Parents battle bureaucrac Family wonders why it’s taking so long to get help for Michael! SHOULD a family spend $50 a weck on diapers for their disabled cight-year-old son, or should they buy him food? Thal’s the choice Todd Campbell and Linda Lascelles gave the children and families minis- try, and it’s-one they don’t think they should ‘have been given, , The couple suddenly gained custody of Todd’s two children in December. His ex-wife had decided she couldn’t care for Michael, and four-year-old Jessica any longer. ‘Michael is visually impaired, mentally - delayed and has cerebral palsy. He speaks few _ words and. can’t sit up for longer than 15 - minutes, ' “Hfe’s nota real sick child,’ said Linda, ‘‘He doesn’t need to be tube fed and he doesn’t need medication.” She docs however spoon feed him. Elnda and Todd moved to Terrace last May, looking for work. However with the Skeena Cellulose troubles, their timing wasn’t good. They're both ‘on employment insurance now, but Linda won’t go back to work until Jessica is old enough to go to school. When they learned the two children would be living with them, Linda and Todd tried to find a larger, ground floor apartment in their southside apartment building. But they were told only a two-bedroom, second floor apartment was available -—-in a building with no elevator, There’s barely cnough room in their modest apartment for Michael to sit at the kitchen table in’ his wheelchair. And slender five-foot tall Linda finds it nearly impossible to move both hint and his wheelchair up a flight of stairs. But they can’t afford a bigger place right now. Just recently they were given an emergency sum TODD CAMPBELL and Linda Lascelles with Michael and Jessica, of money when they told the children and families ministry they couldn’t kecp Michael in diapers and feed him as well, Linda and Todd are hoping to qualify for an “at home’’ program which will pay their son’s medical expenses and any additional items a ‘typical’ child wouldn’t need, But they were told it takes at least three months before that money comes through. They hoped to avoid that expensive waiting period by having Michael’s files sent ahead to doctors. ‘But they actually have to lay eyes on him and assess him’’ said Linda. “The thing is he was getting help in Ontario,” said Todd. ‘‘Why can't they just fax (his files) over to BC?” It’s not just the adult-size disposable diapers used by Michacl thal get expensive, Linda estimates she spends about $150 a month on laundry, because Michael often wets his bed or his clothes, ‘Ail these other expenses are killing us,” she said. Both the local Lions club and the Harley owtlers’ group have helped out, she said. The service group bought the couple much needed items like beds and dressers and gave them money for diapers and formula. Still, they don’t get a night off, or any other respile care. Even taking the whole family on a picnic is a chore. That’s because the couple own a Ford Escort. Between Michael’s wheelchair, his special car set, and Jessica, Linda says there’s not much room for anything else but a few grocery bags. Todd would like ta take the family camping this summer, because he wants Michael to expe- rience activities that other children de. “Bul we can’t do that. Where would we put the tent, the cooler?” asks Todd. Gelling more suitable transportation for Michael is high on his priority list but for now the family is just hoping to be able to afford the basics, Child advocate recommends more money to help families EIGHT families in Terrace and Stewart with special needs children aren't receiving the help they need from the children and families ministry. Thal’s what Lisa Johansen of the local branch of the Family Support Institute says. The institute is a non- political organizalion which provides support to parents of special needs children, In Terrace Johansen says the problem is that new families moving bere aren't able to get access to the services they need. In Stewart, families have simply been told there isn’t enough money to help them. “] can’t imagine what a‘parent with an autistic child in Stewart would feel like,’’ said Johansen. She thinks the children and families ministry is too large to be able to efficiently help families in need. “The community has to know how serious this is,’’ said Johansen. She thinks the NDP government hasn’t lived up to its commitment to families made during the last election. “Took al what foster parents get compared to parents,”’ she said, ‘The money’s got to be there. If they put their kids in foster care it would be there, “The government came up wilh 40 million to bail aut SCI,” she said. ‘“Why not spend a few million to bail out families?’