Nov 6 rally to save autism EIBI programs
When: Friday, November 6, 2009, starting at 9:30 am
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.
Media coverage of campaign against cuts
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
Thanks for the fabulous support!!
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!
Info Page: Provincial Day of Action
Everything you need to participate or check out MOMs actions around the province on October 28. The more groups and people who join us, the stronger message we send to Victoria, so please contact us at
[email protected]
if you wish to add another location or join one listed below!
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.
Please Join MOMs Oct 28 Actions
Our Oct. 28 Provincial Day of Action is coming together with groups and individual coming forward to support us in urging Premier Campbell to live up to his promise to BC's children by reversing planned cuts and strengthening services .
MOMS needs you!
So far, we have small local actions planned for the following communities. To send a strong message to Victoria, we need more families, more supporters & more communities to join in!!
Pundits, pols, union support Oct 28 Action
Our provincial day of action is getting terrific support from other sectors.
Strategic Thoughts' David Schreck just posted a call for support on his popular blog.
The BC Government Employees Union (BCGEU) will be circulating that in their weekly bulletin to 26,000 members!
And The Tyee , BC's online independent news source, ran our Op Ed prominently over the weekend.
Politicians across the spectrum are also expressing support for families fighting for BC's vulnerable children.
Please send us links to any endorsements or expressions of support that you come across and we'd be happy to share them! And thanks for the great support, everyone!!
Support our provincial day of action!
MOMS needs you!
If you can spare just one hour to stand out in the cold on October 28, you can join parents around the province and help us send a strong message to Victoria: Families expect Premier Campbell to honour his promises to BC's children with special needs!
In 2005, BC Premier Gordon Campbell promised to build the best system of supports for children with special needs in Canada. Despite huge provincial surpluses, he failed to fix major gaps and waitlists for critical children’s services. Now he’s cutting services, like autism programs established after Militant Moms first took to the streets in protest across BC - almost eight years ago to the day.
Militant Moms rally against cuts
Parent groups in Kamloops and Kelowna are organizing rallies to highlight concerns about cuts to children's services this weekend. Please come out and show your support and encourage others to do the same!
Kamloops rally
October 18th, 12:30 pm at Prince Charles Park, on Columbia street and 11th avenue, in Kamloops.
Contact Samantha Warden: [email protected]
Kelowna rally
Show the provincial government that we will not allow them to cut funding to special needs children (EIBI Autism Therapy, Infant Development Program, Supported Child Care Program) without a fight (or at least a rally!).
If you live in Kelowna or Penticton or the surrounding areas we could really use the support this Sunday (the 18th) at 11 am at Kerry Park (The Sails) in downtown Kelowna.
Contact Lisa Watson: [email protected]
MOMS Op-Ed
(The following MOMS Op Ed was sent to BC newspapers today. Feel free to sign on and send a copy to your local newspaper.)
Premier Campbell's forgotten promise to BC's children with special needs
In his government's 2006 - 2009 Strategic Plan, Premier Gordon Campbell outlined five great goals for his Golden Decade. Goal #3 was to 'Build the best system of support in Canada for persons with disabilities, those with special needs, children at risk, and seniors.'
Three years later, Campbell and his Children's Minister, Mary Polak, seem to have entirely forgotten that promise. They've failed to improve supports for children with special needs. Existing systems are being cut, with no effort to resolve chronic service gaps:
MOMS ACTION: Summary of cuts
Tell the BC government that investing in children is a top priority . (Deadline for 2010 Budget input: Oct. 23)
(Please distribute widely, with apologies for cross-postings!)
Vancouver, October 13, 2009
Premier Campbell's forgotten promise:
BC government's 2006 - 2009 Strategic Plan: 5 Great Goals for the Golden Decade:
Goal #3 : ' Build the best system of support in Canada for persons with disabilities, those with special needs, children at risk, and seniors.'
Three years later, the BC government has forgotten all about about Great Goal #3. We've seen no improvements in supports for children and youth with special needs. Existing systems are being dismantled and services cut, with no effort to resolve long-standing service gaps:
- Intensive intervention programs for autism axed, despite overwhelming need & evidence these programs work well & expert advice that direct funding is not an effective alternative for many.
- Parents who effectively manage autism funding forced to switch to Ministry-administered payments . This will create new problems, including delays and higher costs
- Provincial offices that provide direct services including oversight, coordination, training and standards for community Infant Development Programs and Aboriginal IDPs to be axed.
-
Axing of the provincial Supported Child Care office, which was recently created to resolve problems from the lack of oversight, coordination, training & consistency in local SCC programs.
- URGENT NOTE : A month's notice won't allow SCC staff to properly transfer roles. Pls. urge govt to at least extend these roles to March 2010 to permit an orderly transition.