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Monthly newsletters are located at the bottom of this page.

CO-OP Membership

VSCA has a membership with Peninsula Co-op. VSCA members can present the co-op membership number when making purchases at any of the Peninsula Co-op or Save-On Gas locations, and the dividends will go to VSCA to support the programs members use (approximately 5% of all purchases made). There is no need to show a member-ship card, simply give our co-op number:

Co-op Membership number: 24851

Here are the locations in Greater Victoria. It might be a good idea to send to everyone you know. Please mention to everyone to visit the website for all the details as it applies to gas, oil purchased for home heating, food purchases, and more. http://www.peninsulaco-op.com

* Co-op Food Centre * Keating Co-op Gas Centre * Brentwood Co-op Gas Centre * Pat Bay Highway Co-op Gas Centre * Royal Oak Co-op Gas Centre * Langford Co-op Gas Centre * Millstream Co-op Gas Centre * Duncan Co-op Gas Centre * Home Heating * Commercial Cardlock * Deep Cove Save-On Gas * Gorge Road Co-op Gas Centre * Sidney Co-op Gas Centre * Wilkinson Road Co-op Gas Centre

Student Video

This video was a student film production. It provides a brief look at Autism and Families.

Governments of British Columbia and Canada Announce $2 million for a Chair in Autism Research and Intervention at SFU
October 24, 2007 VANCOUVER - ACT’s 2nd Annual Focus on Research event on October 20, 2007 was chosen by government to announce that Simon Fraser University has been awarded the honour of hosting the first government funded chair in autism research and intervention in Canada. The Minister of Children and Family Development, the Honourable Tom Christensen, and Port Moody Westwood Port Coquitlam MP, James Moore, on behalf of Federal Minister of Health, the Honourable Tony Clement, announced their decision to an audience of 200 autism family members, researchers, practitioners and professionals who were gathered at SFU's Wosk Centre for Dialogue on Saturday. "The Chair in Autism Research and Intervention that will be established at Simon Fraser University is an important step toward improving treatment and intervention options for children and youth diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and their families," Christensen told the crowd, adding that "it will contribute significantly to the body of research on the most effective ways of helping children reach their own unique potential."

In The Press:

Living With Autism.

More News from Autism Society Canada.

Lifetime Plans for Special Needs Dependants

New registered disability savings plan will be available in 2008; Plan helps parents save to ensure long-term financial security of a child with a severe disability, The Ottawa Citizen (May 30, 2007) The One Thing You Need To Know As a generation of people with disabilities outlives their parents, Canada has become the first country in the world to respond to this global phenomenon. The Expert Panel on Financial Security for Children with Severe Disabilities is introducing a new registered disability savings plan or RDSP. The creation of this Disability Savings Plan can ensure a child's financial security when parents are no longer able to provide support. An important consideration for parents and grandparents of a child with a severe disability is how best to ensure that child's financial security when they are no longer able to provide support. In July 2006, the Minister of Finance appointed the Expert Panel on Financial Security for Children with Severe Disabilities. The panel submitted its report, A New Beginning, in December 2006. Budget 2007 acted on the recommendations of the Panel by introducing a new registered disability savings plan or RDSP. "For the first time in history, a generation of people with disabilities is outliving their parents," says Julie Fejes, President, Board of Directors, of Lifetime Networks Ottawa, an affiliate of BC-based PLAN, which has been promoting the creation of a Disability Savings Plan for about five years. "With the creation of the Disability Savings Plan, Canada becomes the first country in the world to respond to this global phenomenon." The RDSP will assist families in creating financial security, providing safe homes, covering the extraordinary costs associated with their son or daughter's disability, and retaining control over their financial security even after their own death. "For it to work, provinces will have to eliminate 'clawback' provisions from their provincial disability benefits," says Ms. Fejes. "Ontario and BC seem favourably disposed to do so." Available starting in 2008, the plan will be based generally on the existing registered education savings plan (RESP) design. An individual eligible for the disability tax credit (DTC), their parent or other legal representative, may establish an RDSP. The DTC-eligible individual will be the plan beneficiary. Canada Disability Savings Bonds (CDSBs) of up to $1,000 per year will be provided to RDSPs established by low and modest-income families, up to a maximum lifetime CDSB limit of $20,000, and will not be contingent on contributions. An RDSP will be eligible to receive CDSBs up until the end of the year in which the plan beneficiary attains 49 years of age.

Registered Disability Savings Plan Some details are still to be released so keep watching the media and if you don't see it soon start nagging your Member of Parliament! It wouldn't hurt to have your financial advisor do some digging for details as well. More on the Tax page.

Autism Specialty Program at Douglas College - Information Update

Douglas College has announced its plans to deliver an Autism Specialty Program within its Child, Family and Community Studies Department. The new program will provide students with Behaviour intervention skills and builds upon content from the Classroom and Community Support Program. This program will also be of interests to people in the fields of infant development, supported child development and early childhood development programs. More

Tax Updates

Tax updates are found on the Taxation page. There is a wealth of information available from many sources, here and elsewhere. We strongly encourage you to investigate all avenues.

WE NEED YOUR INPUT!

Please feel free to submit ideas on what you would like to see on this website. It is your site, not the private forum of the webmaster. In particular, any news you want to share, items of interest, celebratory items - please send them over for inclusion. Pictures & Shared Information are always welcome. We can scan material for posting if needed. Webmaster.

Autism Community Training Society

ACT - Autism Community Training Society holds the provincial contract from the Ministry for Children and Family Development (MCFD) to provide information, training and vital support services to parents across British Columbia who have children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. More info. As of January 25, 2005 the qualified service providers list is available on-line. List.

Buyer Beware! Does Your Service Provider have an Authentic Degree?

Since ACT has been managing the Qualified Service Provider List, now called the Registry of Autism Service Providers, they have developed a process to confirm the qualifications of new applicants for the list. There is also good advice on what to do, and how, if the service provider fails to deliver what was agreed on. More

Special Needs Inclusion in the Schools

The Lynn Johnston comic strip "Better or Worse" has a new subplot involving children with special needs. Our archive on this theme can be found here. Our thanks to Universal Press Syndicate and Ms. Johnston for their support and kind permission to reproduce this fine work here.

The Motion Picture Theatre Associations of Canada and the National Advisory Council of Disability Organizations have developed a program that will provide discounted admission to the support person accompanying a person with a disability to member movie theatres across Canada. More.

Also, VSCA is occasionally offered pre-release movie passes. Watch for notices emailed out from the President (VSCA Members only!).

Local Events

The Vancouver Island Model Engineers will continue to run the rails with their trains on a number of days, in addition to the dream picnic. Many of our kids love the trains, so click on their link to get the dates & times. Please note that this club is a great supporter of children with special needs, so please make your appreciation known when you visit.

Newsletters

2008 January February March April May June July August September October

November December

For newsletters from previous years, please contact the secretary

Other Items

Have you ever wondered what someone with autism might think of people without autism? (This site is humour, not to be confused with fact.)

Where are you on the Autism Spectrum? This short questionnaire opens some interesting and though-provoking questions.

In Memoriam: Ben Kramer

Ben Kramer, a talented photographer living on Hornby Island passed on October 21st, 2005, as a result of injuries from a fall. Many of our members will remember Ben for his kind donation of a number of his photos to our successful 5th Street Bar & Grill fundraiser. He was also active as a marathon swimmer, and in many other areas, living at the family resort on Hornby (Bradsdadsland). While Ben had autism, he did not allow it to define his life and was active in the community and his family, not to mention being an inspiration to all families living with autism. We offer our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. details.

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