guy (Premier Mike Harris) said and then he closed our hospitals, fired our nurses, fired our water inspectors, underfunded our schools, and stuck all of us with a $5.6-billion deficit."
Also on Tuesday in Elliot lake in northern Ontario, the New Democrats also zeroed in on health with leader Howard Hampton promising to re-list a number of medical services under the province's health-care plan and offer relief from the McGuinty government's health tax.
An NDP government would invest $100 million in physiotherapy, chiropractic care, and eye exams to reverse what Hampton deemed a Liberal "flirtation with privatization." Uproar ensued in March 2005 when the Ontario government removed the procedures from coverage for most patients between 20 and 64 years old.
In other developments Tuesday, McGuinty said that if elected, Ontario will spend $100 million on trains, buses and track in and around Toronto.
At a campaign stop at the Mississauga Transit hub Tuesday afternoon, McGuinty arrived - a few minutes late - on a municipal bus to tout his government's investment.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ottawa Citizen
Tory vows to end wait for autism treatment
Mary Vallis, The National Post
Published: Wednesday, September 26, 2007
LONDON - Progressive Conservative leader John Tory yesterday pledged to eliminate the waiting list for children's autism treatment, but Premier Dalton McGuinty urged voters to be wary of the Tories' spending plans.
The Conservative leader is promising to spend an additional $75 million annually on autism, provide in-school treatments and spend $5 million of that money on respite programs to provide relief for families.
"Days before the 2003 provincial election, Mr. McGuinty wrote to the parent of a child with autism and promised help," Mr. Tory said after meeting parents of autistic children.
"But Mr. McGuinty has not delivered, and those families are still waiting."
Mr. Tory said that when Mr. McGuinty became premier, 89 children in Ontario were waiting for autism treatment, but as of last month, the wait list had grown to more than 1,000.
Experts have told him it will take a minimum of two years to clear the wait list, he said.
"If you never set the objective of getting rid of the waiting lists, then you never will," he said. "It won't be easy, but it must be done."
Mr. McGuinty has been widely criticized for promising in a letter to extend expensive therapy to children over the age of six, ending the previous Conservative government's "unfair and discriminatory" practice of not granting the treatment to older children. Although Mr. McGuinty penned the letter before the last provincial election, he did not meet that commitment until 2005.
At a campaign stop in Mississauga, the premier pointed out that the Liberals boosted funding for autistic children from what the previous Conservative government provided. The Liberal government spends $140-million a year on autism, which is says is triple the amount spent by the previous Tory government.
Mr. McGuinty urged Ontarians to be "very careful" when considering Mr. Tory's commitments when there is a cost involved.
"Now he's telling us that he can cut our taxes, he can deliver more services, and he can balance a budget," Mr. McGuinty said.
"That's what the last guy said and then he closed our hospitals, fired our nurses, fired our water inspectors, underfunded our schools, and stuck all of us with a $5.6-billion deficit."
The Liberals say it took two years to lift the age cap on autism treatment because the province needed to train therapists to meet the growing demand. And they argue the waiting list ballooned as a direct result of lifting the age restriction on treatment. Even so, they maintain more children in need are getting therapy -- more than 1,400 this year, up from 530 during the previous Conservative government.
Mr. Tory met with a group of parents of autistic children yesterday, including Steve Gensen and Leela Sharma, whose seven-year-old daughter, Madi, was diagnosed several years ago.
The family waited a year for their daughter to get a diagnosis and another year for treatment. Before her diagnosis, Madi would spend up to 14 hours a day humming, her mother said.
"All she wanted to do was rock and stand in a corner ... and scream pretty much all day," Ms. Sharma said.
Even though they've been let down by the one government, some are willing to take Mr. Tory at his word.
David Patchell-Evans, president of Autism Canada, said he trusts Mr. Tory to keep his word because he is more a businessman than a politician.
"In business, if you don't do what you say you're going to do, you know you're going to fail," said Mr. Patchell-Evans, who attended Mr. Tory's announcement.
"He says he's going to do this, and I believe him."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
National Post
Tory pledges $75-million funding for autism
Mary Vallis, National Post
LONDON — Progressive Conservative leader John Tory on Tuesday pledged to eliminate the waiting list for children’s autism treatment, but Premier Dalton McGuinty urged voters to be wary of the Tories’ spending plans.
The Conservative leader is promising to spend an additional $75-million annually on autism, provide in-school treatments and spend $5-million of that money on respite programs to provide relief for families.
“Days before the 2003 provincial election, Mr. McGuinty wrote to the parent of a child with autism and promised help,” Mr. Tory said after meeting with parents of autistic children.
