This Friday is Earth Day. Eating local, in season foods is one of the best ways to benefit your health, help the earth and reduce your carbon footprint. But what about organic vs. non-organic? Is one healthier than the other? With so much debate over whether buying organic food is in fact the best option, decisions about food choices can become confusing. Especially when we consider other factors such as food availability and budget. The dirty dozen and clean 15 help to illustrate which fruits and vegetables have the most and least pesticide contamination which can help you make more informed choices when selecting your produce. Check out the following from The David Suzuki Foundation to get the dirty dozen and clean 15 lists and to learn more about the organic food debate.
According to Autism Speaks, Autism now affects 1 in 88 children and 1 in 54 boys. The 2012 numbers reflect a 78% increase in reported prevalence in the last 6 years. This is a growing problem, impacting more and more families each year.
With growing numbers of affected children, wait times in Ontario for assessment and treatment have increased to an unacceptable level. Recently, the Ontario Government made changes to its policy on Autism care in hopes to reduce wait times for those families seeking assistance. While these changes may be beneficial for children aged 2-4 seeking diagnosis and treatment, those 5 and older will no longer be eligible for government funded Intensive Behavioural Intervention services, even if they have been on a wait list for years.
Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) is the application of the principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) in an intensive, highly structured format. It is a comprehensive approach that is used to teach a broad range of skills, such as communication, socialization, self-help, pre-academics, and play. All IBI programs are individualized to the strengths and needs of each child and therapy decisions are based on a comprehensive review of program data. The goal of IBI is to help young children with Autism catch up developmentally to their peers. This means that IBI aims to increase the rate of a child’s learning, to bring their skills closer to those of typically-developing children, to decrease their symptoms, and to prepare them for an appropriate school setting.
The government will be providing a one-time payment of $8000 to families with children 5 and over, however, it is only a drop in the bucket for the amount of money required for this type of vital treatment.
The following from CTV News shows the frustration and abandonment families with Autistic children 5 and over are feeling:
How can you stand up for the rights of the affected families? Let the Ontario Government know that they have gotten it wrong by signing the petition to Oppose the new Ontario Autism Program’s elimination of IBI eligibility for Children over 5.
April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. Occupational Therapists help to provide creative and proactive strategies for managing well at home and in the community for a variety of illnesses and disabilities, including Parkinson’s Disease. The following from The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation discusses some of the many benefits Occupational Therapy provides for those living with Parkinson’s Disease.
April means tax time in Canada! Many, especially those with disability, chronic illness or advancing age, often pay a great deal in out-of-pocket medical expenses each year. While these expenses can add up, the good news is that many can give you a break on your income tax. The following from The Globe and Mail provides a list of 10 medical expenses you may not have realized are deductible. And YES, Occupational Therapy is one of them!
