Experts On Autism Spectrum Disorders Brought Together To Advise Ministers

    TORONTO, Sept. 20 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government has created a reference
group to advise on the most effective ways to meet the needs of students with
autism spectrum disorders, Education Minister Kathleen Wynne and Children and
Youth Services Minister Mary Anne Chambers announced today.
    "I am fully committed to reaching every student, especially those with
autism who face unique challenges in the classroom," said Wynne. "I'm pleased
to have some of the brightest minds on autism partnering with us to review the
educational supports these students need to succeed."
    The reference group will meet once a month starting today and present a
report to the Minister of Education and the Minister of Children and Youth
Services by the end of January 2007.
    "Our government is building and improving the continuum of services from
the time children with autism are diagnosed right through their school years,"
said Minister of Children and Youth Services Mary Anne Chambers. "This
reference group is an important step to provide children and youth with autism
the support they need to be successful in school."
    The group is composed of 12 individuals from across the province,
including parents, researchers, educators and autism experts. They will be
responsible for:
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    -   Identifying successful education practices in Ontario and other
        jurisdictions
    -   Providing valuable advice and opinions based on their personal
        background and expertise
    -   Finalizing a group report and presenting it to both ministers.
    >>

    Lynn Ziraldo, executive director of the York Region Learning Disabilities
Association and outgoing chair of the Minister of Education's Advisory Council
on Special Education, will serve as reference group chairperson.
    "Students with autism deserve the best education possible," said Ziraldo.
"I appreciate the invitation by this government to join leaders in the autism
community to take a more comprehensive look at what educational practices can
have the greatest positive impact on students with autism."
    There are currently more than 7,000 students with autism in Ontario's
public education system. They face a wide range of challenges in the
classroom, especially in the areas of communication, behaviour and social
skills.
    The new autism spectrum disorders reference group is just one way the
McGuinty government is improving resources and services for children and youth
with autism in Ontario. Other initiatives include:

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    -   Investing $5 million in training through the Geneva Centre for Autism
        for teachers' assistants who work with students with autism
    -   Doubling the government investment to more than $112 million annually
        for services for children and youth with autism and their families
    -   Investing an additional $8.6 million in the autism intervention
        program for 2006-07 to increase the number of children receiving
        Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) by 70 per cent compared to
        April 2004 regardless of their age
    -   Reducing the number of children waiting for assessments by 68 per
        cent since April 2004.

    "We have brought educators, parents, researchers and experts to the table
to help us develop a comprehensive plan that will improve the learning
environment for students with autism," said Wynne.

    Disponible en français

                              www.edu.gov.on.ca
                           www.ontario.ca/progress



    Backgrounder
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       THE MINISTERS' AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS REFERENCE GROUP MEMBERS
    >>

    The Ministry of Education and Ministry of Children and Youth Services
selected 12 individuals from across Ontario to provide their strategic advice
as part of the ministers' reference group on autism.

    Lynn Ziraldo - the chair of the Minister's Advisory Council on Special
Education (MACSE) for the past ten years. As a parent of two sons with special
needs, she has been a Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) member for
25 years. She has been the executive director for the Learning Disabilities
Association in York region since 1985 and serves as a board member with the
Council for Exceptional Children.

    Kathryn Everest - a parent of a teen son with autism, a long-time SEAC
member and a provincial leader for the Autism Society Ontario. She has also
been a consultant for the Canadian Autism Intervention Research Network.

    Dr. Elizabeth Starr - an associate professor in the faculty of education
at the University of Windsor who teaches courses in special education and
autism. Her research includes an examination of parental perceptions of the
education that their children with autism are receiving, teachers'
understanding and knowledge of autism, educational techniques and
interventions for children, and professional development for educators.

    Dr. Raymond LeBlanc - a professor of special education at the University
of Ottawa. His research includes autism, assessment and cognitive development.
Previously, he worked for the Ministry of Education as a clinical consultant,
and was a member of MACSE for nine years and the ministry's Autism Advisory
Committee for four years. He has also taught in Ontario French-language
schools and been extensively involved in teacher training related to autism.

    Dr. Tom Managhan - a psychologist and clinical director for the northern
region of the Ministry of Children and Youth Services autism intervention
program. He has many years of experience in the treatment of children with
autism and in the implementation of the autism intervention program.

    Leslie Broun - a project manager for the Geneva Centre for Autism and a
former autism consultant for a school board. She has worked with children with
autism in both self-contained and regular classroom settings. Her professional
focus includes learning strategies and materials that aid in modifying
curriculum expectations, and teaching to the visual learning style of children
with autism.

    Janice Tomlinson - the superintendent of student services for the
Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board. Her responsibilities include special
education instruction, psychological and social work services, and care,
treatment and corrections programs.

    Susan Menary - chief of speech and language services and head of the
autism team at the Toronto Catholic District School Board. She served on MACSE
for six years and has worked with school boards in a variety of capacities for
20 years. In 1995, she received honours from the Ontario Association of
Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists.

    Neil Walker - senior program director of the Geneva Centre for Autism. He
oversees the services of all departments including preschool, school-age,
adult services and training and education programs. He has worked in the field
of autism for over 30 years designing, managing and implementing programs for
individuals with autism. He has also been an invited speaker at many
international conferences including the World Congress on Autism, Autism
Society of America annual conferences and the Kuwait Autism Conference.

    Margaret Spoelstra - executive director of the Autism Society Ontario.
She is also a team member of the Autism Spectrum Disorders-Canadian American
Research Consortium and an advisory member of the Virtual Experts Clinic on
Autism. In total, she has over 30 years of experience working with individuals
with exceptional learning needs including 15 years at the Geneva Centre for
Autism as a supervisor for the behaviour/communication team and a resource
consultant.

    JoAnne Maltby - executive director of Pathways for Children and Youth, a
mental-health agency in Frontenac, Lennox and Addington counties. The agency
provides a variety of goal-focused services dedicated to strengthening and
supporting the emotional well-being of children and families.

    Jacquie Brown - a senior manager for more than 20 years at Kinark Child
and Family Services, a children's mental health organization. She has over
30 years of experience in children's services and has been extensively
involved in integrated community planning and delivering services through
partnerships.

    Disponible en français

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                              www.edu.gov.on.ca
                           www.ontario.ca/progress
    >>

For further information: Valérie Poulin, Education Minister's Office, (416) 325-2632; Chris Carson, Children and Youth Services, Minister's Office, (416) 212-7118; Tanya Blazina, Education Communications Branch, (416) 325-2746; Paul Doig, Children and Youth Services, Communications Branch, (416) 325-5187; Education Public Inquiries: (416) 325-2929 or 1-800-387-5514, TTY: 1-800-263-2892