“But Mr. McGuinty has not delivered, and those families are still waiting.”
Mr. Tory said that when Mr. McGuinty became premier, 89 children in Ontario were waiting for autism treatment, but as of last month, the wait list had grown to more than 1,000.
Experts have told him it will take a minimum of two years to clear the wait list, he said.
“If you never set the objective of getting rid of the waiting lists, then you never will,” he said. “It won’t be easy, but it must be done.”
Mr. McGuinty has been widely criticized for promising in a letter to a motion for a child with autism to extend expensive therapy to children over the age of six, ending the previous Conservative government’s “unfair and discriminatory” practice of not granting the treatment to older children. Although Mr. McGuinty penned the letter before the last provincial election, he did not meet that commitment until 2005.
At a campaign stop in Mississauga, the Premier pointed out the Liberals boosted funding for autistic children from what the previous Conservative government provided. The party spends $140-million a year on autism, which is says is triple the amount spent by the previous Tory government.
Mr. McGuinty urged Ontarians to be “very careful” when considering Mr. Tory’s commitments when there is a cost involved.
“Now he's telling us that he can cut our taxes, he can deliver more services and he can balance a budget,” Mr. McGuinty said.
“That's what the last guy said and then he closed our hospitals, fired our nurses, fired our water inspectors, underfunded our schools, and stuck all of us with a $5.6-billion deficit.”
The Liberals say it took two years to lift the age cap on autism treatment because the province needed to train therapists to meet the growing demand. And they argue the waiting list ballooned as a direct result of lifting the age restriction on treatment. Even so, they maintain more children in need are getting therapy — more than 1,400 this year, up from 530 during the previous Conservative government.
Mr. Tory visited met with a group of parents of autistic children Tuesday, including Steve Gensen and Leela Sharma, whose seven-year-old daughter, Madi, was diagnosed several years ago.
The family waited a year for their daughter to get a diagnosis and another year for treatment. Before her diagnosis, Madi would spend up to 14 hours a day humming, her mother said.
“All she wanted to do was rock and stand in a corner … and scream pretty much all day,” Ms Sharma said.
Even after being let down by the McGuinty government, some are willing to take
Mr. Tory at his word.
David Patchell-Evans, president of Autism Canada, said he trusts Mr. Tory to keep his word because he is more a businessman than a politician.
“In business, if you don’t do what you say you’re going to do, you know you’re going to fail,” said Mr. Patchell-Evans, who attended Mr. Tory’s announcement.
“He says he’s going to do this, and I believe him.”
From a listmate
Tory pledges to break autism treatment logjam
KAREN HOWLETT
With a report from Caroline Alphonso in Barrie
September 26, 2007
LONDON -- Seven-year-old Madi Gensen used to spend hours humming and screaming every day when she was a baby, leaving her parents feeling totally helpless.
"Steve and I thought we were going crazy," said Leela Sharma, Madi's mother. "We felt pretty helpless."
Ms. Sharma said she and her husband knew something was wrong with their daughter, but it was not until she was 2½ that she was diagnosed with autism.
Madi's parents, along with their curly-haired little daughter, were among a group of parents who joined Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory at a roundtable discussion on autism at a daycare centre in London yesterday.
Print Edition - Section Front
Enlarge Image
Mr. Tory was there to call attention to the plight of parents struggling to find treatment for autistic children, and promised to invest an additional $75-million a year to help children with autism by unclogging the long waiting list for treatment. It's a list he said has soared to 1,000 children today, under the Liberal government, from just 89 four years ago.
Ms. Sharma said she and her husband spend thousands of dollars on treatment for their daughter, who cannot be left alone for "30 seconds."
Mr. Tory criticized Liberal Leader Dalton McGuinty for not fulfilling the promise he had made just before the 2003 campaign to provide treatment for children over the age of 6 if the Liberals won the election.
"Like with so many of his other promises, Dalton McGuinty failed to follow through," Mr. Tory said.
However, the Liberals pointed out yesterday that they removed the age-6 cutoff for intensive behavioural intervention treatment in 2005 and have more than tripled spending on autism services to $140-million a year.
Mr. McGuinty questioned whether Mr. Tory could inject more funding into autism treatment and, at the same time, live up to his promise to phase out the $2.6-billion annual health premium.
"I would ask all Ontarians to be very careful when considering commitments made by Mr. Tory where there is a cost associated with those commitments, because he's now telling us that he can cut our taxes, he can deliver more services and he can balance the budget," he told reporters.
Mr. Tory said a Conservative government would work with educators, child-support workers and school boards to ensure that children get the support they need. He conceded that he would have to "work out" how this would be done with educators.