* Margot Van Klceck, head of the Terrace Child De- velopment Centre, doesn’t know why parents of special needs children aren't getting the help they need. The centre provides help lo pre-school age special necds children. “T don't know if you can blame the staff either,”’ she says of the local children and families ministry office. ‘If their dollars have run out, I don’t think it’s their fault’? Joyce Preston, the government’s appointed advocate for children and youth, fields many phone calls from parents who say the government isn’t doing enough. Preston says she's not sure if the situation in Terrace is any worse than elsewhere, saying she hears crisis storics from across the province, Studies show that every dollar spent when a child ts under the age of five, saves between ‘$7-11 in adolescence "T don't belicve we have enough services dedicated to serving children in a timely way,’’ said Preston. “They need help now, nol two years fram now.” Preston says studies show that every dollar spent when a child is under the age of five, saves between $7-11 in adolescence. “There's very good research being done that shows how we create more expenses for ourselves’? she said. Of Johansen’s claim that foster parents have access to services natural parents don’t, Preston said she'd rather see support given to the family when it’s needed. “Everybody in a community like yours needs to be wortied that children can’t gel services when they need them,’’ she sald. ‘‘And they need to tell the govern- ment thelr concerns.” Preston doesa’t have any power to tell the new chil- dren and familles minister Lois Boone what to do. She can only give advice and speak publicly. Preston will be in Terrace in May, meeting with parents and conummunily organizations. The children and families ministry was contacted, but sues by press time. said it wasn’t able to respond to questions on these is- CHRISTINE COOK feeds Andrew an after-dinner snack. She has to ee do physiotherapy with the baby three times a day in order to prevent him fram having to have his arms operated on. Parents desperate for help IT WASN’T until Christine Cook broke down, fearing she’d have to give her autistic son up to foster care, that she was able ta receive help. Christine and ber husband Monty are parents of three children, Steven, 4, is suspected of being aulistic. Heather, age 2, is a lypical child, while Andrew, 1, has physical disabilities. He was born with con- tracted joints and club fect. The family just moved to Terrace from Ontario in November, but had lived here previously for about a year, They came back here because Monty was transferred in his job as a flight service sta- lion manager. His salary is sufficient but not enough to cover extras. Unfortunately one of those cxtras is $1,000 orthopedic splints which Andrew needs, Christine and Monty can’t afford them and Christine says the provincial medical plan. Knowing they’d need help with the chil- dren, Christine wrote ahead, asking for sup- port services, physiotherapy and speech therapy, Thal way the boys’ care wouldn’t be interrupted. The couple didn’t have any problems In Ontario receiving help they needed, so didn’t anticipate B.C. would be different, However, they learned nothing could be set up in advance until B.C. doctors exam- ined the bays, Steven, the son suspected of being autistic, hasn’t been examined be- cause a qualified specialist only visits here periodically. The next visit is this month. In the meantime the family has been struggling through the layers of the children and families ministry bureaucracy, trying to qualify for help under various programs. “| wish there was one office parents could go to get all the information they need,”? said Christine. ‘From what I’ve seen since I’ve come back here they’te not cutting, back on bureaucrats, they're cutting back on services,’* Monty said of the chil- dren and families ministry. One specific problem is that Christine needs help at home with Heather and Steven while giving Andrew physiotherapy three times a day. . Each of those sessions lasts an hour and are needed to avoid Andrew having an op- cration on his arins. But she isn’t able to devote her full atien- tion to the baby and care for her other two children. “'T was told because the service was to watch Steven and Heather they had to qualify on their own,’ said Christine. Both qualified under different programs — but there was no money available. Monty describes his struggle with the minisiry — saying one bureaucrat after an- other told him they weren't allowed to make a decision or that it wasn’t their area or that there was no money. “It’s ridicufous in the utmost,’’ he said, “IT wish the people at the top could sec what's happening,”’ He said foster parents are able to get whatever help they necd, and doesn’t un- derstand why natural parents don’t receive the same service. ‘We love our children, we just need some help,’’ he said, Christine said the family docs qualify for a child care subsidy but that it was up 10 her to find qualified help, and she couldu’t find anyone willing to take the job, “Who's going 10 drive up twice a day for just over $11 a day for specialized care,”' she asked? Dropping Heather off at a day care wasn’t an option, since the family only has one vehicle, which Monty drives to work, Finally, while taiking to a sympathetic public heaith nurse she broke down one day, “I told ber I’m cither gong to end up in the hospital or Steven’s going to be put in foster care,"’ she said. Al thal point the family was deemed to be in crisis, and money was found for a sup- port worker to visit three times a week for two hours, te help Christine. Still, Andrew had gone for about three months without getting regular physiotherapy. The physiotherapy only takes an hour and after that Christine can shower or even ga out for a walk while the support worker looks after the children. Aside from going out for coffce oc- casionally, that’s the only break Christine gets. Monty slips out for darts on Wednes- day nights, but otherwise they're busy look- ing after the children. “We have cnough challenges without having 1o fight the government to provide services that should be basic human necds,”’ said Monty. Christine doesn’t understand why the government isn’t more willing to spend money to help Andrew and Steven