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NEW WESTMINSTER – A grant of $550,000 to Douglas College means more qualified behavioural interventionists and support workers will be available to help families of B.C. children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), Minister of State for Child Care Linda Reid announced today in launching a new introductory training course in autism intervention and an autism citation program.
“It’s all part of the Province’s commitment to building the best system of support in Canada for persons with disabilities, special needs and children at risk,” said Reid. “By creating opportunities to recruit and train behavioural interventionists – those who work directly with children and youth with ASD – we are building capacity in British Columbia to ensure that these young people are given a chance to reach their full potential.”
The Province will contribute $550,000 towards the development of the Behaviour Intervention Citation and bursaries for eligible students to take the introductory course and the citation. The new program will provide students with behaviour intervention skills and builds upon content from the Classroom and Community Support program. It will also be of interest to people in the fields of infant development, supported child development and early childhood development programs. An additional $57,000 has already established the curriculum for the entry-level course for behavioural interventionists.
“Douglas College is extremely pleased to have the opportunity to create and deliver the autism specialty program,” said Jan K. Carrie, dean of Child, Family and Community Studies. “The comprehensive preparation will allow practitioners to better support individuals with autism spectrum disorder – it will have a great impact in increasing community support for families.”
Since 2000, the number of children and families receiving autism-related services in B.C. has increased dramatically, to about 4,000. Accordingly, the provincial budget for autism funding and intervention has grown from $3.4 million in 99/00 to $34.5 million in 06/07.
Families of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder under age six are eligible for up to $20,000 in direct funding annually to assist with the cost of purchasing autism intervention including planning, speech and physical therapy, behavioural consultation and parent training. Families with children over age six are eligible for up to $6,000 in funding annually to assist with the costs of purchasing out-of-school support and intervention.
“Families have long awaited better
preparation of behaviour interventionists for the challenges encountered when
working with children with ASD,” said Clair Shuman, executive director of the
Autism Community Training Society. “The opportunity for these professionals to
begin on a career path with options and a real future is exciting. We thank the
government and congratulate Douglas College.”
Douglas College’s autism citation program is expected to begin in 2007 while the initial entry-level course will be available online as a Continuing Education course later in 2006. This course will be accessible regardless of geography, and is expected to increase the number of training opportunities available in B.C.
For more information on the Behaviour Intervention Citation program, visit www.douglas.bc.ca or for an inventory of Provincial autism resources visit www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/autism.
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contact: |
Public Affairs Officer 250 356-2939 |
Director, Communications and Marketing Douglas College 604 527-5327 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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