Edited by author 07-21-2006 02:55 PM
Please post further comments on Autism and Ostracism in Paul Martin's Canada to the following discussion board:
http://www.quicktopic.com/24/H/fgjQyy3iXCf

Edited by author 12-07-2005 05:06 PM
(Arriving very late) Thanks Evan.

The name of the university in the Observer article is correct. The clinic/research group I'm affiliated with is in turn affiliated with the University of Montreal, and Laurent Mottron, the Director of both the clinic and the research group, is a Professor at the University of Montreal.

I agree with you that how some non-autistics regard and treat autistics is very informative about these non-autistics.

Michelle, I noticed your name in the Observer today :

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/magazine/st...913,1639392,00.html

I think the writer got the name of your university wrong, but other than that it seemed a very useful piece. I have long thought that there is no basis for pathologizing people who have the attributes associate with autism, and in fact the label says more about the people who use it that the people it is meant to decribe. Keep up the good work!

http://users.kymp.net/mode0095/ASI/conference.htm

Autism conference in Finland, basically organised by autistics.

Thanks for that information Michelle.

Hi Philip,

We have a token response from Ms Redman. However, it was not responsive (I'm being polite) and referred our concerns re the autism petition to Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh, to whom Ms Redman has apparently written. If/when such a response from the Minister materializes, this will be posted along with Ms Redman's non-response.

Ms Redman did not address the question of autism being prevented. Therefore, her original position stands, and I have forwarded her statement to the Hon Ken Dryden with the question about whether this is now government policy.

In other words, both large questions raised by Ms Redman's behaviour are in the hands of federal ministers.

I do not expect these questions to be answered, and believe that Ms Redman's original reply, apparently a form letter, speaks eloquently to this government's position re autism.

I have also received a written letter from my MP, Lucienne Robillard (who has not been supportive). This letter said nothing and simply referred to an enclosed letter from Minister Dryden to herself. Minister Dryden re-iterates points already made in his letters to the Hon Carol Skelton and to me. These two new short letters will eventually (probably) be posted somewhere.

Edited by author 01-01-2005 06:57 AM
Hi Michelle,

Maybe this year (or even this month) the Hon Ken Dryden will reply to your letter, and the Hon Karen Redman will reply to your's and Ralph's letter.

Congratulations Michelle.

Edited by author 11-17-2004 02:34 AM
"Autism and Ostracism in Paul Martin's Canada" has been published in the Oct 2004 issue of the journal "Good Autism Practice". There is an editorial comment and I also wrote an introduction.

You're very welcome Michelle.

I'm speechless. That's a super, lovely, wonderful letter Philip. I'm so happy you wrote it. Thank you.

Edited by author 10-13-2004 01:26 PM
Here is the letter I e-mailed today to Prime Minister Paul Martin:
 Subject: Autistic Canadians
Dear Prime Minister,
I am writing to you because Michelle Dawson has not received an adequate reply to her letter to you dated July 22 2004.
She took the time and effort to inform you at considerable length about the denigration, disrespect and exclusion of autistic Canadians. Cabinet Ministers have replied to her letters with condescension, disrespect and no attempt to seriously address the concerns she raised.
She wrote to you because she wanted you to be aware of the real situation of autistic Canadians.She expected and is entitled to receive a reply from you personally which genuinely engages with the important issues which she has broiught to your attention.
Please see http://www.sentex.net/~nexus23/naa_one.html for Ms. Dawson's accurate analysis of Autism Society Canada's new policy of token representation of autistic persons in an organisation which together with their member societies denigrate, demean and refuse to welcome them with full meaningful inclusion.
Ms. Dawson wrote: "I am waiting for someone in a leadership position to say one positive, accurate word about autistic people and to acknowledge our great contributions to Canada. I am waiting for someone in a leadership position to protest when prejudicial statements are made about autistic people and our worth as autistics is denied."
lthough I am a British autistic, I ask you to please take this issue seriously and not dismiss it as something of no importance.
Thank you for your time.
Yours sincerely
Philip Ashton

The fourth paragraph (beginning "Please see") is the revised version which I e-mailed to the Prime Minister after my first e-mail, which had errors in that paragraph.
I thought that after more than two months since Michelle's letter to the Prime Minister, and with the holidays now over, it was now the time to write to him.

(I've also posted this on the No Autistics Allowed open letter comment board)

Letter written by the Conservative Social Development Critic, Carol Skelton, MP:


9 Aug 2004

Mr. Ken Dryden, MP, PC
Minister of Social Development
House of Commons
Ottawa ON K1A 0A6

Dear Minister Dryden,

I have recently been contacted by Ms. Michelle Dawson of Montreal concerning a number of issues affecting autistic Canadians. I am aware that your department has had previous exchanges with Ms. Dawson, but a number of legitimate concerns continue to remain unaddressed by your department and your predecessors. I’m hoping that your recent appointment will result in resolution of these outstanding issues.

For your information, I have enclosed a copy of Minister Frulla’s most recent letter to Ms. Dawson and her response, which I assume will be handled by you in your new capacity. Some further developments, as well as a brief summary of the relevant issues, are also enclosed in the form of Ms. Dawson's recent letter to Prime Minister Martin.

Ms. Dawson’s primary concern stems from the lack of direct representation autistic Canadians have, or do not have, within the various federally-funded disability organizations and research projects. Many autistic Canadians are perfectly capable of participating in a decision-making environment regarding matters that affect them directly. I am told that the Autism Society of Canada does not even have a member with autism on their board of directors. I personally find it surprising that the Society is unable to find a qualified or suitable representative for such a position.

Through further investigation of this situation, I am confident that you will discover two distinct ‘schools of thought’ regarding the management of autism in Canada. One segment believes that autistic Canadians are sick in the way people with cancer are sick, and require an expensive, arduous, and ethically questionable ‘treatment’ to get rid of their autism and ‘normalize’ them. The other believes that autism is not a sickness; that autism is integral to autistic people, who in turn should be accepted, be given assistance and education appropriate to their autistic nature, and have their existing and often unique skills and potential be embraced and appreciated. Ms. Dawson is concerned that only the first group is adequately represented under the existing regimes. What will you be doing to ensure the second group is adequately represented?

Finally, it would be appreciated if you could also provide me with a response that addresses each of the matters raised in Ms. Dawson’s May 3rd, 2004 letter, as well as the substance of her subsequent letter to the Prime Minister.

Sincerely,

Carol Skelton, Member of Parliament
Saskatoon - Rosetown - Biggar

CC: Michelle Dawson
    Mr Stephen Fletcher, Official Opposition Health Critic