Reading Recovery Program For 1st Graders Only?!

I've just been chomping down on my tongue, and just can't take it anymore...  I need to ask you guys what you think of this...

School's come a long way since I was in grade one...  Mind you, I only spoke Slovenian, and when I went to grade one, didn't know a word of English.  My parents didn't speak much English, and were planning on moving us back to Slovenija, so they weren't really concerned about my not being able to speak English.  My teachers on the other hand were very concerned, and ended up failing me my first year of school.  Of course, back then, there was no such thing as 'no child left behind,' and the importance of 'social promotion' verses 'education.'

Anyways...  During my visit to Dayton's school for his IEP meeting, I had an opportunity to learn from the guidance counsellor about the reading recovery program in our school division.  Did you know that it costs $3000.00 for a child to be in the reading recovery program?  I had no idea...  Not only that, but not all school divisions offer the reading recovery program, and for those that do, it is only offered in grade one.

I am really concerned about this Mr. Premier.  As if you actually care what I think, but as a parent of a member of our future generation, I am very, very concerned about this.  You see, my son is in grade four, and he is desperately struggling to read and write.  My boy's reading is at about half way through grade one, and I'm afraid to even guess where his writing level is at, but I'm going to guess it's no where near grade one level. My son is not able to write even a small sentence.  I think that you should be worried too.  I know my child is not the only one falling through the cracks here...

 The "Honourable" Premier Greg Selinger...  

To add insult to injury, I know that my son's teacher, education assistant, guidance counsellor and resource teacher would love to help my son, but can only do so within the parameters given to them.

Of course, Mr. Premier is not at the elementary schools to answer to concerned parents is he?  No...  So who does the parent take their frustrations out on?  Who does the parent blame for their child not getting an education?  Why their school of course!  Makes sense, right?  I mean, it's the school's responsibility to teach our children, right?

I freaking hate politics.  Hate them with a passion.  They have no business in our schools!

I need to do MORE research, again...  Grrrr...

What are your thoughts?


Consider yourselves hugged,

Lou

Here's the news paper article from the Winnipeg Free Press:

Province launches autism support plan

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 06/28/2011 4:00 PM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

The provincial government has launched a five-year plan to support Manitobans of all ages that are affected by autism spectrum disorders.

The plan, called "Thrive!", will begin with $1 million that will go mainly toward providing preschoolers with a treatment called applied behaviour analysis and toward outreach services in rural and northern Manitoba. A smaller amount of funding will hire experts for behaviroual consultation for children who complete the applied behaviour analysis and create a meeting program between parents of autistic children to share knowledge.

Currently there are long wait lists for the applied behaviour analysis program, which the new funding hopes to eliminate.

The $1 million is only the tip of the iceberg, funding four out of the 40 programs in which the Thrive! plan hopes to invest.

One of its main aims is to provide support to adults with autism, since the bulk of funding goes currently to children.

Family Services and Consumer Affairs Minister Gord Mackintosh, who made the announcement along with Education Minister Nancy Allan, could not say how much Thrive will cost in the long run.


Here's another excpert from a similar article from Winnipeg Press:

Province launches new five-year autism strategy

Applied behaviour analysis gets $600,000 in funding

By: William Burr

Posted: 06/29/2011 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

The provincial government has launched a five-year plan to support Manitobans of all ages that are affected by autism spectrum disorders.

The new strategy, called Thrive, will eventually include 40 initiatives, everything from a technology centre to make the latest tools accessible to parents, to a post-secondary scholarship for high school graduates with autism.

Family Services and Consumer Affairs Minister Gord Mackintosh and Education Minister Nancy Allan announced funding for the first four initiatives Tuesday: about $1 million annually.

Just under $600,000 will go to applied behaviour analysis (ABA) for young children, a treatment that teaches them social, motor, and reasoning skills; $250,000 will go to outreach services in rural and northern Manitoba; $160,000 will finance consultations with experts for children who graduate from ABA treatment; and $8,000 will create a program where parents of children with autism can meet and share knowledge.

Difficulty accessing ABA is a big issue for parents at the moment because there is a long wait-list.
Letisha Recksiedler, whose five-year-old son has autism, waited six months to get him into ABA. During those six months, her son had several "temper tantrums" every day, she said. After he started ABA, the tantrums decreased to one per day, she said.

"Our lives have become less stressful now that we're in the program," Recksiedler said.
The province hopes the Thrive program will eliminate wait-lists for ABA by September.

But some of those who work with people with autism said this announcement neglects what they call the biggest hole in funding -- support services for adults with autism.

Bev Larmour, a past president of Asperger Manitoba Inc. (Asperger syndrome is on the autism spectrum), said the announcement focuses on kids.

"What about the adults who, when they graduate from high school, it's like they fall off the cliff in terms of services?" she said.

Damon Schuler, an Asperger Manitoba Inc. board member and an adult with autism who is attending college, said he doesn't get much support for his studies. "All it is is a different area to write my exam," he said.

Anne Kresta, current president of Asperger Manitoba, said as long as Thrive follows through with its long-term plan, she will be happy.

"The announcement today was very centred upon the ABA portion but we're looking more across the lifespan and we're really pleased to see that the lifespan issues are going to be addressed," she said.

Mackintosh said future Thrive initiatives will help people with autism of all ages.
"Until now, we started and ended with children," he said.

