@MacLeodLisa is my MPP in #Nepean. How unbelievably sad that over the years we’ve become completely desensitized to her antics; this type of story is almost expected. I have autistic children. We have been deeply, deeply hurt by MacLeod’s policies. But we’ve also had enough face
time (or attempted face time) with the Minister to know that #Nepean deserves so much better. Our community has been publicly accused of trying to run her out of office. I think her record might do the job on its own.
We had been invited to an Autism Roundtable in January 2019.
@MacLeodLisa abruptly walked out of the meeting when the questions got tough.
I was invited into the Minister’s office during the first Ottawa protest after she made the Autism announcement that would send the program and families into a downward spiral for 3 years & counting.
@MacLeod cried for the cameras, but boasted to the 3 mothers inside that she had 5 portfolios and asked us if she should take money from women and children who were victims of domestic violence or sex trafficking.
To our knowledge, the 3 mothers who met with her that day, were
the last to secure a meeting.
@MacLeodLisa staff has given us the run around for weeks when as constituents we wanted to meet with our MPP. We were outright lied to, had a meeting cancelled the day of, were told she was in Toronto and then discovered she was posing for photos
in bunny ears in a giant Easter basket in the parking lot of our local grocery store.
Read more about that below.
@MacLeodLisa will say she supports peaceful protest. Yet she has called the police on autism families and their children multiple times.
condone the events of early 2019, but @MacLeodLisa has continued to paint an entire community of special needs parents as volatile & threatening because of the actions of one. She live streamed her thoughts just 2 weekends ago
children on scooters outside her campaign launch were attempting to “silence her”, making jokes that she required the presence of the two largest men along her because of the “situation outside”. Please note the situation outside:
I acknowledge the trauma @MacLeodLisa experienced in 2019; and again, stress that our community does not condone the actions of this individual. But if constituents are unable to peacefully protest or are unable to secure a meeting because we have autistic children, perhaps
@MacLeodLisa is not best suited for work in public office.
As a resident of Nepean, I am ashamed of how she has behaved in public. I am disappointed by how she represents her community in legislature—turned sideways in her seat, leaned back, heckling, hurling profanity across
the aisle. And as we learned of her threats to @ONTABA1 of “4 long years” if they failed to support her plan for the autism file, or stories like this one that emerged today—I’m not surprised in the least. But, I continue to be baffled by how she has been given the privilege of
representing her community again and again. As someone who has been hurt by her policies, shut out by her office, painted as a bully for advocating for my child, had the police called multiple times to protests I’ve attended (only to have officers confirm we were breaking no
laws)—I am not represented by this person. And I’ll vote accordingly on June 2nd encouraging others to do the same. @MacLeodLisa’s record and actions speak for themselves. It’s time for a change in #Nepean.
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
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
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
1/ Offering peace of mind to 25% of children will not placate 29k desperate families.
A year ago, thousands across the province rallied against a generalized funding program that would meet the needs of some, create waste where unneeded and leave many without the support they
2/ desperately require; particularly those with severe needs and those who are over the age of six.
After years of waiting, immediate funding, even if it falls far short, may very well be “better than nothing”. Families in crisis may prefer to take something for fear that they
3/ will otherwise remain on a waitlist forever. This is survival mode after years of disappointment and desperation.
Get help to families immediately. Urgency is required, but also in a method that doesn’t force 29k kids into one category or another, sending a message that this
1/ Today is November 19, 2019. And we are still waiting for a plan from the Ontario Government.
Advocates, parents, researchers, therapists, stakeholders have reiterated to the @fordnation government, time and again, that urgency is critical.
And here we are.
2/ going on 10 months since @MacLeodLisa flogged us with her “plan” to remedy the Ontario Autism Program we are no better off than where we were.
Throughout the summer, while @ToddSmithPC was touring the province ‘listening’, the consistent answer to our questions was that
3/ ‘The Panel’ was hard at work on their recommendations, which we saw come to fruition just shy of November. The Panel recommended Needs Based Therapy. The Panel recommended Urgent Response Services. The Panel recommended reverting back to a chronological waitlist. The Panel
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
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
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
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,
1/ Suppose we woke up tomorrow morning feeling 100% optimistic and satisfied in the @fordnation government’s promise for the Ontario Autism Program. The anger is gone, the trust is there, and come April 2020, our kids will begin transitioning into a Needs Based Program. Cool.
2/ For the first time in a year we wouldn’t feel compelled to protest, rally or advocate constantly for the well-being of our kids. I bet it would feel good, just to trust, to relax, to appreciate what we’ve been promised.
Let’s sit with that for a moment.
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3/ Ok. Now what?
⏰If your child is on the list, you’ll wait for a call. Or a letter in the mail. If you had a waitlist rank before April 1, it doesn’t mean much anymore.
⏰A private therapy centre calls and has an opening for your child. Should you take it? Should you pass