now, “If they get ignored they'll be a burden on the system their entire lives,” she said. The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, March 4,1998 - AS CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD The Mail Bag Columnist helped show the reality of abuse Dear Sir: ] would like to commend Claudette Sandecki on her column ‘Good Idea to Unmask Violence’’ (Terrace Standard, Feb. 18, 1998). She speaks of the 425 placards, each representing an assault reported. I would add the fact that only one out of six women report and from those thal do report it can take up to seven incidents before they file the com- plaint or call the police. That changes the figures to look more like 425x6x7 (17,850), A shocking number, but a reality for thousands of women and children. IT work in our local Transition House amd to give you an idca of numbers we had 281 women and children Stay at our house in 1995, 314 in 1996 and 379 in 1997, We don’t know if abuse is on the rise or an awarencss of our services is on the increase but we are thankful we're here to help and provide a safe place for women and children to go, when flecing abuse. I agree that the RCMP are in a posilion to educate, however, I too believe it is an individual's responsibili- ty to educate themselves on what abuse is and what there is for help in their own community. Tt can include calling the police when witnessing an assaull, listening and supporling a friend, or providing appropriate referrals — bul it does start with us, the in- dividual. Abuse can come in many forms, some of the more COMMOM are: 1) Physical Abuse — shoving, pushing, hitting, kick- ing, choking, slapping, 2) Neglect — denial of basic buman rights, failing to provide food, shelter, safety, health care, 3 Emotional Abuse —- jealousy, humiliation, name calling, and put downs. 4) Psychological Abuse — mind games, intimidation, threats, and control, 5} Sexual abuse — forced and unwanted touching, in- tercourse, and other sexual acts, 6) Economic Abuse — control of money or property, inisuse of funds, denying partner the right to work. I would like to thank Claudetie Sandecki for speaking to a painful but realistic problem that we all need to work on, and that we at the Terrace Transition House, face daily. If anyone would like more information on what abuse is or how can one help, please call us at 635-6447. We are otalfed 24 hours. Debbie Scarborough Terrace, B.C. _ Release of stats lauded Dear Sir: The Terrace Women’s Resource Centre applauds the decision of the local RCMP to release statistics on domestic violence into the media. We believe that these statistics will inform those who believe that such violence does not happen in Terrace, or who conclude the problem is minimal. Such statistics have already sparked debate on city council and will, we believe, raise awareness and the need for prevention in this area. By releasing statistics the RCMP has taken a pro- -active stance against this very scrious problem in our : community. Congratulations, Karla Hennig, coordinator Terrace Wonten’s Resource Centre Next step is for business Dear Sir: I read in the Terrace Standard that the present K Mart will most likely be turned into a Zellers store. I had also read that peole hoped it would be turned into a Bay store. To me the Zellers idea has merit. If there was to K- Mart or Zellers type store a great shopping void would be created in Terrace to the detriment of all businesses because of the ‘‘regional’’ shopping patterns. But there is a present void that someone should fill . Soon. That void is 4 higher end department store like the Bay, Eatons or Sears. The Terrace business com-- munily loses a lot of regional consumer traffic that still travels to Prince George despite of outlets such as Ca- nadian Tire, Home Hardware etc. locating in Terrace. We are all aware that Terrace is our regional centre for medical, government and business and there is a need to make it an all round regional centre and it can “only be completed by business itsel f, Dave Brocklebank ’ Telegraph Creek, B.C. Pooches pooping in park Dear Sir: George Little park, AKA Library park is a social hub in Terrace, It is used for such a wide variety of social activities, let’s take better care of it. Not only is it not bealthy for other dogs and children, but to me it’s analogous to going to someone's house you've just met and not flushing afler you’ve just been “moved”? yourself. It just ain’t right! So come on, pick up your poop. Some suggestions ] have for this unpleasant activily are: 1) Take along a recycled bag from home every lime you go out for a walk with pooch. There are garbage cans all over the place. 2) Maybe the city could install baggy dispensers around the park, : 3) More of those “‘pick up your poop’? signs would definitely be beneficial, ' 4) This one’s way out there, take pooch somewhere else before you go to the park to poop, Like that neigh- bour’s front yard you secretly hold a grudge against, but do not gel caught. One more thing. My border collie who loves to mn and play games at the park can’l for two weeks now because she slashed her paw om some glass there, Please pick up your litter, too, Brett MacKenzte Terrace, B.C. The Terrace Standard welcomes letters to the editor. Our deadline is noon Friday for the jollowing Wed- nesday’s issue, Our mailing address is 3210 Clinton St, Terrace, B.C. V8G 5R2. Our fax number is 250- 638-8432, We particularly welcome fetters via e-mail. Our e-mail address is standard@kermode.net