(r. to l.): Stella Hui from the Autism Society of BC, Dawn Steele from MOMs and Lori Doucette from FAIR - photo courtesy of FEAT's Tandy Tam.

The rally sought to draw attention to the fragile nature of provincial autism services, which Children's Minister Mary Polak was able to wipe out on a mere whim. In addition to cancelling EIBI programs, Polak eliminated the direct funding option under the provincial autism program, to the deep frustration of many families who used that funding to support their own home-based ABA programs. As with EIBI cuts, there was no consultation over this change. 

Despite icy winds, the Nov 13 FEAT rally attracted a solid gathering of families and family groups. MOMS supported the rally and brought along our trusty campaign signs (which are standing up remarkably well to the rigours of street protests!)  Other groups represented included the Autism Society of BC and FAIR, the family group fighting Polak's plans to eliminate the EIBI autism programs. East Vancouver MLA Shane Simpson (NDP) attended to show support.

Family photo: Nov 6 rally at Mary Polak's Langley office

Thanks to all the families who came out to Langley Friday for the rally co-hosted Friday by MOMS and FAIR (Families Fighting Against Autism Intervention Reductions) to highlight autism cuts. (Especially the heroic Victoria folks who got up at 5 am to pack up kids & minivans to make it!!).

A great family turn-out, strong local media interest & fantastic public support more than made up for the horrible weather.  Mary Polak decided to close her office for the day, but no one seemed too offended. later, parents distributed hundreds of flyers (attached) explaining the impact of cuts & why they are so foolish, inhumane and short-sighted.  

Check out a mini U-tube clip  or photos of the energetic FAIR families on their Facebook page (pls join to show support while you're at it!) 

Langley rally: One Mom tells it like it is

Next rally:

• Friday, November 13 at 12 noon
• Premier Gordon Campbell's MLA office, 3615 West 4th Ave in Point Grey, Vancouver. 

This rally is organized by FEAT BC (Families for Early Autism Treatment) to highlight concerns over Minister Polak's cancellation of the direct funding option in the autism program. FEAT families supported the EIBI rally in Langley and we encourage other families to show support for their concerns. We're all in this together! ...and hopefully the BC government will start to see that we're not going away and we're not shutting up!

2. Next Steps: Broader  MOMs campaign

Despite rallies, meeting, letters, calls & emails, government is still not listening. In addition to recent cuts to vital children's services (e.g. IDP, SCD and EIBI), Premier Campbell has failed to honour his promise to children with special needs and children at risk by fixing existing problems: waitlists, underfunding of Special Education, denial of early intervention services to many children, repeal of the IQ 70 limits to access services. 

So MOMS is planning an extended next phase of action that takes our message directly to British Columbians, who have demonstrated strong support wherever we've created awareness of these concerns.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

We need financial support for this next phase to develop and run targeted ads and public service announcements in local community media, explaining why the cuts and the failure to fix other gaps for special needs and kids at risk is foolish, short-sighted and inhumane. We'll be urging British Columbians to take a simple step to indicate their support & join us in telling their MLAs, Premier Campbell and Minister Polak that BC's vulnerable kids deserve better and that cutting now means paying more later.

Please contact us if you can provide financial support or if you have potential leads or connections to other organizations in your community who can support this campaign. MOMs has already received our first grant (a big thank you to BC FamilyNet Society for helping to cover recent rally costs!!). Since having $$ is a first for MOMS, we are making arrangements with a "blue chip" registered organization to receive and manage further donations on our behalf.
 
Thanks for all those supporting us by participating or behind the scenes! With your support, we can do it! And when we actually get out and hear the fantastic public support out there, it makes all the effort worthwhile!!

Where:     Mary Polak's Langley Constituency office, 20611 Fraser Highway, Langley

Please join parents from around the province who will be travelling to Langley on Friday for a protest action as they continue the fight to save autism intensive early intervention (EIBI) programs.  Meet us outside Mary Polak's Langley office. We'll have signs and banners or bring your own.

Early intervention works! EIBI programs have decades of proven research behind them. They significantly reduce the burden on public schools/special education and liefelong social services.

BC can afford these programs! Last week, Minister Polak personally informed us that she has sufficient funding in her budget to save these programs and that cutting them is her choice because she thinks the increasing incidence of autism makes them unsustainable!

This is not just inhumane, but short-sighted and foolish. The costs of these EIBI programs have been stable since their inception in 2001 - provincial autism costs have increased drastically in other areas, not EIBI. And the additional lifetime costs for a single child who needs EIBI and doesn't get it are more than twice as much as the potential savings from cutting the entire provincial EIBI program!! BC taxpayers will pay far more by cutting these programs!

Polak's choice = Campbell's broken promise: In 2005 Premier Campbell promised to build the best system of supports in Canada for children with special needs and children at risk. Instead of cutting vital programs, BC needs to invest in expanding intensive early intervention to all children who need it! Alberta, for example, spends twice as much on autism alone as BC does, despite having fewer children, and has not cut early intervention despite a provincial deficit twice as large as BC's.

Please help us send a strong message to Minister Polak and Premier Campbell: BC can't afford to cut these programs.

If enough caring people stand up, government will listen - we have demonstrated this over and over again. If you can't make it Friday, please:

• E-Mail Mary.Polak@gov.bc.ca and ask her to reverse her plans to cut EIBI programs
• Phone her office at 250-387-9699
• Write her a letter at PO Box 9057 Stn Prov Govt, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E2