Hi again Philip,

Congratulations! It looks like you're right again. Your Canadian political pundit credentials are becoming truly impressive [grin].

I've just heard that Jean Charest did NOT lose his seat, as was declared earlier in the evening. All seats are now considered "elected" (Liberals 47; ADQ 42; PQ 36), though I suspect there will be a lot of reviews and recounts which might slightly alter the standings.

In my riding, Mr Copeman won with a margin of 10,000 or so votes over the 2nd place candidate--who was from the Green Party.

Hmmm, looks like the Liberals got another seat. So it's Liberals 48; ADQ 41; PQ 36. I wonder how soon we'll be having another election.

Edited by author 03-28-2007 05:58 AM
Thanks Michelle. I have read through the results on the CBC website. It's the first minority government in Quebec since 1878, when 32 Conservatives, 31 Liberals and 2 others were elected. See http://www.nodice.ca/elections/quebec/results.php for previous election results. It is the first election in which three parties are roughly equal in the national assembly.

I don't think there will be another election soon. Neither the Liberals nor the PQ want one - they both lost seats to the ADQ, the Liberals 21 and the PQ 16 compared with the 2003 election - and the ADQ can't force an election by themselves.

I've just heard on CBC radio that my Liberal MP, Lucienne Robillard, will not be running in the next federal election (which could be at any time).

This might be good news. With Ms Robillard in office, I could not see my MP (I can go to the Supreme Court of Canada, but I can't go to my MPs office...). This was not allowed. Her staff spoke to me as though I were a very young child, and of course, little children can't see their MPs unless under adult supervision...

Hi Michelle,

I hope it is good news. With a Liberal majority of 11, 589 over the Conservatives at last year's general election, prospective Liberal candidates will be attracted to the riding like wasps to jam.

I have just written again to orgs and the government here in the UK where the ABA is totally out of control

http://www.freewebs.com/persphone/stopthisplease.htm
Why ABA for Autism MUST STOP
Dear NSPCC / Mencap/CAFAMILY

I have a son badly damaged by the 'ABA' (Treehouse) system. I made the sytem available in this country via tribunal years ago. I was used as a scapegoat by wealthy and influential parents. They needed a 'poor' single mother (also disabled) to fight for the sympathy vote to open the floodgates to this dangerous 'therapy'. And I won the tribunal by manipulating hte local LEA into agreeing to funding 'in principle' which won me the tribunal.

They will tell about me and my argumentative reputation. I am difficult. My child is being abused by this regime, I am angry, I am difficult regarding ABA and the con and cruelty that it IS.

I can do nothing about it due to having lost custody of my child due to illness.

Sadly (my belief) there are several groups of 'ABA' and 'CABAS' schools. Check the very
wealthy charity 'Treehouse Trust', director Virgina Bovell, also director of the National Autistic Society - it (ABA) is a massive movement that sadly permeates throughout the world of autism, nearly always taking the the side of the parent rather than advocating for the childs' welfare and advancement (especially regarding esteem and independence being hindered and impeded by this doctrine, for want of a better word) with 'compliance' being the main goal.

In my experience their curriculums are supposed to incorporate IEP's (Individual Education Plan) but each 'behavior' is 'targetted' as unwanted, even if it's a natural neurological reaction like hand flapping (that in my opinion comes naturally to ASD children and oughtn't be surpressed unless really offensive (?)) - they also are supposed to incorporate the National Curriculum too, but using 'ABA' methodology to do so, which in these instances (within ABA schools) means '10 trial data' -most of the teaching is based on repetition ( if a child does something correct 10 times in a row, he gets a sweet for a reward or a verbal reward) In short it is very Pavlovian, in fact it is just Pavlovian.

It is very difficult to see precisely how they teach the children within schools as they command 24 hours notice prior to visits - even to parents and Educational Pyscholigists (some of whom have also been fooled) as they keep all windows and shutters down to 'keep children from being distracted'.

 Having said that, sometimes two or three classroom assistants sit opposite two or three pupils using 'mands' (commands/requests, imagine the confusion of an autistic mind hearing all those requests!)) taking a 'negative' data if 10/10 isn't reached, eg a child doesn't get 12 piece puzzle correct for the 10th time that session. This does mean the child is subjected to having to do eg a 12 piece puzzle hundreds of times a week - some might view this as more than degrading treatment, it seems like a punishment, and how convenient a lot od ASD children laugh and giggle when in pain or anxious, the 'happiness' reported is often quite the reverse.

