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News
Saskfeat Board of Directors - submitted: Friday, August 20, 2010 - 19:45
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Government Announcement - submitted: Monday, August 16, 2010 - 20:47
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The Saskatchewan government has announced how it will spend an extra $2.5 million a year to help families dealing with autism.
The money will go toward a three-year pilot program to boost service for children, respite care to give parents some relief, and seasonal programming, such as summer camps, the Health Ministry said Monday.
In addition, $100,000 is being earmarked for the development of a certification program to train people who work with people who have autism or autism spectrum disorder.
It's planned the certification program will begin early next year.
Autism is a neurological condition that causes developmental disability and communication problems, with varied degrees of severity depending on the individual.
The $2.5 million, which was announced in the spring budget, is in addition to the $3 million for autism service that already exists in the health budget.
The Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region will receive $1.1 million per year to provide services in southern health regions, while the Saskatoon Health Region will receive $1.3 million to provide services in central and northern health regions.
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2010/08/16/sk-autism-1008.html#socialcomments#ixzz0wpcKycbH
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Dr. Ivar Lovaas passes away - submitted: Sunday, August 15, 2010 - 12:01
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Dr. O. Ivar Lovaas, Pioneer of ABA Therapy th, 2010. Dr. Lovaas pioneered the use of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) principles to treat and teach children with autism.
Dr. O. Ivar Lovaas, Professor Emeritus of Clinical Psychology at the University of California in Los Angeles, passed away on August 4
ABA therapy uses systematic environmental modifications to understand and change human behavior. He applied the principles of behaviorism known as "behavior modification", "behavioral treatment" or "behavioral intervention" (earlier developed by B.F. Skinner and others) in the treatment of children with autism and related disorders in order to improve their ability to learn.
Applied Behavior Analysis, or "the Lovaas technique" as it became known, uses customized intensive one-to-one teaching techniques with repeated practice sessions or "trials" (discrete-trial teaching) and a stepped learning system which breaks down skills to their most basic parts, rewarding success along the way. The use of ABA techniques, particularly in the early (preschool) years, has significantly improved the abilities and outcomes for many individuals with autism.
Dr. Lovaas was a world-renowned autism expert who devoted over 40 years of his career to improving the lives of children with autism and their families. His legacy is an evidence-based treatment program that is now available through certified consultants across North America. ABA forms the core of many government funded autism programs across Canada, including Intensive Behavioral Intervention (IBI) and Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI).
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SASKFEAT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING - submitted: Thursday, May 27, 2010 - 21:38
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SASKFEAT'S AGM is to be held in Regina at the Travel Lodge on Sunday June 27/2010 at 10 am.
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WAAD-FROM MINISTER OF HEALTH - submitted: Friday, April 2, 2010 - 10:47
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Subject: WAAD Message from the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health
World Autism Awareness Day
April 2, 2010
As Minister of Health, I am pleased that Canada is joining other countries in recognizing April 2nd as World Autism Awareness Day. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Autism Society of Canada and all autism organizations across the country for their tireless work in creating awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and providing support to those affected by this condition.
ASD affects people from all walks of life, as well as their families, friends and caregivers. Roughly o ne out of every 150 Canadian children is affected by ASD . While there has been progress in research, care and education, we need to learn more about the causes of ASD and the most effective treatments and interventions.
The Government of Canada recognizes that autism is an important health and social issue which presents challenges for many Canadian families. We are committed to supporting research and raising awareness. The Canadian Institutes of Health Research has provided approximately $35.3 million for research related to autism since 2000.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to every autism organization in Canada for their continued dedication to improving the lives of Canadians living with ASD .
Leona Aglukkaq
Minister of Health
Government of Canada
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PROVINCIAL FUNDING ANNOUNCED - submitted: Wednesday, April 2, 2008 - 20:12
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Autism Organizations in Saskatchewan Welcome Provincial Autism Funding As a First Step
For immediate release
SASKATOON SASKATCHEWAN
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Saskatchewan Autism Organizations welcome today’s announcement made by Health Minister Don McMorris that 3 million dollars in annualized funding as an important first step towards the provision of services for individuals with autism and their families.
