The issue of autism and its impact on the New Brunswick election
Autism is a pretty important issue for some families and it should be an issue for all of us, but this election, by and large, it has fallen by the wayside.
There are people in my family who have autism and Asperger’s Syndrome (a kind of autism). With that being said, I can’t begin to explain the issues or the impact it has on a family. Harold Doherty has an excellent blog on the issue of autism in New Brunswick and Lisa at Simple Essentials often writes about different aspects of Asperger’s Syndrome. I can’t hold a candle to either of them on the issue and won’t even try.
There is however one aspect that I do know comes by not properly dealing with this issue, and that’s in education.
Inclusion is a wonderful idea, but unfortunately the system as it is set up now in New Brunswick fails not only autistic children but other children as well. The proper resources aren’t in place and the spot where you can see the best evidence of this is in the English school system.
The group, Canadian Parents for French will probably disagree with me but by far the number one reason, or at the very least a close number two, most parents give for placing their Anglophone children in French immersion in New Brunswick isn’t so that their children can learn French...it’s to avoid integrated classrooms. The Anglophone classes have autistic children, children with special physical demands, ADHD and dare I say, children who are just plain bad (yes they still exist today too). The French immersion system for the most part does not deal with these types of issues. We’ve created two-tier education and in the English system it can make for a trying learning environment for everyone. Rarely does anyone win.
Inclusion can and should work, but the teachers need the proper training and they need the proper resources to ensure that each and every child regardless of their ability or limitations can get a quality education. In addition, other children shouldn't be held back because one child takes the large percentage of the teacher’s time. I don’t have an answer or a catch all solution but I do know something has to be done and it needs to be done now. This is an issue of great importance to New Brunswickers and the politicians should be not only talking about it more this election but exploring solutions too.
This is an important issue. Google autism and “New Brunswick” together and you’ll find 193,000 matches. Google orimulsion and “New Brunswick” and you will only find 12,000. Our children need our help and they need it now.
posted by
Spinks at 1:25 PM -
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9 Comments
Spinks, I agree with your assessment. Lord Government has failed parents on this issue. He has been arrogant about it. Children are children whether his children or someone else's children. All people love their children whether they are geniuses or have various disabilities. Once Bernard Lord learns that fact he may actually grow up. Until such time he gets "F" from autism community. He has paid the price for his ignorance on this issue in 2003 and he will do so again in 2006.
2:43 PM
I think the only way inclusion can works is if there are resources for the students that fall out of the bell curve, regardless of which side. Many students will excel in the correct learning environment which may not be the same for another student. So bottom line, I think for inclusion to work, it means more resources, more TA's, more opportunities for enrichment and learning styles. I know I've struggled with the lack of options and nearly every other parent I've spoken with has said the same thing, that the government has failed on this issue.
5:21 PM
Inclusion, as in inclusion in the regular classroom, can work for SOME autistic children, particularly higher functioning Aspergers' Syndrome students. But many autistic children are working on an individualized program learning by a different method of instruction. Some are easily overwhelmed and frustrated by sounds, sights, movements and other environmental stimuli. These children need a quieter environment in which to learn. My son is profoundly autistic and the frustration of being in the classroom resulted in self injurious behavior. Once removed from the classroom to a quieter spot the self aggression stopped and he began learning again.
The key is to not assume that the regular classroom is good for all children with disabilities but to look at what works for each child.
Spinks, thanks for raising autism awareness on your blog site.
Harold Doherty
5:32 PM
Anon, I don't think any party has done wonderful things on this issue because I don't think any of them quite get it. The singular point I raised (and there are obviously lots) was the problem with the English school system. I think the Dept. of Education just sees it as a whole lot of people who want their children to learn French instead of parents who want to avoid problems in the English system. From talking to parents I don't think learning French (at least in a large percentage of cases) is the motivating factor and we end up with a pretty poor English system for ALL children. This issue clearly affects kids with autism and kids without.
Harold and Lisa, couldn't agree more and our decision makers could probably gain a lot of insight talking to you. You folks live it and know the issue. No one can have better ideas than you.
6:50 PM
Spinks, parents have persistently talked to Lord ministers with little or no acceptable results. Lord behaved very arrogantly many times over when he was approached on this issue. Therefore he has a record that speaks for itself. This issue has haunted him during the last election and it shall do it again.
Having said that it is yet to be seen how Shawn Graham government will behave. If they are as negligent as Lord has been then there will be consequences.
Finally I should add that you are doing a great job to bring many issues forward.
8:34 PM
Spinks,
sorry this is off topic but I have a question and maybe some can give me some answers since I'm not really all that familiar with politics. I noticed from the bloggs that there's a change in the ridings and from what I'm reading it seems to favour the conservatives. what do you all think?
10:33 AM
Anon, the ridings were reconfigured since the last election due to the population moving around (increasing in one place decreasing in others). Every once in a while it's a good idea to at least try to keep the ridings balanced.
Some others may want to chime in but I would tend to agree that this election's redistribution probably favours the PC's much like 1995 when the number of ridings were reduced to 55 from 58. That change ended up favouring the Liberals while they were in power. With all that being said it could also be just plain coincidence.
10:59 AM
A huge development for autistic children in this election campaign is the commitment by Shawn Graham and the Liberals to train 100 TA's and Resource treachers per year for the next 4 years. This would go a long way to ensuring that autistic children will receive a real education in NB.
7:09 AM
An Autism Election Request for Disaffected & Undecided Voters
I have a request for disaffected, or undecided, voters as they consider whether, or how, to vote on Monday. You may feel that your vote makes no difference or there is no reason to cast your vote for one party or another. You may just be having a hard time making up your mind and you may be searching for a good reason why you should vote one way or another. If this sounds like you then I ask you to consider supporting the cause of autistic schoolchildren by voting Liberal on Monday.
I make this request because I am the parent of two sons, one of whom is profoundly autistic and I am an autism advocate. I make this request because the Liberal party has made a firm commitment to providing autism training for Teachers' Assistants and Resource Teachers. The Liberal Party commitment is to provide the nationally recognized UNB-CEL autism training to 100 TA's and Resource Teachers each year for the next 4 years. With approximately 1000 autistic school children in NB schools this commitment would effectively give autistic schoolchildren a chance at a real education. Neither the Conservatives nor the NDP are making any such commitment.
I am not asking you to donate money or any substantial amount of your time. I am asking you, IF you have not already decided whether or how to vote, or if you see no good reason to vote one way or the other, to consider turning your vote into a real contribution to seriously challenged autistic schoolchildren in New Brunswick by voting Liberal on Monday. You can make a difference in their lives.
Harold L Doherty
Fredericton NB
11:00 PM
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