Many 'experts in autism' have been fooled by these professional manipulators, who do seem to eventually lose sight of the childrens' welfare altogether and become obsessed with 'the programs' rather than the childrens' advancement and development- there is no room for these children to develop naturally in any way. Not all Autistic children have behaviour problems. are damning autistic people - whom are generally very terrrified children to start with. In my opinion, the last thing Severe Learning Disabled children need is this regime.

They (ABA ) use 'backward chaining' too, it seems there is absolutely no room at all for the children to evolve a sense of self, independence, esteem, develop naturally or anything positive. The children come to learn that the word 'well done' and 'good work' -all praise, means nothing at all. When any progress is made, it is always attributed to the method, not the child. The children never make lasting progress, they never evolve any independence, the reverse, they become dependent on 'prompting' or can do nothing much.

If I'm wrong, please prove it.

I have alerted authorities (Mr.P Dhanda MP copied in) but they refuse to take action and are in favour of these parent-led schools, which really need an overhaul by the DRC etc etc in my opinion.

One child I know is SLD (CAPD too) non-verbal autistic after 10 years of 'ABA' he is terrified not to attempt to imitate everything (the schools believe everything can be taught via imitation) except speech - it would be nice to have some laws in place to protect these children, some being forced into these schools only on the say-so of 'ABA experts' of whom virtually anyone can call themselves one, me included having been trained to 'supervisor level by several of these 'consultants' - some poeple running 'ABA' agencies have been trained by ME.

 The Behavioral Consultants don't have a great reputation either. I'm amazed these schools have been allowed to go on like this. There is a lot of psychological trickery involved for the sake of money and frankly, this 'cutting edge' therapy (ancient, check 'patterning' from the 60's) makes some parents feel overly optimistic for their childrens' future, I am hearing now from parents who began ABA as home programs 10 + years ago only for them to be complaining and panicking at 'regression' of their children . The children are getting angry and beginning to write in blogs (if you google 'Autism Diva' you'll find fascinating insight on ABA there too)

For more information on ABA from an autistic perspective, please search 'Michelle Dawson' an autisitc adult attempting to expose ABA herself, via the Supreme Court of Canada where parents are demanding this 'therapy' as a Human Right, when autistic people themselves are demonstrating the torture it causes them, why wont even their own parents hear them?

The article 'The Misbehaviour of Behaviourists' by Michelle Dawson I can vouch for, having 15 years experience of the key players.

Advice on how to approach the schools and the government on exposing these kindly but misguided parents would be greatly appreciated. As it stands, basic psychologists are consulting over private schools that cover a range from mild Asperger to SLD non-verbal Autism - even Downs etc.
I dont believe the parents are deliberately malicious, they are simply being conned into believeing this therapy will miraculously 'recover' their children with false tales of miracle 'recovery' that is simple fabrication by the 'consultants'

Personally when using an 'ABA' program my child was forced to sit in a chair for two weeks with me ordered into the garden 'get drunk and you wont her the screaming' I was told by Kim Fellows, a self- branded supervisor from Birmingham whom used a false American accent ''becasue it helps the kids more''

We're not talking about using appropriate 'positive reinfocement' or ABA as is used by Gary LaVigna et al, the ABA schools of Treehouse Trust, CABAS, LEAP etc and home-programs actually, in my view, are a horribly violent abuse of SLD- Autistic children and it requires urgent change now, in the meantime, anything I can send to the schools - links, papers, laws etc to help them understand the harm they are doing, would be greatly appreciated, as it is I personally hate them all and that wont help my child or any other, at all.

Regards,

Elizabeth Robillard

www.elizabethrobillard.co.uk

Hello Elizabeth Robillard,

I agree with you in your opposition to ABA and the damage it does to autistic children. I wish you every success in your campaign against it in the UK.

Because the National Autistic Society does not take a position on ABA, I didn't think it was so widespread in the UK.

If the Liberals lose the traditionally Liberal Montreal riding of Outremont to the NDP in today's byelection, Stephane Dion's leadership will come under attack. From what I've read of the election coverage, I think there's a good chance that the NDP will win in Outremont, though I'm not forecasting the result there.

However I forecast that the BQ will hold their seats in the ridings of Roberval-Lac St.Jean and St.Hyacinthe-Bagot in the other two byelections today.

