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In the spring of 2003, we were requested to meet with the Executive Director of the Barrie Association for People with
Special Needs and other service co-ordination representation to be told that the Association could no longer
accommodate our son.
Procedures were being implemented to have him admitted to Huronia Regional Centre. It was in July of that year that he
moved to Huronia and we had never looked back until faced with the prospect of him being moved back into a community
setting when only months prior the community did not have the supports our son required. When you have read his
journey and ours as well you will perhaps understand why we are against a move out of Huronia and back into the
community.
At Huronia we are confident that his medical, physical and emotional needs are met and that he is in a safe, caring,
enriching environment which stimulates his growth and development. Just prior to coming to Huronia, he was in a locked
basement apartment by himself and very little staff interaction. When this idea was presented to us, it was our
understanding that he would have his own staff. There was a monitor in the upstairs office (not constantly monitored)
and additional staff could be called upon when required. Jacques had no contact with the other people living in the
home and the time staff spent with Jacques seemed to decrease with every visit. On different occasions we questioned
the degree of interaction he had with the staff. It would appear that most of the staff were nervous working with him to
the extent that his minimal needs were only being met and have since learned that it seemed that on some occasions his
medication was not being administered within safe procedures. When we would go to visit him he would pace constantly.
Let us begin the journey to Huronia Regional Centre and journey none of us want to take again.
Jacques was born in 1970. It was not until he was four years old that he was diagnosed with autism. Even to get to this
point was an exhausting struggle as the family physician kept insisting there was nothing different about even though he
had made no attempt to talk and would go through days of constant screaming. I as a parent knew there was a problem
and finally after four years he was admitted to Sick Children's Hospital for Sick Children where after eight weeks of
assessment he was diagnosed as autistic.
Jacques remained home with his family until he was seven or eight when we simply could not continue coping with his
behavior and his screaming episodes which could last for several days. In those days, there was no such thing as respite
care or Special Services and Home. It was at this time the Children's Aid became involved. He became a non ward which
meant they coordinated services and subsidized cost.
He was admitted to Thistletown Regional Centre for one year. He spent the weekdays at the centre and returned home
every weekend. This meant I travelled every Friday and Sunday from Camp Borden to Etobicoke. This was another
assessment period and Thistletown recommended a privately run group home south of Orangeville.
He moved to this group home where he remained for approximately two years. After several serious incidents, which
involved several hospitalization periods and several complaints by us through the proper channels, the group home was
closed. This did not happen until several events had happened, one of which was a young child left the group home,
which resulted in his death. The owner/operator fled during the night without the staff's knowledge.
From this group home he was moved to Oakdale in Springwater township of Barrie where he remained for approximately
three years. It provided excellent care and seemed to meet his needs at that time. During an outing with staff and other
clients, Jacques darted out into a path of an oncoming vehicle and was seriously hurt with life threatening injuries. He
was in intensive care for one week and another week recovering in hospital. Some group home relief was provided
during this period. Approximately six months after this accident the group home announced that they could no longer
handle him or meet his needs, so he was admitted to Penetang where he remained for a year.
It was at this time that he came under the care of the Barrie Association and was admitted to a youth group home as he
was not yet eighteen. While he was with the Barrie Association, he was moved to four different group homes with several
admissions to Penetang, some of which were months at a time. In fact when he moved to the last group home it seemed
that he spent more time in Penetang that he did in his home.
There is a common thread throughout his life. When a group home could not accommodate him, he was moved. At
Huronia, they have the support and experience.
During his stay with the Barrie Association, he had several admissions to Royal Victioria Hospital. Jacques requires
frequent blood work and this would be a traumatic experience for him which would involve several staff accompanying
him. With the assistance of restraints, several staff and the hospital guard, the procedure could be carried out. At
Huronia, blood work is completed as a normal routine event with very little or no stress at all on Jacques or staff. He is
cooperative and no longer finds this procedure intrusive.
While in the care of the Barrie Association, his dental needs were a concern as no dentist in Barrie and he could not
make the trip to Toronto, even if there was one available. In recent years, each time he was admitted to Penetang, his
dental needs were noted as a priority. Each time these needs were not met. Within a few weeks at Huronia, he had not
only seen a dentist but he had his wisdom teeth extracted. A trip to the dentist is now routine.
We are so thankful that Jacques is no longer sent to Penetang as it is an institution. Visiting him there was not a pleasant
experience. Someone had to come down to meet you in the lobby and take you up to his floor in a locked elevator.
Jacques was on a ward and anytime we visited him he was constantly pacing. It was here that he seemed to develop
some very unpleasant, unacceptable behaviours. He was known for stealing food from the other clients plates,
consequently it was necessary for him to eat in an isolated area. At Huronia, a plate of cookies can be placed on a coffee
table. He will ask (by gesture, as Jacques is non-verbal) if he can have some, take his cookies to a table where he will sit
and eat. Visiting our son at Huronia is a joy as he is much more relaxed and less anxious. We visit him (a four hour drive
in good conditions) at least once a month. This last visit he laid on the couch, listened to our conversations with staff,
watch television, laughed and giggled. He is now in utopia. He still has his difficult days but don't we all.
Now can you begin to understand why we are against the decision the Ministry has made to class Huronia Regional
Centre and move Jacques back into a community facility, no matter how much planning or how much funding is put into
this move. We have been there and in no way want to return or expose our son to it again. Absolutely NOT!!!
With our twenty four years experience as employees, we are aware of the capabilities and the limitation they have and are
fearful that the decision to move our son and other people from Huronia will result in setting these people up for failure.
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