(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

In addition to shaking up the morning commute, people around the province called MLAs and the premier, sent emails and letters and delivered balloons. Here, sad-face balloons being delivered to Burnaby MLA Richard Lee.

Below is an updated list of media reports on the October 28 day of action and the continuing campaign against cuts to programs for children with special needs.

Print media:

24 Hours/The Tyee: Media...ignore cuts to vulnerable children

Langley Times: Parents keep up pressure over autism funding

Abbotsford News: Moms protest on autism issue

Georgia Straight: Mothers of special needs kids to protest program cuts across BC

Invermere Valley Echo: Moms speak out against cuts

Kamloops this Week: Honk for autism funding

Kelowna.com: Kelowna moms protest government cuts

Kelowna News: Protesters march on MLA's office

Kelowna Capital News: Families protest cuts to autism programs

Merritt Herald: Moms protest special needs cutbacks

Prince George Citizen: Parents protesting cutbacks at MLA's office this morning

Opinion 250 News Prince George: Morning protest in PG

Vernon Morning Star: Parents protest special needs funding

Radio & TV:

CKFR Radio Kelowna

Sun Radio Vernon

CBC Radio: The Early Edition

CFAX: Joe Easingwood

CBC TV: English and French News

CTV TV News (Surrey group)

City TV: Morning, Noon and Evening News

A Channel News: Vancouver Island

CHEK TV Victoria

Prince George Free Press: Moms on the Move protest at MLAs office

A beautiful sunrise in Victoria

Hi everyone,

What a great day and it's not even 10 am yet! 

MOMs wants to thank everyone who came together and contributed in so many ways to making this a success and to helping us get the message out about the importance of putting our money where our mouth is when it comes to putting BC's vulnerable kids first. It truly was a province-wide team effort and we couldn't have done it without literally hundreds of people who all came together to make it happen!

We forgot it would be so dark in Prince George!

We had at least 21 groups out across the province this morning (Sechelt contacted us last night to let us know they'd be joining in too!)

Lots of great media coverage too, helping to get the word out. I will start posting info, photos and video clips later.  If you're on Facebook, you can start sharing your own photos and video clips via our MOMS Facebook group (see link on the right of this page)

The honking big MOMs banner at Burrard

I was out with a terrific, lively bunch on the Burrard Bridge this morning, waving signs and our huge MOMS banner, with fabulous support from all the commuters going by - cars, bikes and pedestrians.

Then the teachers showed up bringing bagels!

In Victoria, a passing motorist came back with TimBits. In Abottsford, another parked his car and joined in.

Abbotsford crew on the H/way #1 overpass

How did it go in your community?

Use the Comments form below to let us know.

Add your voice

If you couldn't make it, you can still add your voice and urge Premier Campbell to live up to his promise to kids with special needs and kids at risk:

Vernon tells it like it is

• Call the Premier's Office in Victoria: (1) 250 387-1715
• Email the Premier at premier@gov.bc.ca

For a sample letter to the Premier, click here.

Sample message to Premier

Thank you!

A huge thank you again to everyone who helped make our MOMs provincial day of action a success, whether you were out waving banners, emailing or calling in to share your views with government, or just helping connect us with other families and supporters!

Chris & Lori's group on the 176th St overpass in Surrey

If you can't make it in person, you can still participate by emailing a letter to Premier Campbell urging him to honour his promises to BC's children. Or call your MLA on Wednesday to express your support.

Communications:

Media Release: click here

Letter to Premier Campbell: click here

Fact Sheets: Backgrounders on key program cut: EIBI (autism), IDP (Infant Development)

Oct 28 Action flyer: For information about the event, click here. 

MOMs Op Ed: For a summary of issues & concerns, click here

Action Kit: For sign-making tips, click here; for suggested slogans, click here. 

Photos/video: Reminder to all groups: please take digital photos & brief video clips to help us compile a U-tube video for further distribution.

Media contacts: 

• Vancouver: Dawn Steele: dawns@telus.net, 604 874-1416 h./778 235-4998 c.
• Victoria: Catherine Turnquist: catherine.queeb70@gmail.com 250 686-3953 c.
•  (or local coordinator - see below)

Confirmed Locations:

Vancouver Island

 Victoria: Five locations - all from 7:30 - 8:30 am

• A: #1 H/way overpass b/tween McKenzie & Helmken: Catherine Turnquist: 250 686-3953
• B: #1 H/way: Town & Country Walmart overpass: Coordinator Hollie Davis: 250 882-6450
• C: Pat Bay Highway - Royal Oak Bridge: Coordinator Chris McIntosh: 250 588-3061 
• D: Blanchard/Caledonia - SaveOnFoods Arena:  Contact Cher Sherwood 250 881-3996
• E: Sooke Bridge: Coordinator Kathleen Forget: 250 589-2890
• F: Bay Street Bridge area:  Coordinator Nicole Strong 250 217-9797

Victoria participants will later assemble at the Legislature to deliver balloons to Premier Gordon Campbell and MLAs . Victoria coordinator Cher Sherwood: 250 881-3996 c. or vwcher@hotmail.com

