Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #NeedsBasedTherapy
Most recents (10)
1/ I am the parent of autistic children and I need to stop watching Question Period in the Ontario Legislature.
I need to stop putting myself within earshot of redundant, scripted talking points that may sound good on paper, that may yield an MPP an “attaboy” (or girl) from
I need to stop putting myself within earshot of redundant, scripted talking points that may sound good on paper, that may yield an MPP an “attaboy” (or girl) from
2/ someone on the sidelines who doesn’t know any better, that may earn someone political points for “making good” on promises their opponents failed to keep.
But I know better.
I know that best intentions from professionals were put on paper then twisted beyond recognition
But I know better.
I know that best intentions from professionals were put on paper then twisted beyond recognition
3/ by bureaucrats who care nothing about the people they are paid to serve, and everything about the bottom line.
I have 2 school aged autistic children in Ontario. So I tune into Question Period to see if the Opposition delivers on holding government to task. I hope they will
I have 2 school aged autistic children in Ontario. So I tune into Question Period to see if the Opposition delivers on holding government to task. I hope they will
Thread 👇🏻
The Ontario Autism Program has been a mess for years.
It’s looking like progress is finally being made, but there are still concerns about what’s being presented.
Let’s evaluate.
@ToddSmithPC @AmyFeePC @JR_Ottawa @fordnation
#onpoli
1/12
link.medium.com/YbSsGLubPdb
The Ontario Autism Program has been a mess for years.
It’s looking like progress is finally being made, but there are still concerns about what’s being presented.
Let’s evaluate.
@ToddSmithPC @AmyFeePC @JR_Ottawa @fordnation
#onpoli
1/12
link.medium.com/YbSsGLubPdb
@ToddSmithPC finally made an announcement last week that core services were coming, but it left more questions than it did answers.
2/12
toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-parent…
2/12
toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-parent…
Why the age caps?
Why the minimums?
How does this need determination tool even work?
Why aren’t clinicians more involved?
What qualifies a care coordinator to assign funding amounts?
Is that needs-based?
Is there an appeal process?
How long is this going to take?
3/12
Why the minimums?
How does this need determination tool even work?
Why aren’t clinicians more involved?
What qualifies a care coordinator to assign funding amounts?
Is that needs-based?
Is there an appeal process?
How long is this going to take?
3/12
16 years ago we conducted the first Ontario IBI outcome study demonstrating the effectiveness of community based #AppliedBehaviourAnalysis (published as Freeman & Perry, 2010, because, you know, we were kinda busy providing #NeedsBasedTherapy to kids with #autism)
The results generated excitement & all 9 Regional Autism Programs delivering #AppliedBehaviourAnalysis joined. The Ontario wide collaboration resulted in one of the largest data sets (332 kids!) at the time & replicated outcomes showing the effectiveness of #NeedsBasedTherapy
We looked at some of the factors which predicted outcome. Not surprisingly, kids who started #AppliedBehaviourAnalysis earlier did better. This tells us that we don’t want kids to wait for #NeedsBasedTherapy.
THREAD: Today @InfoFAO released an OAP report, tracking it's spending, & giving 3 scenarios of how the OAP would play out long term based on their spending. The bottom line, #ChildhoodBudgets are a crappy plan.
#onpoli #AutismDoesntEndAtFord @fordnation @ToddSmithPC @JR_Ottawa
#onpoli #AutismDoesntEndAtFord @fordnation @ToddSmithPC @JR_Ottawa
Since the @fordnation gov't increased the budget, they have spent $271 million on #NeedsBasedTherapy, $270 million on #ChildhoodBudgets and $67 million on other services.
#onpoli #AutismDoesntEndAtFord @ToddSmithPC @JR_Ottawa
#onpoli #AutismDoesntEndAtFord @ToddSmithPC @JR_Ottawa
This means that @fordnation and co could've doubled the number of children and youth receiving #NeedsBasedTherapy instead of handing out hush money in the form of #ChildhoodBudgets
#onpoli #AutismDoesntEndAtFord @ToddSmithPC @JR_Ottawa
#onpoli #AutismDoesntEndAtFord @ToddSmithPC @JR_Ottawa
THREAD 1/ In May @fordnation claimed that 1500-1800 kids would receive childhood budgets each month, with the OAP waitlist completely cleared within an 18-month period.
On Nov 20 @ToddSmithPC said this plan will continue until the new program is in place.
#OnPoli #CdnPoli
On Nov 20 @ToddSmithPC said this plan will continue until the new program is in place.
