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In his CBC comments Dr. McDonnell provides clear direction on what is needed to fill the adult service gap in New Brunswick's autism service delivery model "In the past we have had the sad spectacle of individuals with autism being sent off to institutional settings such as the Campbellton psychiatric hospital, hospital wards, prisons, and even out of the country at enormous expense and without any gains to the individual, the family, or the community. We can do much, much better. We need an enhanced group home system throughout the province in which homes would be linked directly to a major centre that could provide ongoing training, leadership and supervision. That major centre could also provide services for those who are mildly affected as well as permanent residential care and treatment for the most severely affected. Such a secure centre would not be based on a traditional "hospital" model but should, itself, be integrated into the community in a dynamic manner, possibly as part of a private residential development. The focus must be on education, positive living experiences, and individualized curricula. The key to success is properly trained professionals and staff." An enhanced autism specific group home system throughout the province with a major center, providing ongoing training, leadership and supervision, as recommended by Dr. McDonnell is exactly what is needed to fill the gaping gap in New Brunswick's autism service delivery. Autism advocates, including me, have advocated for enhanced autism specific group homes and a center for several years but government has not responded. In New Brunswick, parents, politicians and civil servants stepped up to the plate and became a leader in helping autistic children. Surely we can do the same for our autistic youth and adults. Surely we can provide decent, secure, modern living environments for our vulnerable autistic youth and adults in need. |
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In ASAT Responds to Canadian CBC's "N.B. Can Be a Leader in Autism Services" New Brunswick, Canada was recently described by David Celiberti Ph.D., BCBA-D, President Association for Science in Autism Treatment as being a leader in the provision of autism services.