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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Hamilton, Ontario - October 29, 2021
T/W – Mention of alleged assault of a child
We are horrified and heartbroken over recent news that the owner of a Bowmanville learning centre has been charged with allegedly assaulting a non-speaking autistic student.
As parents and caregivers, we trust our loved ones will be safe with the people they are working with. Unfortunately, incidents like this make us all too aware of how vulnerable they really are.
For years, Balance Support and Self Care Studios has advocated for the regulation of ABA therapists in Ontario to protect families. So, we were grateful when the government announced in February 2021 that plans to regulate ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis) were finally underway.
On April 27, 2021 the government introduced a bill (Bill 283, Advancing Oversight and Planning in Ontario's Health System Act, 2021) which would establish ABA as a new profession under the College of Psychologists of Ontario (CPO). This bill received Royal Assent this past June and CPO has started to draft the regulations and changes that will be necessary before the Act can be fully proclaimed.
While regulation of ABA is coming, it will still take time. Meanwhile, parents and caregivers are left having to do their due diligence and hope that their children will be safe.
Being parents of children with diverse needs ourselves, we encourage families to seek services and supports from qualified providers, ask questions and to please reach out to us if they need more guidance and information.
For more information, please contact our team at balanceSSCS@gmail.com
Balance Support & Self Care Studios was created with parents and caregivers of individuals with diverse needs in mind. We recognize the value of the staff and community. We are committed to striving for excellence through inclusiveness, team collaboration, quality of services, and the participation and contributions of volunteers and community members. To learn more, please check out our website
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