"But I'm confident there isn't a teacher in Ontario who won't want to work with the parents and with the government to make sure that can happen," he said.
The Liberals have said they plan to introduce additional special-education reforms to expand support for students with autism.
Globe and mail
Google alert
London free press
Tory promises $75 million for parents with autistic kids
Wed, September 26, 2007
By PATRICK MALONEY, SUN MEDIA
John Tory yesterday promised $75 million to help autistic kids and their families, a small but growing segment of Ontarians he says Dalton McGuinty has failed.
A high-profile advocate for autistic kids, GoodLife Fitness founder David Patchell-Evans of London, called the Progressive Conservative pledge a "breath of fresh air" for those dealing with the disorder.
"I can guarantee people that were listening to this were . . . crying with hope," said Patchell-Evans, whose autistic daughter Kilee is 11. "The (PCs) seem to be the only (party) that would commit to making something different."
The autism issue has dogged the Liberals and critics say they didn't go far enough to fund a costly, but effective therapy for the disorder, which causes impaired social and communication skills.
Tory met with parents before announcing his plan to clear the growing list waiting for so-called IBI therapy.
"The current government and the current premier, Mr. McGuinty, have failed these families," Tory said. "We will respect parents and work with them instead of against them. I will keep my word."
The Liberals say 1,400 children will get IBI this year. Tory says there were 59 kids on a waiting list in 2003 and 1,200 today. But the PC leader insisted this shouldn't be a partisan debate. He praised Shelley Martel, the retiring NDP MPP, for her work and expressed interest in working with her on the issue.
Also, Tory said a PC government would work with educators to increase the in-school support system and put $5 million toward expanding a "respite program," allowing overburdened parents brief chances to get away and relax.
After the 2003 Liberal win, Patchell-Evans said he and others with autistic kids thought help was on the way. They were met with what he called "heartbreak."
Patchell-Evans is confident in Tory.
"He says he's going to do this and I believe him."
Tory Announcement
The Progressive Conservative party has recognized the need for urgent attention to the Autism crisis in Ontario by placing their Autism plan in their party platform.
"If you never set the objective of getting rid of the waiting lists, then you never will"
John Tory
National Post
"... Tory insisted fully funded IBI shouldn't be a partisan debate."
Toronto Sun
There is video available of the John Tory Announcement. Click below to go to a page on our website where you can play it:
Click the Newspaper to read articles generated from the PC party press release:
The New Democratic Party announced their Autism Strategy on September 15, 2007. See the NDP press release here.
Google alert
McCarthy willing to 'go the distance' for autism
Updated Wed. Sep. 26 2007 11:28 AM ET
Canada AM
Actress Jenny McCarthy is attempting to raise public awareness about autism through a new book discussing how she is raising her son, who suffers from the developmental disorder.
"I'm really willing to go the distance to kind of spread the word and really share my emotions on the issue, because it's so close to home," McCarthy told CTV's Canada AM.
"Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism" is McCarthy's fourth book. In the book, McCarthy talks about how people in public are unsure how to react to a child with autism because they may have temper tantrums.
"You kind of have to let them have their outburst," McCarthy said, "and a parent might look at you and go 'God, you're a bad parent. You don't know how to tame your child.' And you want to go -- 'It's not my fault.'"
McCarthy's motherly instincts about her son's autism were raised when he began to have seizures. One of the seizures led to her son having a cardiac arrest.
One day before her son was formally diagnosed with autism, McCarthy appeared on the 'Live with Regis and Kelly' talk show.
She was promoting her third book "Baby Laughs," which described how happy and healthy her son was.
"All I wanted to do was cry and I had to pick myself up and stay strong to get through it because I had to sell a book," McCarthy said. "I had to pay for autism when I got home. And that was really one of the most difficult times of my life."
A turning point came after McCarthy began experimenting with a diet free of gluten, wheat and dairy products for her son. The diet had helped some other autistic children, she discovered after conducting research online. McCarthy noticed progress was being made when she was watching television with her son.
"SpongeBob SquarePants" did not usually connect with her son Evan, but when he laughed at something "very abstract and funny" while watching it, McCarthy said she knew it was important.
"That was my big moment ... I call it kind of opening the window and pulling him out of the world of autism," McCarthy said.
McCarthy noticed that her son's eye contact and vocabulary noticeably improved within weeks as a result of being on the diet.
"I got my degree in the University of Google because everything on there is how I helped Evan," McCarthy said.
Looking after her son has also become easier for McCarthy with the help of her new love, Canadian comic actor Jim Carrey.
McCarthy has said that Carrey has connected with her son in areas that she was not succesful.
Recently, McCarthy called Carrey the "autism whisperer" because of the positive effect he has had on her son.
