November 19, 1999
(Health and Community Services)

The following statement was issued today by Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Health and Community Services. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I would like to remind honourable members that while tomorrow is National Child Day this government is committed to children and families every day throughout the year. In recent days we have seen the opening of family resource centres on the Northern Peninsula and here in St. John's, under the National Child Benefit Reinvestment Plan and more will open in the coming days. This week, in keeping with Addictions Awareness Week we sponsored a conference in Labrador on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome to raise awareness about that preventable condition. Yesterday, I announced the formation of a Teen Tobacco Team to help address the issue of youth smoking. As well, yesterday, the federal government announced the launch of a pilot project in the southwestern region of the province which will look at the ways pre-school children learn and develop physically, emotionally, socially and cognitively.

Today, I am very pleased to inform honourable members of our continued commitment to children by announcing the commitment of more than $2.2 million, over the next three years, for autistic children in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and can occur in as many as one in 500 individuals. While it is more prevalent in boys than girls, it knows no racial, ethnic or social boundaries. Family income, lifestyle and educational levels do not affect the chance of autism's occurence. Children and adults with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. The disorder makes it hard for them to communicate with others and relate to the outside world.

Evidence shows that early intervention results in dramatically positive outcomes for young children with autism. To be effective, any approach should be flexible in nature, rely on positive reinforcement, be re-evaluated on a regular basis and provide a smooth transition from home to school to community environments. While a cure for autism may seem unrealistic in terms of today's understanding of brain-based disorders, better understanding of the disorder has led to the development of better coping mechanisms and strategies to deal with the disability.

We have started a two-year pilot project which is an early intervention program for 20 children ages 18-42 months with Autism/Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD). In addition, we have explored other options to enhance autism services in the province and a plan has been approved by Cabinet which includes the following:

1. The Autism Pilot Project will be expanded with additional funding of $55,000 in the 1999-2000 fiscal year; $200,000 in 2000-2001; and $150,000 in 2001-2002. This funding will allow the project to expand to provide services to 15 children between the ages of 43 months and school-age. These children will be provided with Discrete Trial Applied Behavioural Analysis up to school entry at which time their ongoing requirements will be assessed and transition services provided.

2. Funding will also be provided to train professionals in pre-school and school treatment options. The Department of Health and Community Services and the Department of Education will work together to ensure community and education professionals and para-professionals throughout the province receive the appropriate training to work with these children.

3. Funding will be provided to create positions for three child management specialists to provide services to all children with special needs including children with autism.

4. Three professional development consultants through the Department of Education will provide training and transition planning for school entry and exit.

5. An annual grant of $40,000 per year to the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador which will be used to help them establish a provincial office and a one-time $20,000 grant for a needs assessment for adults with autism/PDD.

I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador, for their work with community leaders and the private sector and particularly Joyce Churchill, president of the society. I would also like to commend Carolyn Forsey, parent, advocate, and autism consultant for her efforts to raise awareness of autism in this province. Today's announcement means that autistic children in Newfoundland and Labrador and their families will receive help, training, and support which otherwise may not be accessible to them.

There are many other departmental initiatives currently underway to help children in our province. For example, we are moving forward on the Child, Youth & Family Services Act and during the fall sitting of the House I intend to table new legislation to govern adoptions in the province. We are investing in many areas of need for our children and we will continue to do so through our National Child Benefit.

This has been a busy week. This morning I had the pleasure of serving breakfast to children at the Froude Avenue Community Centre. We are celebrating Addictions Awareness Week and we are also celebrating Early Childhood Education Week. I would like to thank the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Newfoundland and Labrador who today have provided me with blue ribbons to distribute to all MHAs with the hope that you will all recognize and celebrate National Child Day tomorrow.

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BACKGROUNDER
Pervasive Development Disorders (PDD)/Autism

Pervasive Development disorders (PDD) are characterized by severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development so when professionals or parents are referring to different types of autism, often they are distinguishing autism from one of the other pervasive developmental disorders.

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and can occur in as many as one in 500 individuals. While it is more prevalent in boys than girls, it knows no racial, ethnic or social boundaries. Family income, lifestyle and educational levels do not affect the chance of autism occurring. Children and adults with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. The disorder makes it harder for them to communicate with others and relate to the outside world.

Evidence shows that early intervention results in dramatically positive outcomes for young children with autism. To be effective, any approach should be flexible in nature, rely on positive reinforcement, be re-evaluated on a regular basis, and provide a smooth transition from home to school to community environments. While a cure for autism may seem unrealistic in terms of today's understanding of brain based disorders, better understanding of the disorder has led to the development of better coping mechanisms and strategies to deal with the disability.

Other PDD's include Asperger's Disorder which is characterized by impairments in social interactions and the presence of restricted interests and activities with no clinically significant general delay in language and testing in the range of average to above average intelligence. PDD-Not Otherwise Specified (commonly referred to as atypical autism) maybe diagnosed when a child does not meet criteria for a specific diagnosis but there is a severe and pervasive impairment in specified behaviours. Rett's Disorder is a progressive disorder which, to date, has only occurred in girls. There is a period of normal development followed by a loss of previously acquired skills, loss of purposeful use of hands replaced with repetitive hand movements beginning at the age of 1-4 years. Childhood Disintegrative Disorder is characterized by normal development for at least two years and then a significant loss of previously acquired skills.

1999 11 19 11:25 a.m.