In the Quebec by-elections the NDP took Outremont from the Liberals by a majority of 4,441 (18.5%); the Conservatives took Roberval--Lac-Saint-Jean from the BQ by a majority of 9,528 (32.4%); and the BQ held Saint-Hyacinthe--Bagot by a majority of 1,478 (4.6%) over the Conservatives.

However the results are not a disaster for the Liberals. Compared to the January 2006 general election, in Outremont the Liberal vote fell by 6.1% (from 35.1% to 29.0%); in Roberval--Lac-Saint-Jean it rose from 7.7% to 9.6%, in actual terms it increased from 2,151 to 2,806; in Saint-Hyacinthe--Bagot it fell from 9.8% to 7.4%. The real losers are the BQ. Their vote fell by 17.9% in Outremont, where they dropped from 2nd place to 3rd place; by 32.4% in Roberval; and by 20.3% in Saint-Hyacinthe--Bagot.

In Outrement the votes for all parties fell except for the NDP.

Edited by author 10-02-2007 02:46 PM
Philip,

thank you for your support.

The National Autistic Society is a group of expert manipulative fundraisers with too much staff trained by Treehouse Trust, an ABA CHARITY- one of the most funded charities in the UK - the selling point 'poor parent, poor disabled child' - and the National Autistic Society AND Treehouse Trust, run, charmingly, cooly and expertly - by the lovely ex wife of novelist Nick Horny, Virgina Bovell, whom I believe is not deluded, or malicious, simply again, another victim of the brain-washing manipulations of the likes of Eikeseth, Greer, Vince Carbone (the former behaviorist of a Florida Jail- with a resume/cv that reads - well - scary) - sadly Virginia, being of some social standing and skilled in ABA manipulations, it is difficult to prove precisely how damaging this all is until the ABA schooled children are able to communicate it for themselves, we may never know. It is not in the interests of the ABA'ers to have these children speaking or communicating independently .

 The children may tell of the emotional abuse etc and hoardes of parents could go to jail. As it is, a lot of the same parents are attmepting 'cures' as you know- children have died and been damaged terribly with this abuse. The parents still see it as something great when it's doing nothing but make the consultants rich. There is - or has been some merit to some ABA (LaVigna) but lets hope somebody with some real influence will take this seriously, investigate it thoroughly, stop the abuse. The pictures of Jean Bowdens' were simply not enough. Then you have to ask 'is it behaviour borne out of poor parenting, or is it a natural behaviour due to a chromosomal disorder' - either way, familes need support, parenting classes, rehabilition- this is never, ever the FAULT of the child.

To me, it is like assaulting a child with DOWNS for having the wrong eyes, it's eugenics, there is no other word for ABA. Even Pat Howlin found no difference in regular SLD schools to ABA programs?

Some of the proof is them keeping some pupils away from the community entirely. My child has no unwanted behaviours and never has, but according to ABA, hand-flapping and grabbing at his guts (he has a gut problem) is 'unsociable' so they have it 'on target' to 'extinguish' the behaviour (I tried several times to get my child OUT of an ABA school, sadly ABA'ers have every SEN lawyer and charity wrapped around their fingers)

 Sometimes when you see kids hanging out in gangs and hurting each other here in the UK, you cant help thinking THEY need ABA. Not some poor vulnerable disabled child with a mother whom is more concerned about appearance than giving her chidlren some real love and time and attention ONE TO ONE FROM MUM AND DAD. Sorry to sound harsh, but I've done the whole thing with ABA etc etc. Isn't it time to wake up? Just hope there are some kids capable of communicating exactly what ABA has done to them once they reach 18.

All the best

Elizabeth Robillard

www.elizaberthrobillard.co.uk

Edited by author 11-19-2007 11:39 AM

ABA Autism;

ABA and autism, the real thruth

View From a SLD ('sld= severe learning disabled in this instance) Head Teacher - wrote in a response to a post on sld forum)


 Head Teacher afraid to 'go public' for fear of the ABA 'ruthless' people

please also forward this from a head-teacher whom I am trying to persuade to 'come out' he is afraid of these aba people;

Hello Elizabeth - please don't forward my message to the SLD Forum list


I think you'll get a lot of off list mail about this post - and it will be interesting to see what crops up on the forum itself.