"He really has done wonders with Evan and I love him to pieces and I'm very lucky," McCarthy said.
With files from The Associated Press
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070926/mccarth_autismbook_070926/20070927?hub=Entertainment
google alert
Attention News Editors:
Dalton McGuinty's autism record
TORONTO, Sept. 25 /CNW/ - Dalton McGuinty continues to try and cover up
his shameful record when it comes to getting children with autism the support
and treatment they need - which is what he promised them in 2003.
Here are the facts:
<<
- 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).
- And if all of that wasn't bad enough, Dalton McGuinty tried to force
the parents of children with autism to pay for the government's $85,000
legal bill for the court case that he chose to continue in April 2005
(Toronto Star, June 11, 2007).
- Meanwhile, the waiting list for autism treatment has grown from 89 in
early 2004 to nearly 1,100 children as of August 2007 (Toronto Star,
January 19, 2007, Timmins Daily Press, August 18, 2007).
>>
Access to a waiting list isn't access to treatment, Dalton.
Today, Dalton McGuinty issued a bizarre press release in which he claims
he's "directed school boards to prepare schools to deliver IBI therapy on
site."
In fact, the very opposite is true, as witnessed by the March 1, 2007
memo from Ben Levin, Deputy Minister of Education that made it very clear
Dalton McGuinty would not be offering IBI in Ontario's schools?
"Based upon your work and in support of the recommendations of the
reference group the Ministry will soon release a PPM on the use of
Applied Behavioural analysis (ABA) in schools. The focus of this PPM will
be ABA teaching practices and not Intensive Behavioural Intervention
(IBI)...."
Dalton McGuinty couldn't be trusted in 2003. Why would the parents of
autistic children trust him in 2007?
Leadership Matters.
For further information: Mike Van Soelen, (647) 722-1760
U-TUBE
Video
http://www.youtube.com/user/AutismSpeaksVids
Star
By the numbers
Sep 29, 2007 04:30 AM
$278
Amount spent per each child aged 0-12 on regulated child care in Ontario in 2005-2006. In Quebec, the figure was $1,617.
60
Percentage of Ontario child-care workers without a post-secondary diploma in early child-care education.
345,000
Number of children living in poverty in Ontario. That's 43.8 per cent of all the children living in poverty in Canada and is seven percentage points higher than in 2001.
132,000
Number of children who use food banks in Ontario each month.
1,000
Children on the waiting list for intensive autism treatment that can cost $50,000 a year per child.
33
Percentage of low-income children living in Ontario families where their parent/s are working full time, full year. This figure has doubled since 1993.
11
Percentage of Ontario boys who were obese in 2004. For girls, the figure was 7 per cent.
$5,420
Average undergraduate tuition fees for 2007-2008 in Ontario.
$25,000
Average Ontario student debt at graduation.
________________________________________
Compiled by: Joanne Madden and Nelia Raposo / Toronto Star Library
________________________________________
SOURCES: Star files, Statistics Canada Canadian Community Health Survey, Association of University and Colleges of Canada, Ontario Association of Food Banks, Childcare Resource and Research Unit, Ontario Social Planning Network, Canadian Federation of Students
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Star
EDITORIAL
Failing grade for Tories on schools
Sep 28, 2007 04:30 AM
Which political party has the best plan to ensure our publicly funded schools can offer quality education to all children in Ontario?
That's a key question confronting voters as they decide whether to support the Liberals, Progressive Conservatives or New Democratic Party in the Oct. 10 provincial election. Each party has vowed to bolster public education, but their platforms differ in striking ways.
Since taking power in 2003, the Liberals under leader Dalton McGuinty have reversed the course of public education after the chaos and unrest in the late 1990s under former premier Mike Harris.
But while the Liberals pumped an extra $3.7 billion into the sector, reduced primary class sizes and helped restore peace between school boards and unions, many schools have been left struggling to pay their bills, keep their libraries open and repair their buildings.
Unfortunately, Conservative Leader John Tory's controversial proposal to extend public funding to non-Catholic religious schools has distracted voters' attention from the critical issue of how to strengthen public schools, where the vast majority of students study.
However, there are notable differences in the commitments the three major parties are making to bolster public schools, starting with the amount of money they are ready to spend.
Not surprisingly, NDP Leader Howard Hampton, who has little hope of winning and thus won't have to follow through on his platform, promises the biggest increase in spending. Over the next four years, he would boost education spending by a total of $2.7 billion, compared to $2.4 billion for the Liberals and only $1.7 billion for the Tories.
The crucial point is that the Conservatives have promised to set aside 25 per cent of their proposed increased spending on education to extend funding to faith-based schools. That means the Tories would spend just over $1.2 billion extra on existing publicly funded schools.
