Moms on the Move
16 Nov/09 0

Another week, another rally?

Families were out in the streets protesting against provincial autism policies again last week, this time in front of Premier Campbell's Point Grey constituency office in Vancouver.  The rally was organized by FEAT BC (Families for Early Autism Treatment) along with the group Medicare for Autism and the ABA Support Network.

9 Nov/09 0

Campaign update: Langley, next steps

1. Families gather in Langley to protest Autism cuts

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

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

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:

009 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!! 024

4 Nov/09 0

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.

28 Oct/09 0

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.

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

28 Oct/09 3

Thanks for the fabulous support!!

A beautiful sunrise in Victoria

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!

25 Oct/09 0

Info Page: Provincial Day of Action

BCKids 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.