"We are pleased that an Advisory Group representing health care and community based organizations will be created to make recommendations on the most effective use of the new funding. The families’ autism organizations represent can now have some direct involvement in the development of autism services in Saskatchewan." said Shannon Friesen, Executive Director of Autism Services in Saskatoon.
"While we see this as an important first step we don’t want to lose sight of the fact that "Saskatchewan is the only province in Canada without a publicly funded early intervention program specifically for children with autism. The creation of a publicly funded early intervention program will require a much greater investment of funding that the 3 million dollars announced today" comments Tim Verklan, President of Saskatchewan Families for Effective Autism Treatment (SASKFEAT)
An autism early intervention program Autism Intervention Programs typically provide 25-40 hours per week of educational interventions that incorporate Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) principles, as well as programming which develops social and pragmatic language skills. The program is usually delivered in a 1-1 setting, and also allows access to SLP and OT services inside and outside of the program.
Autism is health epidemic, currently impacting 1 in 150 children and 1 in every 94 boys. Autism is the fastest growing serious developmental disability in the world. "A provincial comprehensive autism strategy with attached funding is required to address the complex treatment, services and accommodation needs for those across the autism spectrum throughout their entire lifespan," said Shannon Friesen, Executive Director of Autism Services in Saskatoon. We look forward to working with the provincial government in developing autism programming with universal funding that will respond to this provincial crisis.
For more information please contact:
Contacts:
Shannon Friesen
Executive Director,
Autism Services, Saskatoon,
(306) 227-0830
sfriesen@autismservices.ca
Tim Verklan
SASKFEAT,
Tisdale
(306)-862-4768
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WORLD AUTISM AWARENESS DAY APRIL 2/2010 - submitted: Thursday, April 1, 2010 - 19:31
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March 30, 2010 Ottawa
(WAAD) alongside countless other autism organisations – both large and small - across Canada. Our
organizations work tirelessly every day to provide a voice, promote awareness, and provide support to
all individuals living with an ASD across Canada.
The number of cases of autism worldwide is growing. New autism data from The American
Disease Control and Prevention
United States, this information is published through the
Monitoring (ADDM) Network
with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in the United States.
In Canada, Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) affect as many as 1 in 150 Canadians. Yet we can only
estimate because there is currently no national surveillance mechanism in place to track Canadians
living with an ASD. Though much progress has been made through research, care and education, we
still do not know what causes autism nor do we have an effective national surveillance and monitoring
mechanism to provide accurate and informed data about the prevalence of ASDs in Canada.
“
reporting on ASDs. This information will help us to determine the prevalence of autism to help develop
policies needed regarding treatments and services for all Canadians living with an ASD,”
Society Canada President Michael Lewis.
Autism Society Canada looks forward to working in partnership with Health Canada and the Federal
government to establish a national autism surveillance system within our public health structure.
On World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) let’s join together in understanding the challenges facing
individuals living with an ASD and celebrate the successes. On behalf of the over 200,000 Canadians
living with an ASD, shine a bright light on the prevalence of autism in Canada. The time for Autism
Awareness is now!
– Autism Society Canada proudly celebrates World Autism Awareness DayCenters for(CDC) estimates the prevalence of autism as 1 in 110 children. In theAutism and Developmental Disabilities, a group of programs funded by CDC to determine the number of peopleAll autism stakeholder organizations agree that Canada must establish accurate surveillance andsays Autism
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For more information, contact:
Michael Lewis, President – (604) 434-0880
Kathleen A. Provost, CFRE, Executive Director - Cell. 613-853-9094
30 -
kathleen@autismsocietycanada.ca
Autism Society Canada proudly celebrates
World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) April 2, 2010
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Registered Disability Savings Plan - submitted: Wednesday, February 17, 2010 - 18:36
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Check out the new link for the Registered Disability Savings Plan at www.disabilitysavings.gc.ca.