With that amount of money, plus the impact of inflation on education budgets, it is hard to believe Tory could keep his promise to fix and improve the inadequate education funding formula, which does not even reflect the real costs of heating schools and keeping the lights on; fix substandard schools; open up more schools to the community; help children with special needs; invest in early childhood education and ensure children who need training in English as a second language get the help they require.
While inflation would, of course, also eat into the proposed education budgets of the Liberals and the NDP, both parties would still be left spending roughly twice as much additional money as the Conservatives on existing publicly funded schools.
That in itself makes their platforms more credible.
All parties propose to strengthen the controversial formula under which schools are funded. The Liberals say they would not review it until 2010, while the Tories and NDP have pledged annual reviews.
In addition, the Liberals and NDP have promised to invest more in children with special needs and those who need help with English as a second language. As well, both parties promise to extend junior and senior kindergarten from half a day to a full day.
While the Liberals and NDP seem to be in agreement on most of the big issues in education, there are major differences in their specific approaches to improving schools.
For example, the Liberals would create new schools within every board that would specialize in such areas as the trades, math, sciences, the arts and athletics. And they would invest in individualized learning in certain areas, in smaller classes in Grades 4 to 8 and in supports for struggling students in Grades 7 and 8. And the New Democrats would give school boards more money to meet local priorities and put considerably more money into services for children with autism, while the Liberals would put more emphasis on individual students.
Both sets of policies have their merits, and the Liberals and NDP have backed them up with credible funding commitments.
That ability to offer reasonable education promises, supported by solid numbers, is what sets the Liberals and New Democrats apart from the Conservatives on their school platforms.
And it's why the Tories fare the worst when it comes to the critical question of which party offers the best plan to ensure quality education in Ontario's publicly funded schools over the next four years.
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Globe
With 11 days to go, the PCs need a second act quickly
DAVID HERLE
September 29, 2007
Liberals are now the only partisans enjoying this election.
Despite some uncomfortable moments, they now seem inexorably moving toward victory. The Progressive Conservative attacks on Mr. McGuinty personally, augmented by the NDP, for a time seemed to have capped Liberal support at a lower level than satisfaction with the direction of the province would suggest.
Over time, it seems that the combined weight of the government's largely popular record, the unhappy memories many Ontarians have of the Harris government, and the cataclysmic faith-based schools proposal have overwhelmed Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory's personal popularity and the promise-breaker theme. With 11 days to go, the PCs need a second act quickly.
Most voters likely know only two things about Mr. Tory - he thinks Mr. McGuinty can't be trusted (and many voters will agree) and he wants to bring in faith-based schools (and most voters would disagree).
There is no single idea out there associated with Mr. Tory that would make Ontario a better place. He needs to fix that. He knows this - he and his team are among the best political operatives in the country. The challenge is doing it.
He has been making announcements day after day - autism, low-income tax cuts - and the news media, sensing the public boredom with the campaign, are dutifully reporting them on Page 22 or well into the news broadcast.
It is going to be hard to break through and it will require consistent focus on one idea, interesting ways of communicating it and a little luck.
The most recent polls indicate that the Liberal campaign has been able to build on the lead it carried into the campaign, which may now be enough to deliver a majority government. Postdebate, Mr. McGuinty has begun more pointedly to try to link Mr. Tory to the unpopular policies of the Harris government and warning of cuts to health and education after a Conservative victory.
He needs to make sure the choice is not Mr. McGuinty or Mr. Tory, but rather Liberals or Harris Conservatives. This is likely his strongest ground and will be most motivating to swing Liberal/NDP voters.
The NDP needed a more effective debate performance from Leader Howard Hampton if they were to break into the main dynamic of the election. As the other parties attempt to polarize the choice, the NDP has got to clarify the need for electing New Democrats. Mr. Hampton may have found that issue with yesterday's appeal to manufacturing workers who fear for their jobs.
There may be an entirely different approach to this. The polling indicates that Ontarians are indifferent to this election. It is unfortunate that nobody has been able to generate excitement around a positive vision. Easier said than done these days.
In the 2004 U.S. presidential campaign, Karl Rove did something very unorthodox. The traditional approach of candidates and parties is to try to appeal, however ephemerally, to as many people as possible.
Mr. Rove decided it would be a waste of time to try to make George W. Bush more appealing to people who were unlikely to vote anyway. Instead, he positioned Mr. Bush's campaign to appeal as strongly as possible to his political base, his core. He counted on a strong turnout from his core vote to carry the day in a low-turnout election.
