I recently wrote about a group here in BC that is planning to open an "all-in-one" center for treatment of autism spectrum disorders. It would be the first of its kind in BC and one of only a few such centers in North America. Soon after that meeting, I heard about a separate government initiative with a similar goal, privately pledging $20 million for the construction of a state-of-the-art autism center in BC's Lower Mainland.
As with everything regarding autism, there is controversy on both sides surrounding the plan. From an article by Cheryl Chan in The Province:
Government funding for autism should go to services and programs instead of bricks-and-mortar, says one B.C. autism support group upset over the premier's promise to build a new autism centre.
Gordon Campbell's throne speech committed at least $20 million toward the capital costs of a proposed "centre for autism education and research" that will "provide a residential environment for children with autism and create a national hub for research and a centre for parental support."
Vancouver hoteliers Sergio Cocchia and Wendy Lisogar-Cocchia are drawing up the proposal for the centre. Costs are pegged at about $34 million, with private fundraising to pick up the rest.
A huge point of contention between the project's critics and its creators is the use of money for a state-of-the-art facility instead of the provision of much-needed services. There are currently significant waiting lists (some more than six months) for an autism diagnosis and many areas lack enough qualified speech and occupational therapists to treat those who do have a diagnosis.
I wonder if the Cocchias, themselves parents of a 13-year-old son with autism, expected criticism from the autism community for their proposal. Real estate in the Lower Mainland is very expensive (with even single family homes averaging between $700-$800k in some areas) and I've seen the center's proposed swimming pool and adapted sports programs criticized as excessive. I see both the benefits and the disadvantages of the proposed center and it really made me think about how I would spend $20 million for people with autism in BC.
First and foremost, it's too bad a center like this couldn't be built in conjunction with the private facility I mentioned at the start. From what I've seen and heard of both projects, there will be a lot of overlap and some gaps. An ideal solution for me would include the coordination of treatments between both centers. For example, one center would focus on helping young children with autism (ages 2-6) and the other would focus on adolescents and teens (7-18). The needs of these two populations are different and it is as important to support the growth and inclusion of older kids as it is to intensively treat the newly diagnosed.
I believe the building itself is a key ingredient for the stated goals of the project and that not all therapy can, or even should, take place in private homes. Having said that, if I were in charge I would resist the urge to construct a huge, state-of-the-art facility that would eat up all the funding from the start. In Georgia, my sons went to a therapy center for speech and OT services. The building itself had several small classroom-style rooms that were specially equipped for speech therapy and a gym with loads of sensory and occupational therapy equipment. Eventually, the center also expanded to include an indoor pool for aquatic therapy (which was an extraordinary therapy for my son) and an additional gym. The proposed center doesn't need to appeal to wealthy business travelers, it needs to provide comprehensive services to a population that cannot receive them elsewhere and at a reasonable cost.
I'm also concerned that with governmental funds come governmental constraints. The government currently gives families with an autism diagnosis a list of "approved providers" and funding in amounts ranging from $6,000 per year (for kids 7 and over) to $20,000 per year (for kids age 6 and under). {In most states in the US, this kind of funding is unheard of and you're lucky to get anything.} The list of approved providers does not include some professionals that I consider key in autism intervention, such as resources for families and siblings, nutritionists or alternative-medicine options. And with therapists and consultants commanding between $70 and $120 per hour (or more), the funds don't go very far.
I've been very surprised that some of the interventions we've used successfully over the years are little-known here in BC, including sensory integration therapy (usually done by specially trained OTs) and Floortime. It would be a shame for any center to limit families to only one type of therapy it considers "acceptable" as currently happens with many consultants who are not familiar with (or openly disdain) different interventions. My 'dream facility' would encourage families to use a variety of therapies tailored individually for their child instead of sending them down a pipeline in which they're not allowed to investigate other options.
One thing I would NOT do with $20 million is hire a lot of high-dollar consultants. I'm sick to death of hearing the rates charged by such consultants who never do direct therapy and who expect parents to hire and train a work force of therapists on their own (or who will train them for hundreds or *thousands* of dollars). I know this isn't a popular opinion in some circles, but our kids need empathy, compassion and enthusiasm and they need it for less than $120 an hour! It's possible to find great people from unconventional sources. For example, we live close to a large local high school. I've never understood why these young people haven't been called on to volunteer, intern, or work with kids with autism. And please don't tell me it takes a Master's degree to effectively teach and interact with our children. Anyone with the willingness to learn and the patience to teach can be a terrific resource.
That's not to say that professionals and doctors should not be involved in the setup of treatment plans for our kids, but if that function were integrated into a center, parents wouldn't have to hire a cadre of therapists for their kids or do the therapy themselves as is so often the case.
Peace.
Original source: http://astallings.wordpress.com/?p=198
