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5 of the 6 Realize Community Potential Program Coordinators are now in place and working hard. Please join us in welcoming to the Autism Ontario family:
London – Jane Brenneman
Niagara – Karen Stoner
Thunder Bay – Loni Rudnicki
York Region – Rose Ann Punnett
Durham Region – Shona Vincent

The search is still on for a Coordinator for the Ottawa position. If you know of anyone who might be interested, please pass along that the job posting is on our website. We are accepting resumes until January 8, 2007.

Both social and learning opportunities are already being booked in each of these communities. Autism Ontario membership is not required to participate in RCP activities, so go ahead and spread the word to all of your friends in the ASD community. More information about the Realize Community Potential (RCP) Program can be found on our website.

Special Education Transformation – Autism Ontario’s Response

In May 2006, Special Education Transformation: The report of the Co-Chairs with the Recommendations of the Working Table on Special Education was released to the public. In November 2006, Autism Ontario Special Education Advisory Committee Representatives from across the province came together and decided to formulate a response to this document. The result was a coming together of Provincial Office Staff and Volunteers from across the province. This marks the first time that Autism Ontario has created and submitted a response to such a report without having been invited to do so.

Thank you to the following volunteers for all of their efforts in putting this document together on behalf of all of our members: Brenda Hoffman, Carrie Proudfoot, Heather Fawcett, Kathie Shaw, Laurie Davidson, Laurie Pearce, Michelle Dewar, Sheila Waywanko, and Tammy Robinson. The committee worked under very tight timelines, but was able to make this submission to Minister Kathleen Wynne prior to the year end. Congratulations, committee! 

Ministry of Education – Provincial Parent Board

One year ago, the Ministry of Education introduced the new Parent Involvement Policy to create a more welcoming environment for parents in the education system.   The ministry is now accepting applications for membership on a new Provincial Parent Board.  The 20 member board will represent parents from across Ontario. As advisors to the minister, members will play a critical role in ensuring that effective parent involvement programs are implemented across the province.

Provincial Parent Board application packages will be mailed to each school council and school boards across Ontario. The package includes instructions and an application form which is available in the parent section of our web site at http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/.    The deadline for applications is February 16, 2007.  We appreciate your help in ensuring that this information reaches parents in your organization or community.
Attachments:
1)      Call for Applications/Appel de candidatures
2)      Application Form/Formulaire de candidature
If after reviewing the application form or other information you have questions, please contact Jacqueline Barghout in the Parent Engagement Office of the Ministry of Education by e-mail at jacqueline.barghout@ontario.ca  or by telephone at: (416) 314-0426 (Toronto area) OR 1 (800) 361-6483 (Toll free).

Autism Intervention Program Waitlist Survey – Extended to January 8, 2007

Who are eligible to participate in the survey?
The survey can be completed only by families currently on the waiting list of one of the nine regional Autism Intervention Program providers and in receipt of a letter of notification containing an individual code. The survey is available at www.autismontario.com.

Key Messages – Ministers’ Reference Group on Autism Spectrum Disorders, Meeting: December 13-14, 2006

The reference group:
* received a presentation by Dr. Lorna Earl regarding effective large scale change implementation. Discussed this information as it relates to the mandate of the group to identify effective evidence-based practices to meet the wide range of needs of students with ASD
* completed its first synthesis of the sub-group recommendations and began to identify Priorities for Action (i.e., significant, short term practices/programs/services in relation to the major themes of:

• Assessment and Identification
• Program, Curriculum, Practices
• Research, Evaluation, Accountability
• Services and Placement Options (including service integration)
• Transitions
• Knowledge Transfer and Training