Adopting this strategy would require some uncomfortable changes in tactics for the PCs. The core vote is motivated by issues and ideology, not leaders. And Mr. Tory would have to in some way drop his schools policy because it is least popular among traditional PC voters.
There is still time for the trajectory of this campaign to be altered, but Mr. Tory will have to take a risk to make it happen.
David Herle, a political consultant and strategist, is a former top adviser to Paul Martin and is now principal of the Gandalf Group.
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By SooToday.com Staff
SooToday.com
Friday, September 28, 2007
NEWS RELEASE
DAVID ORAZIETTI
LIBERAL CANDIDATE
SAULT STE. MARIE
**************************
Orazietti delivering results for public education in Sault Ste. Marie
Liberal government will continue to create a brighter future for our children
Sault Ste. Marie - An Ontario Liberal government will continue to expand on their unprecedented investments in public education that have resulted in improved test scores, higher graduation rates, and funding commitments for new schools in Sault Ste. Marie David Orazietti announced today.
"Over the next four years a Liberal government will make strategic investments in our public education system to help ensure that we reach every student through additional homework assistance, more teachers and continued improvements in special education," said Orazietti. "By building on our unprecedented support for Sault Ste. Marie's schools we will continue to put our children in a position to succeed with smaller class sizes, additional learning resources and better facilities."
Over the past four years the Liberal government has invested over $3 billion into Ontario's education system - more than the previous government put into the system in eight years.
These investments have created the stability and provided the resources necessary for our children to succeed.
A Liberal government will build on its record of improving public education by investing a further $3.1 billion annually by 2011 to fund a number of initiatives that will continue to improve the quality of public education in Ontario, including:
- Expanding after-school homework help and introducing online homework help.
- Creating a $150 million Every Student Fund for students in grades 4-8 as our next step toward closing the gap in supports for elementary students.
- The Fund will enable strategic class size reductions, ensure a successful transition for struggling grade 7 and 8 students and allow for greater investment to support individualized learning in areas like arts and skills technology programs.
- Creating teams of social workers, youth workers and police to work with at-risk students to make sure they have the support they need to succeed.
- Helping more students with autism by Providing $10 million to prepare schools to deliver IBI therapy on-site for the first time, a step forward made possible by our earlier decision to scrap the age-six limit for children with autism.
- Doubling funding for our community use of schools program, so that space for after-school activities is affordable for all Ontario families and free in communities that need it most.
- Hiring more support workers and vice principals to ensure schools are clean and well-supervised.
- Making schools healthier: ban trans fats from all school cafeterias, prescribe a healthier menu that conforms to the new Canada Food Guide and create an Ontario fitness challenge program to fight childhood obesity.
- Making schools greener: make sure all new schools will conform to better energy efficiency standards and environmental education will be part of every child's learning.
- Raising the graduation rate to 85% by 2010 by providing special support for students at risk of dropping out and a new specialized school for adult learners to come back and finish high school.
Our plan for continuing to improve education in Ontario will benefit students in Sault Ste. Marie over the next four years by building on the success the government has had to date.
The Liberal government has expanded learning opportunities for children in the Sault over the past four years through increased per-pupil funding, higher test scores and $44.8 million to build two new schools in the community for the first time in 35 years.
Highlights of the Liberals' record on local education include:
Algoma District School Board
- Funding to the board has increased 11.5 percent, or $12,508,284 under the Liberal government.
- Per pupil funding has increased by 32.9 percent or $2,838 under the Liberal government for a total of $11,472 per student.
- The increased investments in Sault Ste. Marie schools have come despite declining enrolment. Since 2003, the number of students attending board schools has dropped by 16.1 percent.
Huron Superior Catholic District School Board
- Funding to the board has increased 11.2 percent, or $5,820,954 under the Liberal government.
- Per pupil funding has increased by 34.3 percent or $2,823 under the Liberal government for a total of $11,058 per student.
- The increased investments in Sault Ste. Marie schools have come despite declining enrolment. Since 2003, the number of students attending board schools has dropped by 17.2 percent.
"As a teacher I saw the disastrous effects that eight years of Conservative cuts had on Sault Ste. Marie's schools while our local NDP representative was unable to improve the situation," said Orazietti. "As a parent I am proud that our education strategy has delivered a better learning environment for this community's children with stability, higher test scores and new schools."
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Stoney Creek News
Candidates share their visions for Ontario public education
(Sep 28, 2007)
The Stoney Creek News is giving readers the chance to ask the Hamilton East-Stoney Creek and Niagara West-Glanbrook provincial election candidates about issues that are on your mind.
This week, Hamilton Wentworth District School Board trustee Robert Barlow asked, "If you were responsible for creating the first ever school system for the Province of Ontario, what would it look like?"
