More than a dozen parents wearing matching t-shirts and bearing a petition with hundreds of names called on School District 43 to work with them to improve education opportunities for their children with autism.
Led by parent Jodie Wickens, the group wants an Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) support worker program modeled after one in Surrey to provide better support for their children.
"We come to you this evening finding we are in crisis," said Wickens,
She said parents find the current system of generalized training for special education assistants isn't as effective as specific ABA training, also called behavioral interventions, and she said children are falling behind.
"We are devastated by the negative impact the lack of ABA programs is having in our district," she added.
The group said SD43 could develop an ABA Support Worker classification similar to one developed in Surrey, where by SEAS are required to have 1,000 of supervised home or specialized college training with an ABA Behaviour Consultant.
REINFORCING LEARNING
Applied Behaviour Analysis is the process of breaking tasks into small teachable parts and then reinforcing the learning, and according to research provided by the group, is better than more generalized programing for improving students' reading, academics, social communication and adaptive living skills.
Wickens said parents get funding from the province for ABA support for their children when they are young and want similar support once their children enter public school.
"Consistency is key," Wickens said, adding later that her son is young and she is acting as his "voice" to ensure he gets the best education possible when he enters school.
"We compel the board to listen to our plea this evening," she said.
According to the group, the program could be developed in collaboration with parents and wouldn't cost the district any additional funds because SEAs pay for their own training.
In Surrey, which began developing the program in 2001 and revamped it in 2006, some 120 ABA trained support workers are in place and parents can request them. "Every year we add 20 more," said Nancy Walton, a Surrey parent and teacher who is helping the group with their efforts to get ABA in School District 43.
Wickens acknowledged it will take awhile to get such a program up and running in SD43, where 365 students have an autism designation, but said parents are desperate to get it started.
"The conversation needs to be started and that will take a little bit of time," she said.