To encourage savings, the Government will pay a matching Canada Disability Savings Grant of up to $3500.00 per year on paid contributions. It will also pay a Canada Savings Bond of up to $1000.00 a year into the RDSP's of low-income Canadians.
Also check out tax tips for the disabled from the Canadian Revenue Agency.
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Parent's comments on the IABA Workshop in Regina Dec/09 - submitted: Sunday, February 7, 2010 - 11:18
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We have 4 quotes from parents attending the December, 2009 IABA workshop in Regina. Saskfeat is just posting them as they were brought to us.
Quote #1. Mom of three boys, 2 of whom have autism. She saw Dr Leaf's broadcast in January, and attended all four days of the IABA workshop. "I am struggling with how 'this' relates to my two boys - at least with Dr. Leaf's broadcast he showed video examples of the ABA concepts. I do appreciate an opportunity to learn more,.....but not by someone lecturing me for 4 days."
Quote #2. Mom of 4 children, whose 12 year old son has Asperger's. She did not attend Dr Leaf's presentation, and this IABA is her first introduction to ABA. "I think my son is past some of these behaviours..... so I am confused of what can work for my son. The one food topic was how the environment impacts my son's learning. I am glad I learned or gained information in that area."
Quote #3. Mom of 5 year old son with Autism. "This is too thick and too dry! I need some practical examples that relate to me and my family not by someone talking about her experiences in LA."
Quote #4. Mom of 12 year old girl with Autsim (Aspergers). She attended both hands-on-workshops with Dr Leaf and Autism Partnership and attended Dr. Leaf's live broadcast. "I am afraid of 'what the professionals' like the ASD consultants will transfer to the front line. This definitely does not mean they are in any way qualified to program or implement any aspect of behavioral programing for my daughter. The four days of lectures were just that,....there was no 'hands on' or practice available, just someone talking."
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Upcoming Events - submitted: Wednesday, February 7, 2007 - 19:54
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The Regina Autism Resource Centre is holding a 2 day vocational conference in April 26 and 27 entitled “Preparing Individuals with High Functioning Autism and Asperger’s Disorder for the World of Work” to provide information to parents, teachers, post secondary vocational training centers, and employers about the employability of person with High Functioning Autism and Asperger’s Disorder. The goal is to feature individuals with ASD as valuable motivated employees who can be an asset to the work force. For more information, go to ARC’s website at www.autismresourcecentre.com ARC is also celebrating its 30th anniversary in April! For information on celebration events, please see www.autismresourcecentre.com
There will be a 2 day conference “Keys to Understanding Autism and Asperger’s” from Autism Today offered in Saskatoon May 11 and 12. For more information, please contact Autism Today www.autismtoday.com There will be a 3 day conference on the Gentle Teaching methodology in Saskatoon September 12 – 14, 2007 with founder Dr. John McGee. For more information on gentle teaching, see www.gentleteaching.com and for more information on the conference, please contact the Saskatchewan Association for Community Living www.sacl.org
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Dad's Adventure for Autism - submitted: Wednesday, February 7, 2007 - 19:52
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Dan Powaschuk of Thunder City Power and Leisure works on a bike he is going to ride in March from Regina to the Arctic Ocean to raise awareness about autism. Photograph by : Roy Antal, Leader-Post Dad's adventure for autismMaria Cootauco, Leader-PostPublished: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 Dan Powaschuk is used to solo rides. Next month, he will be motorcycling 9,000 kilometres by himself so that others do not have to be alone. In March, Powaschuk, 47, plans to ride from Regina to Tuktoyaktuk, which sits on the edge of the Arctic Ocean in the Northwest Territories. He's riding to raise autism awareness so families dealing with autism aren't battling the disorder alone. His flame-orange Kawasaki KLR 650 sits in Thunder City's garage and gets tended to by mechanic Dave Elmer. Studded 100-pound tires rest against a wall awaiting their call to duty. Powaschuk's motorcycle expedition will take him along a 190-kilometre stretch of ice road that in the summer time is the Mackenzie River. The expedition will take between three and four weeks. And his bike