Here are local candidates' views. Niagara West-Glanbrook Green candidate Sid Frere could not be reached by News deadline.
Tara Crugnale, PC candidate Hamilton East-Stoney Creek:
In 1867, the British North America Act outlined the parameters for our initial school system in the Province of Ontario with the creation of two school systems which, at that time, were an accurate reflection of the country.
The system met the needs of the day, but times have changed and it is important to have a system that best meets the educational requirements of today's Ontario student population.
As a Catholic and a product of its schools, I, like many Ontarians understand the value of religious education. However, I respect the choice of those who do not want religion in their classrooms.
In my mind, the most important criteria to ensure the highest caliber of education is a standardized curriculum, measured with standardized testing, delivered by properly certified educators. All students in our province deserve this.
The student population in Ontario has a diverse make-up with different aptitudes and interests. The educational needs of the students are as unique as the students themselves. Additionally, some children are in a position to excel in certain environments more so than others. The objective of a province-wide school system must exist to provide a learning environment for our children as best suits their needs.
I wish for one school system/board that would operate all the schools in Ontario. A variety of different schools would exist within this board: French immersion, performing arts, faith-based (Catholic or otherwise) and these would exist in a harmonized way under one school board, administered by the different regions.
This system would allow for choice and respect for diversity, while ensuring the best possible education for every single student.
Raymond Dartsch, Green Party candidate Hamilton East-Stoney Creek:
As a Green Party candidate, I'm in agreement with the party position in support of a single non-religious public school system. I hold the view it is abusive to young people to segregate them in a culturally homogeneous thought environment during their formative years. At the same time, I am sympathetic and respectful toward diversity and the preservation of heritage, tradition and a tolerant exploration of moral questions.
I would be most enthusiastic about a hybrid Green/Tory system in which a day or two per week would be allowed (and funded) for students to have class time among those of their own faith or with those sharing a common academic interest. I predict a lot of stimulating, mutually enriching discussion between students as they moved back and forth between their two sets of schoolmates.
I believe this would be the best preparation for life in the adult world.
Paul Miller, NDP candidate Hamilton East-Stoney Creek:
If I were creating the first school system for Ontario, it would above all put fairness first. Fairness means every child in Ontario would have the right to an excellent school, properly staffed with the programs they need to succeed. The quality of a child's education would never depend on their parent's income, ability to pay extra fees or capacity for doing extra fundraising. A funding formula that provides all schools with the tools they need to deliver the high quality education our children deserve is key.
Unfortunately this is not the case. Our education system has been suffering from years of cuts by the conservatives. In the last election, Dalton McGuinty promised to fix the funding formula, but like so many of his promises, he failed to keep his word. Now we find ourselves in a situation were parents and children have to sell chocolate bars, not for extras, but for basic classroom necessities. In fact, school boards across Ontario had to fundraise $515 million in 2006/7. That's not fair.
Howard Hampton and the NDP would return fairness for hard-working families to our school. That means:
* An immediate ban on fundraising for classroom necessities so every school is an excellent school and every child has a right to an excellent education.
* A complete overhaul of the unfair Harris-McGuinty education funding formula - and annual hearings to ensure it's working properly for our children.
* An end to unfair school board cuts - including school closures - until the funding formula is fixed as Dalton McGuinty promised, but failed to deliver.
Nerene Virgin, Liberal candidate, Hamilton East-Stoney Creek:
Mr. Egerton Ryerson had it right many years ago when he envisioned public funds being used to educate the children of Ontario. If I had the pleasure of creating a school system, here is what I would do.
First, I'd ensure no government would ever create artificial crises in order to take money out of education. I would honour the need to have a funding formula that sustained our Catholic and public schools.
I would create teacher education programs to attract the best and the brightest in educating our children. I would prepare teacher candidates in Ontario, rather than sending some of them to other parts of the world to get their teacher education certificate. I would celebrate the work teachers do with children, not demoralize them - as the previous government did.
I would design a system that understands not all children learn the same way and that the arts play a role in successful learning along with the basics of literacy, numeracy and technology.
Along with parents, I would encourage schools to teach good citizenship: morality, kindness, inclusion, charity so that we produce knowledgeable students and contributing citizens of our society.
Our diverse society is made up of new Canadians, as well as those born here. I would leave no child to chance. These children would learn from each other as they become proud Canadians. ESL programs, special education programs would be part of the curriculum.
The school would be rigorous, focused and fun. Children learn best when they enjoy classes.
Test scores would measure student achievement, as well as school success. For those who fall below the standards, I would provide additional resources to raise them up.
