On Parenting A Non-Verbal Child With Autism

Peter Dawson’s son Adam was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder at a hospital in Ontario when he was two years old. The medical specialist advised Adam’s parents to provide Adam with Intensive Behaviour Intervention (IBI) treatment based on Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). They were told that it was urgent for Adam to access the treatment as soon as possible to enable him to develop to his full potential. Adam's parents immediately applied to the Government autism treatment program. To their shock, they were told Adam was on a waiting list and were advised to seek the treatment in the private sector. So began their experience with Government waiting lists and indifference. They resorted to the private sector at tremendous expense. Eventually Adam’s parents were provided funding to pay for treatment. However, when Adam was five years old the Government officials assessed his progress. They determined that he also had Intellectual Disability Disorder and decided to terminate his funding for treatment.
Fifteen years later, Adam will be leaving the local “Autism Unit” in the public school system. He is on waiting lists for access to day programs and placement in a group home. The average waiting period for placement in a group home in Adam’s region is ten years.
For a country that prides itself on having an advanced economy and being a wealthy member of the G7, the way Canada treats children and adults with severe disabilities leaves much to be desired.
In this book, Peter Dawson describes many of the trials and challenges of raising a disabled child in Canada and the impact it has had on his family. Canada can do better. Canada needs an effective National Autism Strategy that will help provide those who are among the weakest and most vulnerable citizens with the opportunity to live a life with dignity.