I think in general terms I agree with you completely about ABA

What's your role in relation to Autism ? I'd love to be able to be able to point some of my prospective parents (I'm head of a London SLD school, towards a non-teacher, parent friendly source of advice which takes off the gloves about ABA - I get parents going to tribunal to get their kids there - often losing the fight, but also sometimes winning. When I try and convince them about the error they're making I have to maintain the professional detachment and not slag the ABA schools off so much - which could of course seriously jeopardise any tribunal. They tend to think that the reason the authority objects to the placements is because of money - which is of course true - but this tends to mean that parents don't take an objective view over what they are fighting for.

At my previous school we had a young man came to us via an ABA school (I'm not going to name names as I don't want to be sued for libel). He had wealthy and eminent parents, and was in a truly shocking state. He was as disturbed as any autistic child I've ever seen in 24 years in the field. The paper work which came with him was astonishing. A hefty wadge of data about behavioural objectives and his daily performance against them, which told me an awful lot about his school and virtually nothing about him.

I trained as a teacher in 1985 - 1989, specifically in Severe Learning Difficulties (we were the last intake), and caught the tail end of the behavioural objectives movement. When I saw the stuff from this boy's school it was like one of those novels where the present is different because something changed in the past. - like "What if Hitler had won the war" or "What if Marty McFly's dad hadn't met Marty's Mum" or "What if Behavioural approaches to teaching children with severe learning difficulties had never gone out of fashion ?"

It seemed like a horrendous vision of what might have been, and I'm glad to say I won't go down that route in my school.

A lot of the parents seem to have a need to be able to rationalise their children's difficulties in a way which doesn't challenge the rest of their life style. For instance I have one Mum who is clearly just longing for the kind of midde class school gate socialisation that she gets at her other child's independent non-special school; but she doesn't meet other parents as the children are all bused in, and most of the parents are not native English speakers anyway - she doesn't have any problem with that but really misses seeing other people similar to her. She thinks she'd get it at an expensive ABA school - I'm not sure she would.

Where parents have failed to get an ABA school the next negotiation seems to be to get some form of ABA tutoring - and I get asked 'What are you going to do to make sure my Johnny gets individual ABA work in school, and how will you support the Home tutor ?

My answer is that we tailor our programmes to individual needs, with 1:1 work where appropriate but we do not favour overly behavioural approaches. We would expect also that any home tuition should complement the school's work rather than the other way around.

At which of course the parents assume that I'm being unreasonable and inflexible. I've been to reviews where parents of children who are being kept at home for 1:1 ABA for half the week, seem to think that the only reason they aren't making progress is because they haven't got full time ABA. The 50% attendance at school doesn't seem to be any kind of issue at all.


I am a little surprised when you say that the authorities are in favour of the parent led schools - the one I work for would happily see these schools closed if there was a way they could do it legally. What they are afraid of though is losing tribunals, so they try not to be openly emotive in their responses.

I would also caution that SLD Forum is a surprisingly public forum, and people working for "branded" approaches may well react rather nastily to criticism on the list. Make sure you don't libel anyone - some of these groups are defending some highly lucrative positions of self interest and will be ruthless about how they do it.

ENDS HERE
 


PS Whilst we're on the topic,I think it would be wise for social workers and related professionals not to confuse narcissism with a mother fighting like a rabid dog to rightfully claim back her babies, or to confuse narcissism with any type of unique behaviour they need to label (confusing sometimes) as they cannt get past basic psychology or politics

To: Philip - just came across this website and my name mentioned by you as the first licensed woman land surveyor in Canada - it was quite a surprise as when I articled I knew there weren't any in Ontario but did not realize that there had never been any in Canada.
Surveying was very kind to me - private practice, and eventually being the Executive Director of the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors
Nice to read that people notice our achievements

I wasn't quite sure whether I should leave up some of Ms Robillard's messages. I deleted one, because of the extent to which it consisted of personal attacks. Some of her other statements that I've left up (for now) are also in that direction.

We're not too happy about personal attacks here. It's always possible to provide information and propose or defend views or ideas without resorting to personal attacks--which aren't informative about anything but the character of the person making them.

I also suggest that (if she hasn't already) Ms Robillard start a blog, or a comment board, or something similar, dedicated to her views of ABA as an autism intervention. Then she would be free to post what she wants, according to her own values and standards.

For Lorraine Petzold, it's great to see your message here (I've been neglecting this board, due to computer problems and other difficulties).

For those who haven't kept track, see Philip's message here /m535 . There's also a few messages in the vicinity about my short career in land surveying ( /m536 and /m538 ).