will be packed with the essentials needed for such a trip. He will have an extra fuel pack in case he runs out of fuel along an isolated stretch of road, electric clothing to keep him warm, an armour suit to prevent injury, a survival vest, a winter tent, a winter sleeping bag, a small stove, an emergency locator, a GPS system, and a satellite phone. The biggest challenge Powaschuk anticipates is dealing with the cold weather. The bike has been modified to withstand very low temperatures. "The bike can go in the cold weather," he said. "But how much can I take in cold weather?" He will be driving along the Dempster Highway in the Northwest Territories, which is a rock road built on permafrost made of hard, crushed rock. As far as Powaschuk knows, no one has ever driven through it in the wintertime on a motorcycle. Powaschuk used to be in the military reserves, where he received extensive training, and also trained with the Army Cadets. He has experience with mountaineering and glacier work. In June, during a test run in Stony Rapids, he was thrown off his bike and suffered a broken collarbone. Unable to pick up his bike, he walked for an hour and a half before he was picked up by a trucker. This time, he will be equipped with a satellite phone and snacks within easy reach -- just in case. And to feed the boredom, he'll have audio books to play on his IPod. "It's quite an undertaking," said Al Elmer, owner of Thunder City. "He's done so much homework to try and make sure it's going to work. We wish him luck." Powaschuk is not riding for donations -- the ride is strictly for awareness. His four-year-old son, Eric, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, a learning disability, in 2005. "With autism, you can't take time," Powaschuk said. "This drive's not going to help my son because he's four now. The message, I say, is early intervention because you have to get them out of themselves into the real world." Awareness in the public of autistic children is another thing driving Powaschuk's mission. People do not know enough about autism, Powaschuk said. His message is a call to arms. Something can be done to improve the situation, he said. "You have to get out there and ask people who make decisions questions," Powaschuk urged. "Ask health-care providers what they're doing for autism. School boards -- what are they doing for autism kids? How are they gearing up for more of them? Public services -- what are they doing with these kids when they're out of school?" For more details, visit Powaschuk's Web site at www.rideupforautism.ca. © The Leader-Post (Regina) 2007
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Check out new link - - submitted: Saturday, December 12, 2009 - 17:06
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Check out the new link - Autism in Saskatchewan Fall of 2009 -
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A sad day in Nova Scotia - submitted: Tuesday, December 8, 2009 - 18:44
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Rescued boy dies in hospital
James Delorey, 7, was found Monday afternoon after spending two nights in the woods. (courtesy Cape Breton Regional Police)
The Nova Scotia boy rescued after spending two frigid nights in the woods has died.
James Delorey, 7, died overnight at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax, the children's hospital confirmed Tuesday.
Hospital officials said the little boy's family was at his bedside. They said the family wanted to thank everyone involved in his care and would have more to say at some point.
Delorey was found Monday afternoon huddled in an area of thick brush and snow about a kilometre from his home in South Bar, near Sydney. He was unconscious and suffering from hypothermia and was rushed to hospital in critical condition.
Delorey was the subject of a massive search that involved search-and-rescue crews from around the province and hundreds of community volunteers.
The boy disappeared from his home on Saturday afternoon, apparently following the family dog, Chance, out of the backyard. He was dressed in jeans, a shirt and a vest — nothing fit for the cold weather that later hit the area.
Delorey had autism and didn't speak, which meant searchers had to alter their regular techniques. They yelled out key words for the boy, such as "pizza," and hoped by alerting Chance, the dog would lead them to Delorey.
Police also sought advice from a mother who has a child with autism.
The dog returned home on Monday morning. Searchers later found Delorey by a brook near Kilkenny Lake.
Search-and-rescue officials said no one will know for sure how the boy survived in the snow and cold, but they suspect the thick brush may have helped and he may have huddled with Chance.
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