In a press release following the province's announcement, the Progressive Conservative party shrugged off Thrive and the funding for ABA as a pre-election tactic.

"The NDP government has underfunded this critical and proven form of therapy for children with autism until the eve of an election, when they finally decide to offer families an opportunity to continue therapy," said family services critic Bonnie Mitchelson.
william.burr@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition June 29, 2011 B3

First, I'd like to congratulate the government for doing at least this much for our younger children on the spectrum.

Second, I'd like to know where this leaves school age children!!!  My boy is nine years old, so Thrive won't be of any use in our EDUCATION SYSTEM!!!  Until the age of five, most families will receive or at least be offered Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA therapy) already, until that is, the child becomes of school age in which case ABA is dropped!!!  While I understand that there is a waiting list for ABA, the sad reality is that our provincial government only allows ABA up to age five.  When I finally got Dayton's diagnosis of PDD-NOS at age seven, I was told he was too old to receive ABA therapy.  A kind of slap in the face when Alberta's government allows this same therapy to continue through age twenty-one!!!

What I'd really like to see is ABA extended to these children throughout their school years!  Or hey, let's start offering the ABA therapy to those school age children who didn't get their diagnosis until AFTER age five.  It seems like services seem to disappear after this age, so makes sense to me that the government should be looking at school age children.  But what the hell do I know...  I'm just an autism mom, right?  Grrrrr...

And as for Anne Kresta...  Oh jeez...  The woman hates me so much she refuses to help other parents of children with autism if they have a relationship with me.  I really should have listened to my friend when she told me the woman was useless and to stay away from her.  But no.  I just had to meet her, hoping she would be of some help to our children...  Oh well, lesson learned.  A topic for another day.



Anyways...


Consider yourselves hugged,


Lou

Accusations And Hate E-mail

Awwwww, shucks.

It appears I've ruffled a few feathers out there.  I seemed to have raised some controversy, and made a couple of people a little "uncomfortable."  Believe me, I don't take this lightly, as I am a people pleaser, constantly bending over to make people comfortable and desperately wanting to be liked by everyone involved in Dayton's care.  So, hearing that there are people out there that don't like what I have to say does hurt, but I have to keep my focus on what's most important at heart.  This really, really sucks!

Being accused of not having respect for people, their positions in organizations, their work, etc. is disturbing to me.  I have a lot of respect for Dayton's teachers, his principal and especially his resource teacher.  Dayton's guidance counselor and I have a major personality clash, but in saying this, I respect her position with the school.  Do I agree with every view these women have?  ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!  But there is a major difference between 'disagreement' and 'disrespect.'

I have never spit in any one's face, kicked them in their shins, publicly humiliated or threatened them in a personal or professional way.  Dayton does this on his own when he's treated with little respect.  In saying this, I do not appreciate or respect people or organizations that are working for their own gratification, for recognition or helping our children only if it helps their political ambitions.  What do politics have to do with our children's disabilities?  Your own political agendas and your ambition for recognition does nothing for our children, or for me, so please spare me your hate E-mail.  I have bigger and better things to worry about.  When those of you worried about lining your own pockets make our children's education a priority, I will show you respect.  Look at my son's face.  Does this look like you have our children's education and safety in mind? 

This happened during school recess, with a full time aid, two weeks ago.  The school staff told me Dayton "fell off the swing," while Dayton tells me he was "pushed off" the swing.  Somewhere in the middle lies the truth.  Either way, I'm not impressed.  When I picked Dayton up from school, blood was coming out of his mouth and face.  The white of his right eye was an angry red, and I feared for his eye.  Driving like a maniac to the nearest hospital, my son was speechless.  I was told by the nurse that Dayton was in pain and in shock, which is why he wasn't speaking, something common among children on the spectrum.  Dayton didn't speak for two days. 

For those of you thinking I have no respect for you, look at my baby's face one more time.  Ask yourself "if this was my child, what would I think?"  Then put yourself in my shoes.  Do I blame the principal?  No.  Do I blame the resource teacher?  No.  Do I blame the guidance counselor?  No.  Who then do I blame?  The Manitoba government for not educating our educators and aids.  That's who I blame. 

When Dayton is playing in our back yard, I'm right there with him.  When he plays on the play ground, I'm outside on my camping chair with him.  When he goes swimming, I'm in the swimming pool with him.  I don't do this because I can't bear the thought of not seeing him 24/7.  I do this because when Dayton gets an idea, he follows through with that idea, without thought of the danger it poses to him or others.  It's called AUTISM.  I know my son looks good, he gets his good looks from me.  But even though he's the handsomest little man I've met in my life, he has AUTISM.  This means I can not leave him unattended.  He needs care every single second of the day.  Our schools do their best with the funding they receive and within the parameters they've been given, parameters and funding given by the Manitoba government.  So, my problem is with the government, not you personally.  Just because I don't agree with your views of removing God from our classrooms, does not mean I don't respect you.  The minute you're more concerned with your own agenda and acknowledgement than our children's education, is the instant I lose respect for you.

I hope I've made my stand clear.  This is Canada.  We have freedom of speech here, do we not?  You don't like my blog, don't read it.  No one is forcing you to.  Be assured, you will not silence me, no matter how many hate E-mails you send me.  I will continue to fight for our children's education, they are OUR future!



Consider yourselves hugged,

Lou