Bonnie Bryan, NDP canddidate, Niagara West-Glanbrook:
My hope is one day we will see one strong publicly funded education system in the Province of Ontario that meets the needs of all students of all races and creeds.
This system would provide the kind of instruction necessary to fully develop the potential of all children no matter what their gifts or challenges. Character education would be modeled and delivered so students emerge as caring, respectful citizens of our great democracy. Parents would be welcomed as partners with educational professionals at all levels to make decisions about how to teach their children. School funding would be adequate and predictable from year to year, providing the most advanced equipment and research-based instruction at equal levels for elementary and secondary students without the need for parent and student fundraising.
It would also be flexible to address the differences in regional needs. School buildings would be safe secure places for our children to live and learn.
The people of Ontario live and work in a multicultural environment with opportunities for all to succeed. We must ensure our school system mirror this.
PC MPP Tim Hudak, Niagara West-Glanbrook:
The British North America Act - the agreement that formed the Government of Canada in 1867 - reflected the realities of the times. One of the accommodations forged in the agreement to satisfy the diversity of Upper Canada (Ontario) was to ensure separate Catholic schools and Protestant schools. Having been born in 1967 and not 1867, it is difficult for me to speculate if another arrangement was possible, but I do suspect separate schools were a necessary outcome of the grand bargain of Confederation.
Instead of looking back 140 years on what could have or should have been done, the relevant question is to ask what can we do today to improve Ontario's education system.
John Tory and the Ontario PCs plan to invest an additional $2.4 billion in public and Catholic schools, directing funds into the classrooms and not the board offices.
We will invest substantial sums in special education, including an aggressive plan to help children with autism who were betrayed by another broken Dalton McGuinty promise. We will invest in renewing our schools and building new ones in high growth areas like Stoney Creek and Glanbrook. And we will bring in a more realistic plan to reduce overall class sizes, giving greater flexibility to local schools.
By investing in classroom education, helping our special needs students, increasing access to apprenticeships and renewing and expanding our schools in growth areas, we can best prepare our children and grandchildren for the challenges of the 21st century.
Mike Lostracco, Liberal candidate, Niagara West-Glanbrook:
Education has become a focal point during this election. It is my belief the extending of funding to private schools is not acceptable and is likely to once again put our education system in crisis.
There are many issues, ranging from constitutional to practical, which have come into play to create the public education system, including public, Catholic, English and French. My belief is when it comes to school, it should be designed to provide the best possible experience, for the students. If I had to create a system, it would be very close to the current Liberal system of creating the best possible education experience at the early ages.
It is my belief that providing solid grounding for all children is the best way to prepare them for their future in education. Education is a collective effort. I would echo the programs of working with parents and teachers to make sure our kids do better in school.
I believe having a system where students, teachers, parents and, frankly, the politicians come together and work for the common good is extremely important. Having been involved with the system since 1993 as a principal, I can tell you working together toward the common good is far superior to creating crisis.
And while we need improvements, I believe we are closer today to what I call a more ideal system then we were four years ago.
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National Post
Hampton's week in review
— Andrew Thomson, CanWest News Service
Promised: $5.2-billion, from public transit and health care to education and help for displaced workers.
Best moment: A rowdy, partisan crowd of 800 female United Steelworkers galvanized Mr. Hampton Wednesday morning in downtown Toronto. Perhaps because most were from out-of-province, even out-of-Canada, his spirited interpretation of the McGuinty government’s record on jobs, gender equality, and social services met even greater anger than you’d normally find at an NDP or union rally. One woman cried out “What?” after hearing that the average Ontario woman earns $25,600 annually.
Worst moment: By contrast, Monday had a less energetic start, perhaps because Mr. Hampton was on a university campus at 9 a.m. to speak about tuition. University of Waterloo students were trudging through the lobby during his speech, grasping their coffees for dear life. A couple dozen were sprawled in chairs, keeping one ear on Mr. Hampton while perusing their laptops, cellphones, or course readings. One student, completely zonked out next to the audio techinician, arose only when the microphones turned on before the NDP leader’s arrival.
Memorable quote: “I wish Mr. Tory good luck but my wife is rather fussy about who she hangs out with. I should know. It took me six years.” — Mr. Hampton on his wife Shelley Martel, a former New Democrat, who the Conservative leader mused would be a good fit in his government on autism issues.
How did he do? Musings about a potential minority government seemed to energize the NDP, and Mr. Hampton appears recovered from a cold that dogged his early campaign. But the party’s polling numbers remain in the mid-teens. Mr. Hampton continues to say that voters are just now becoming engaged with election; it’s a line less likely be repeated in coming days, as the Oct. 10 vote edges closer.
End of news articles.
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