Campbell River: Tamarac Street  Bridge (new bridge over the Campbell River), 7:30 - 8:30 am. Local coordinator Coralee Boyce: 250 204-1200 c. or CBoyce@viic.ca

Mayne Island: March from the school to the bakery starting at 12 noon. More details from Mayne Island coordinator Annette Witteman: 250 539-5011 or annettepmw@shaw.ca

**NEW: Sunshine Coast

*NEW! Sechelt: In front of St Mary's Hospital, 8:30 am. Contact Merrily at merrilyc@dccnet.com

Lower Mainland

North Van - Lions Gate Bridge: North Van side, from 7:30 - 8:30 am.  Extra signs available or bring your own. Further details from Cyndi Gerlach, North Van MOMs Coordinator: 604 831-6608 cel or MomsOnTheMove@telus.net

Vancouver Burrard Bridge: South end from 7:30 - 8:30 am (opposite Molson & Seaforth Armoury at Burrard & Cornwall - see map for details of roadworks & parking) .  Extra signs available. At noon, Vancouver groups will reconvene at Premier Campbell's Constituency Office, 3615 West 4th Avenue, to deliver balloons and a statement asking him to live up to his promises to BC's children. Further details available from Dawn Steele, Burrard Coordinator: 778 235-4998 or dawns@telus.net.

Vancouver Oak St. Bridge: Vancouver side (see map), from 7:30 - 8:30 am. Extra signs available or bring your own. At noon, both Vancouver groups will reconvene at Premier Campbell's Constituency Office, 3615 West 4th Avenue, to deliver balloons and a statement asking him to live up to his promises to BC's children. Further details available from Barb Laird, Osk St Coordinator: barb@telus.net or 604 910-9990 cel.

* NEW: Burnaby: Burnaby parents will deliver messages & balloons  to local MLA offices to symbolize vulnerable kids who are waiting for help.

Surrey: Highway #1/176th overpass, 7:30 - 8:30 am. Local coordinator Chris Doucette: 604 307-6346 c. or cjdouce@yahoo.com

Langley: Highway #1/Langely overpass, 7:30 - 8:30 am. (UPDATE!!!Consolidated with the Surrey action at the 176th overpass - please join Chris's group there instead!)Local coordinator Chris Doucette: 604 307-6346 c. or cjdouce@yahoo.com

Abbotsford: Clearbrook overpass on Highway 1, 7:30 - 8:30 am. Extra signs available or bring your own. Contact Karen Davis: 604 302-6949 or kayceda@mac.com

Interior & North

Kamloops: Sahali & Columbia St. intersection, 7:30 - 8:30 am. Parking in Superstore & Sahali Mall. Signs available or bring your own. Local coordinator: Samantha Warden: 250 371-7541 or swarden@gmail.com

Kelowna: 2121 Ethel Street (outside MLA Steve Thomson's office at the corner of Ethel &  Springfield/Cadder) starting at 9:30 am.  Signs available or bring your own. Local coordinator is Lisa Watson: 250 212-4075 c. / 250 762-3076 h. or kellylisa@shaw.ca. Kelowna area residents who can't attend are urged to telephone Kelowna  area MLAs on Oct. 28 to voice support for the MOMS campaign:

• Steve Thomson - Kelowna/Mission: 250 712-3620
• Norm Letnick - Kelowna/Lake Country: 250 765-8516
• Ben Stewart - Westside/Kelowna: 250 768-8426

Vernon: Polson Park at the Fountain (32nd Street & 25th Avenue), 7:30 - 8:30 am.  Local coordinator is Craeg Pohorelic: 250 260-1758 h. /250-308-9851 c. or craegp@shaw.ca or craeg@noyfss.org

Merritt: Corner of Vogt & Nicola (across from 7-11), from 7:45 - 8:45 am. Local coordinator Lynn Krausert 250 315-8118 c.

Prince George: 770 Central Street (MLA Pat Bell's office - across from Spruceland Shopping Centre), from 7:30 - 8:30 am. Local coordinator Milanka Pavlic: 250 552-2040 c./ 250 596-1407 h or mpfortuneaw@hotmail.com or Heather Allison 250 962-9680

Invermere: Local coordinator Susan Kurbis: 250 342 3056 h. or susan_kurbis@hotmail.com.

Questions/info about locations or to register additional groups: Cyndi Gerlach, 604 987-6608 h./604 831-6608 c. or MomsOnTheMove@telus.net 

Children's cuts - in the media:

Kelowna Daily Courier: Parents of autistic children not giving up

The Tyee: In BC, suffer the children: Premier Campbell's forgotten promise to BC's youngsters with special needs

The Medical News: Health Sciences Association: BC's autism cuts not good for kids

Langley Times: Strange priorities

Kamloops This Week: The problem is Campbell, Polak don't get it

Click here for more...

Children's cuts - other groups speak out:

Health Sciences Association: Statement

 BC FamilyNet: Letter to Minister Polak

BC Association for Community Living: Press release

BC Coalition for People with Disabilities: Letter to Minister

Burnaby Association for Community Inclusion: Letter to Minister

Provincial Advisor, IDP: press release

Provincial Advisor, SCD: press release

MP Keith Martin: letter of support

One mom's petition re autism cuts: sign here