| Last updated at 9:31 AM on 26/10/09 |
Kids with autism deserve better 
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Editor:
I am writing with regard to the guest opinion, 'Children with autism need more support' by Christina Rodd, (The Guardian, Oct. 22, 2009).
I applaud Christina for stepping up and telling it like it is. I have a grandson with autism, and having witnessed the countless hours and patience required to work with these children, my hat goes off to the so very few dedicated therapists we have here on P.E.I.
I cannot for the life of me understand how and where this idea came from - to take unemployed people from ages 55-65 and expect them, after a four-week job creation course, to work with, and through, the behaviours of our children with ASD. Not complaining about the age, as I am there myself, but I can just picture a child bolting and these people trying to catch them, or, the child having a meltdown and these people trying to handle the situation as it should be handled, so that the child learns from the experience and overcomes the fear that initiated it.
My grandson is now in the school system where there are no 'consultants' available for training therapists right now or for creating programs after school or over the summer, so qualified therapists are even more imperative to his progress.
This 'Passport to Employment' idea is truly a slap in the face, not only to the women and men who have spent years of schooling, training and guided hands-on experience, but also every family on P.E.I. with a child with autism. As one specialist put it, "I understand the outrage of the families. It is clear that this is not being done in the best interest of the children. A passport to employment, yes; however, for children with autism, it's their passport to failure and isolation." Where proper programming and training are in place, statistics show a 10-20 per cent recovery rate in autistic children by age nine. It is no wonder we have a zero per cent recovery rate here on P.E.I.
I would like our premier, Mr. Ghiz, to put himself in our shoes and tell us, if tomorrow his child was diagnosed with ASD, who would he want to work with his child - a professionally trained consultant or therapist, or a job creation program four-week trainee?
Scott Kaye,
Charlottetown
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