Media Group Reliable Website Hosting | Professional Emails | Affordable Domains connectivemediagroup.com ALWAYS FREE! APRIL 2019 | ISSUE 12 PG 1 Spring Swan - Credits to Steve Donnelly Enroll Now ! • Personal Support Worker • System Controls Specialist • Power Engineering Techniques CLASS 4 Call Continuing Education Classes! 519-633-2030 Sign up now for Continued Education to arrange a Classes campus tour! St. Thomas/Elgin Regional Campus 120 Bill Martyn Parkway E: [email protected] St. Thomas, ON N5R 6A7 https://www.fanshawec.ca/about-fanshawe/ Tel: 1-519-633-2030 campus/st-thomas-campus APRIL 2019 | ISSUE 12 PG 3 CHANGES TO AUTISM PROGRAM DRAW PROTESTS By Elgin Life Staff costs tens of thousands of dollars per year. then it would shift to $5,000 per year). that MacLeod had previously engaged in dangerous rhetoric with the organiza- There have been protests aplenty since In other words, the controversy stems Thanks to the province-wide protests, tion, allegedly saying to the group that Lisa MacLeod, the provincial govern- from the amount of funding – and the way these figures will be increased, and in if they didn’t support the new program, ment’s Minister of Children, Community funding will be handled – under the new some cases doubled. But even still, the and Social Services, announced chang- program. Though the changes were made es to Ontario’s autism program in Feb- in an effort to clear a waitlist of around ruary (and she also garnered additional 23,000 children around the province, the controversy surrounding comments she result, autism advocates say, may be of little made to an autism group, which prompt- help to any children. The reasoning is that ed many to call for her resignation). while the proposed plan dispenses money more evenly, the result is that treatment At a protest in St. Thomas last month, par- may become unaffordable for most fami- ticipants voiced their concerns, echoing lies, given the high cost of autism therapies. the sentiments of the experts and advo- cates who say the changes to the program, Those therapies include IBI (Intensive Be- whose original budget was $321 million havioural Intervention) and ABA (Applied per year, will result in not nearly enough Behaviour Analysis), which are the recom- support for parents to afford proper treat- mended best treatments for children with ment for their young children with autism. autism. At young ages, children require many hours of therapy (in more severe cas- Protestors – many of them parents of es, up to 30 or 40 hours per week). And the children with autism – gathered outside cost can be significant. That cost may be un- MPP Jeff Yurek’s office to voice their con- affordable with the new changes, critics say. cerns – namely, that the new changes will result in less care – and a lower quality Under the original program announced of treatment – for children with autism. by the provincial government, the family of a child diagnosed with autism at seven As a result of the province-wide protests, years old would be eligible for $55,000 for the government upped the budget, virtually the entirety of their childhood ($5,000 per doubling it to at least $600 million per year. year). But in more severe cases of autism, That announcement came after roughly six that money may run out after six months weeks of intense pressure from parents and or a year, given the high cost of thera- question remains as to how families will they would be in for ‘a long four years.’ advocates. Some of the new changes also pies. That’s not justifiable, advocates say. cover the costs, especially in cases where include the elimination of ‘income testing,’ a child requires more intensive therapy. That revelation prompted calls for Ma- and more services being made available, Under a different scenario under the cLeod to resign. For her part, the Minis- including speech and occupational therapy. original program, given the age differ- The Ontario Association for Behaviour ter apologized on Twitter, saying, in part, ence and need for more intensive therapy Analysis (ONTABA) vehemently opposed ‘This is an issue I take very personally and But even with the doubling of the budget, early in life, a family was eligible to re- the new changes, arguing that proper I apologize if my comments made any- the question still remains as to how families ceive up to $140,000 for a child in treat- care will be out of reach for most fami- one feel threatened or uncomfortable.’ will be able to afford the proper treatments ment from age two to 18 ($20,000 would lies. Meanwhile, it was revealed shortly for their children – treatments that can be received each year up to age 6, and after the autism program announcement MARCH BREAK EVENT AT LONGWOODS ROAD CONSERVATION AREA AND SKA NAH DOHT VILLAGE - STANDING BEAR YOUTH LEADERSHIP CAMP many nations, Turtle Island is the name for Fisher-Abram, a youth from COTTFN, who and corn husk dolls to name a few. Low- North America. The Standing Bear rep- worked with and participated in the Stand- er Thames Valley Conservation Authori- resents showing strength in the face of ad- ing Bear Youth Leadership March Break ty Community Educator from COTTFN, versity. It provides us with a guide in how Camp, the program not only helped her “to Carlyn Johnston, led the youth through we can be resilient as Indigenous youth grow and develop as a leader,” but strength- the nature trails, teaching about medicinal to move forward with our Indigenous ened her identity as an Indigenous person plants and First Nation’s history. “Our histo- values to address the issues that we face. “through cultural teachings and teachings ry and ways of knowing as Indigenous peo- about the natural environment.” Tahlanna ple comes from the land. Environmental During the recent March break, ISWO part- Miskokomon, of COTTFN and Walpo- stewardship is taught to us through our cre- nered with the Lower Thames Valley Con- le Island, “learned many valuable lessons ation story, through our language and our servation Authority (LTVCA) and hosted a throughout the week.” She would “like to culture.” Many knowledge holders, teachers Standing Bear camp at the Longwoods Road see more Standing Bear camps happen and elders joined the youth throughout the - By Carlyn Johnston Conservation Area and Ska Nah Doht Vil- in the future for the benefit of the youth.” week, passing on their knowledge and wis- lage near Delaware, ON. Youth from neigh- dom on a variety of subjects. Wisdom and For many Indigenous people, young bouring First Nations of Chippewas of the Participating in what might seem like small knowledge of community elders and ances- and old, culture is the key to self-identi- Thames First Nation (COTTFN), Oneida cultural activities can actually have a very tors, culture and traditions, are important ty. It’s our culture that reminds us of who Nation of the Thames and Muncee-Delaware big impact. Simply being surrounded by in creating a toolbox of resources to guide, we are, where we come from, and how to Nation attended the camp. There were also your culture can change the way you think, inspire and give strength to Indigenous move forward. Understanding how an- participants from Aamjiwnaang First Na- learn and do. A critical piece to Indigenous youth as they grow to become leaders in cestors before us navigated the waters tion, Walpole Island First Nation and Kettle culture is learning from the land. Through- their communities and across Turtle Island. and land of mother earth can guide us in and Stony Point First Nation in attendance. out the March Break Indigenous Youth making good life decisions in the present. Standing Bear Leadership camp at Long- To learn more about the Standing Bear The Standing Bear Youth Leadership Pro- There are many community programs woods Road Conservation Area, there were Youth Leadership Program and fu- gram was developed by Indigenous Sport across Turtle Island working to connect a variety of teachings of culture, with a fo- ture Standing Bear Youth events, visit and Wellness Ontario (ISWO) in consul- youth with cultural education. The Stand- cus on Traditional Ecological Knowledge. www.iswo.ca or contact Carlyn John- tation with 550 Indigenous youth across ing Bear program was created by Indige- The Standing Bear youth made their own ston at [email protected]. Turtle Island. For Indigenous people from nous youth, for Indigenous youth. For Cora hand drums, bird houses, paintings, pottery APRIL 2019 | ISSUE 12 PG 4 RESILIENCY EVENT SHOWCASES INSPIRING BUSINESSWOMEN By Elgin Life Staff their stories of resilience – both per- who grew up on her family’s coffee farm sonally and professionally – as they (which has spanned four generations). In March 8 marked International Women’s have started or grown business- St. Thomas, she has poured her passion Day, and in Elgin County the month in- es and/or non-profit organizations. for coffee into two ventures as co-own- cluded a celebration of women in busi- er and coffee roaster of Las Chicas del ness, including a special event on March Among those sharing their stories were Café and Streamliners Espresso bar. 21: ‘A Walk in Her Shoes: Stories of Re- Maria Fiallos (Las Chicas Del Café and siliency,’ which was hosted by the Small Streamliners Espresso Bar), Jazz Stad- Staddon has persevered through humble Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) and don (The BROW BOSS and all that Jazz), beginnings, growing up in poverty, to held at the Princess Avenue Playhouse. Stephanie Brown (Living Alive Granola), launching a successful business as a sin- and Kelly Franklin (Courage for Freedom).