tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5609025654658864946.post5472190028135036214..comments2023-07-13T05:08:00.182-07:00Comments on Autistic Wisdom: Ontario Ministry Divisions Don't Help Our KidsAutisticWisdomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01553708099437502270noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5609025654658864946.post-6622206811269768112011-01-23T08:20:23.850-08:002011-01-23T08:20:23.850-08:00The current precedent law in Canada (and Ontario) ...The current precedent law in Canada (and Ontario) does not require input from parents. Auton v BC in 2000 decided (by the Supreme Court) that the government can do as it desires for those with autism – ASD kids have no rights to anything according to our constitution. Wynberg V ON in 2006 decided that specifically in ON that ASD kids have no right to either therapy or choice. The Supreme Court decided years ago (I think in the 1970’s – I don’t have the reference case but I know the law) that no union agreement will ever be put aside unless it is criminal in provision. Practitioners going in into the school is forbidden by the teacher’s union (some boards may be more cooperative but these ones are the minority). The ASD training for teachers (so wonderfully announced by the Ministry in 2005) is optional since the teacher’s union again came to the support of teachers again. Bottom line – the law in Canada completely protects those that are the providers of service to the entire detriment of those that are to get service. As such, parents are not asked – our kids and us simply do not matter in the decision making process. I have testified at Queen’s Park on many occasions and this is effectively the answer I am given. The recent Select Committee on Mental Health (Ontario) issued a report stating those with ASD have no place in our Mental Health system and offered absolutely no solution (this admission and no action indicates how the law works – yes it is terrible but since no one can compel anyone to do anything nothing gets done). Boards have seen a near doubling of special needs funding over the past decade but all boards say they can not afford to give proper service. The Auditor General of ON stated in the Special Needs Audit of 2008 that the funding for special needs is not being used for special needs in its entirety but again there is no law to support changing anything so the boards can take the money for special needs and spend it on bananas if they want to. Pressing the Minister of Education the answer is “Gee we are arms length, good luck with the schools”. There is a pilot program ongoing now for having Ministry therapists as part of the transition team but this pilot is failing miserably since again the needs of the union are taking precedence and the processes and staff are abysmal. When I asked the Select Committee “What say you?” the only answer I got was an awkward silence.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com