02-02-2005, 05:49 AM
http://www.anso.ubc.ca/menzies/mmoms.htm
The MMOMs Manifesto
Militant Moms on the Move (MMOMs) is an ad hoc group of BC parents who came together in 2001 to fight the Liberal government’s broken promises, budget cuts and other mean-spirited policies targeting children and adults with special needs. We believe that:
· A civilized society protects its most vulnerable citizens, especially during tough economic times.
· Cuts that deny people with special needs from achieving their potential and limit their integration in society result in far higher social and economic costs to society in the long run.
· Inclusion and community living are fundamental rights, not privileges. Denying Medicare-funded treatment for disabilities is discriminatory and violates fundamental Canadian values.
Gordon Campbell’s Liberals misled voters and we condemn their dishonesty and short-sightedness in breaking key election promises to adults and children with disabilities and their families:
0. The Liberals promised to put students first, to protect education funding and to adequately fund inclusive education so students with special needs can attend regular classes in neighbourhood schools.
· Instead, Education Minister Christie Clark has effectively cut education spending (Vancouver, for example, faces a 6% overall budget cut for next year, and more the year after).
· Minister Clark eliminated provincial funding for most students with special needs.
· The Liberals eliminated teacher contract provisions that gave some protection to students with special needs. New legislation encourages segregation and excludes these students from accountability contracts.
· Clark’s new funding formulas allow school districts to further cut special education services. Parents, teachers and administrators agree that services are already severely under-funded. Many special needs students are already falling apart, segregated or no longer attending school because of systemic neglect.
1. The Liberals promised to stop the endless bureaucratic restructuring of the Ministry for Children & Families (MCFD), which provides treatment and community living supports for people with disabilities, endorsing a continuum of services provided in a timely manner using “needs based funding”. Instead:
· Minister Gordon Hogg plans to cut the MCFD budget by 23% over three years, which will have a devastating impact on adults and children with disabilities and other vulnerable children and youth.
· With little or no consultation, Minister Hogg has embarked on a massive restructuring of this ministry, offloading services to new community bodies. While this will insulate the minister from accountability for the impact of his cuts, he will still control policy, funding and appoint the boards of these bodies.
2. The Liberals repeatedly promised to provide early intervention for children with special needs, endorsing the BC Supreme Court ruling that ordered government to immediately provide treatment for autism. They also said families should be given a choice of appropriate interventions. Instead:
· Over-stretched early intervention programs like speech and occupational therapy, which can avert lifelong problems, are already being cut for many children with special needs, with far more cuts still to come.
· Alberta and Ontario quickly introduced early autism treatment, but BC’s Liberals appealed the autism court ruling and cancelled several regional autism programs. So many BC children are still not receiving any treatment. The Liberals’ latest plan will require families to pay about $20,000/yr. for treatment.
· Liberal policies have decimated the offices of the Children’s Commissioner and the BC Human Rights Commission, denying families and individuals avenues to fight these wrongs.
If you share our concerns, please let Premier Campbell know by writing him at PO Box 9041, Stn Prov Gov, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E1 or by writing, calling or faxing your MLA.
For more information about MMOMs, please e-mail us at momsonthemove@telus.net
The MMOMs Manifesto
Militant Moms on the Move (MMOMs) is an ad hoc group of BC parents who came together in 2001 to fight the Liberal government’s broken promises, budget cuts and other mean-spirited policies targeting children and adults with special needs. We believe that:
· A civilized society protects its most vulnerable citizens, especially during tough economic times.
· Cuts that deny people with special needs from achieving their potential and limit their integration in society result in far higher social and economic costs to society in the long run.
· Inclusion and community living are fundamental rights, not privileges. Denying Medicare-funded treatment for disabilities is discriminatory and violates fundamental Canadian values.
Gordon Campbell’s Liberals misled voters and we condemn their dishonesty and short-sightedness in breaking key election promises to adults and children with disabilities and their families:
0. The Liberals promised to put students first, to protect education funding and to adequately fund inclusive education so students with special needs can attend regular classes in neighbourhood schools.
· Instead, Education Minister Christie Clark has effectively cut education spending (Vancouver, for example, faces a 6% overall budget cut for next year, and more the year after).
· Minister Clark eliminated provincial funding for most students with special needs.
· The Liberals eliminated teacher contract provisions that gave some protection to students with special needs. New legislation encourages segregation and excludes these students from accountability contracts.
· Clark’s new funding formulas allow school districts to further cut special education services. Parents, teachers and administrators agree that services are already severely under-funded. Many special needs students are already falling apart, segregated or no longer attending school because of systemic neglect.
1. The Liberals promised to stop the endless bureaucratic restructuring of the Ministry for Children & Families (MCFD), which provides treatment and community living supports for people with disabilities, endorsing a continuum of services provided in a timely manner using “needs based funding”. Instead:
· Minister Gordon Hogg plans to cut the MCFD budget by 23% over three years, which will have a devastating impact on adults and children with disabilities and other vulnerable children and youth.
· With little or no consultation, Minister Hogg has embarked on a massive restructuring of this ministry, offloading services to new community bodies. While this will insulate the minister from accountability for the impact of his cuts, he will still control policy, funding and appoint the boards of these bodies.
2. The Liberals repeatedly promised to provide early intervention for children with special needs, endorsing the BC Supreme Court ruling that ordered government to immediately provide treatment for autism. They also said families should be given a choice of appropriate interventions. Instead:
· Over-stretched early intervention programs like speech and occupational therapy, which can avert lifelong problems, are already being cut for many children with special needs, with far more cuts still to come.
· Alberta and Ontario quickly introduced early autism treatment, but BC’s Liberals appealed the autism court ruling and cancelled several regional autism programs. So many BC children are still not receiving any treatment. The Liberals’ latest plan will require families to pay about $20,000/yr. for treatment.
· Liberal policies have decimated the offices of the Children’s Commissioner and the BC Human Rights Commission, denying families and individuals avenues to fight these wrongs.
If you share our concerns, please let Premier Campbell know by writing him at PO Box 9041, Stn Prov Gov, Victoria, BC, V8W 9E1 or by writing, calling or faxing your MLA.
For more information about MMOMs, please e-mail us at momsonthemove@telus.net