#OnPoli #CdnPoli
2/ By those numbers between 11,200-12,600 children should have received the wasteful Childhood Budget by now. Instead, only 2,274 have received a cheque in the mail, which will only pay for a tiny fraction of the costs of evidence-based therapies. Big savings for @OntarioPCParty!
3/ A survey of 279 Ontario families reveals that the vast majority have not received a budget (funding) or even the application to apply for a budget a full 18 months after @fordnation took the reins of the Ontario Autism Program.
1/ Tonight, maybe three blocks away from where I sit, a Santa Claus parade is still chugging it’s way down the Main Street in Barrhaven, #Nepean. I was there. But I had to leave.
My husband left maybe 10 minutes before I did. My son Jack has severe autism, and each year we try
My husband left maybe 10 minutes before I did. My son Jack has severe autism, and each year we try
2/ our luck with the parade, and each year, it’s no better than the last. Too late, too many flashing lights, too many bad memories from the year before. This year may have been the nail in the coffin. He doesn’t have many words to tell us, but it’s clear this “fun” Christmas
3/ activity just isn’t for him. My husband took him ahead home leaving me with my daughter who is also on the autism spectrum.
The Parade has been cause for reflection for me. A year ago, we stood roadside, and with just the right amount of happenstance, @MacLeodLisa’s
The Parade has been cause for reflection for me. A year ago, we stood roadside, and with just the right amount of happenstance, @MacLeodLisa’s
1) Hi @ToddSmithPC. I hope you can find a moment for this, and I’m willing to try every avenue to reach you, as this is important.
I’ve spent the past year trying to advocate for services for my family. I have two children with ASD and had the opportunity to tell you about them
I’ve spent the past year trying to advocate for services for my family. I have two children with ASD and had the opportunity to tell you about them
2) In person on July 3 in Ottawa, and again on August 19. I’m tired, @ToddSmithPC, but I’m privileged and I know it. I have a partner who stands equally beside me in every aspect of parenting. I have extended family who have been ready and willing to support us both
3) financially, and with extra sets of hands when needed. I was able to leave my job to care for our family. We accessed tens of thousands of dollars in savings, and tens of thousands of more in credit to buy early intervention for our kids. We are tired,
If in Ontario, and your child is diagnosed with Autism, you will need:
1. Savings. If you’re hoping to purchase the bare minimum of health care services for your child.
2. Credit. Because savings will run out in a matter of months, if not weeks.
1. Savings. If you’re hoping to purchase the bare minimum of health care services for your child.
2. Credit. Because savings will run out in a matter of months, if not weeks.
3. Collateral. As therapy can span years. Selling a car or remortgaging a home so your child can learn basic life skills is a reality.
4. Six-figure salaries. And even this isn’t the answer; no one has an extra $80k lying around to pay for clinically recommended services.
4. Six-figure salaries. And even this isn’t the answer; no one has an extra $80k lying around to pay for clinically recommended services.
5. Family with Money. If you’re lucky, your support system will come to the rescue to help out for a month or two.
6. Time. Because @fordnation and governments that came before felt that a 2, 3, 4+ year wait for service, that is intended to be delivered in early years,
6. Time. Because @fordnation and governments that came before felt that a 2, 3, 4+ year wait for service, that is intended to be delivered in early years,
1/ Today, the autism community is desperately scrambling to their mailboxes hoping that the post(wo)man may deliver a cheque. Others are taking to social media looking for clarity: is their child on a waitlist? How do they check? Do they need to reapply? Are they waiting on a
2/ letter? Is their cheque lost in the mail? While others are receiving cheques, without direction, a start date, list of eligible services or a phone number to call.
On July 7, one quarter of the way through the 2019-2020 fiscal year, 260 families have received their Budgets.
On July 7, one quarter of the way through the 2019-2020 fiscal year, 260 families have received their Budgets.
3/ Cheques have only started arriving in the past week, after having been promised to begin reaching families April 1, and response rate in application is reportedly low.
Today, the community is faced with the implementation of a flat rate, age based policy no different than
Today, the community is faced with the implementation of a flat rate, age based policy no different than
@timporter_ONT If this is your idea of consultation, then I think we might have discovered the crux of the problem, here. Firstly, I don’t believe there is a single member of the Autism Community who believes those Dec-Jan “RoundTables” were actually consultation.
The Ministry’s Plan was prepared. Those meetings were a smokescreen. A last attempt effort to try to get approval for your disaster program you were preparing to unleash on families in crisis. I would love to see evidence that even one parent consulted supported an age cap.
Lifetime cut-offs. Flat rates. None of this is in line with what parents actually need. January 28 was a farce. 14 parents sat and were timed for 3 minutes. We were given our opportunity to say “Needs based services”. I chose to ask the Minister how she felt about the ASD
