As a former academic, I find it very disturbing that in university campuses across Canada, anyone who wants to debate an anti-abortion position is actively being suppressed by representatives of the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) and some graduate student associations. Yet, to my knowledge there is no equivalent anti-pro-choice type of censorship. See this National Post opinion piece to get all the details.

As such, in my opinion, that is not what higher education is supposed to be about. Moreover, do we not have a Charter of Rights and Freedoms that allows us to have differing opinions on issues and a right to religious expression? What is going on?

There is one thing that is certain. It won’t matter where you come down in this debate, you will be criticized. That is a given. While I have always considered myself pro-choice, I am probably closer to the pro-life position as I only think abortion is the right decision if the mother’s life is in extreme danger or the pregnancy resulted from a crime against the woman.

In other words, I do not believe in abortion as a method of birth control after an oops moment. I do not believe in abortion because a pregnancy might interrupt a woman’s career path. Nor, do I believe in abortion if a pregnancy seems inconvenient for whatever reason. In other words, I interpret reproductive rights as also having responsibilities.
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This article is somewhat long because it is about why it is necessary to access help for adults who have an autism spectrum disorder — specifically those with symptoms ranging from moderate to severe. I decided to write it after reading a post by Harold Doherty at Facing Autism in New Brunswick. He asked the blunt question: Who will care for my son when I am dead?

The hoped for answer, no doubt, would be community agencies and society. But, that would only be partly true. Regular readers know I have an adult son with autism as I have written about my family’s story before. See what I have written on this topic here (including our own journey at the bottom of the link).  I know only too well that the truth is difficult to accept when your child or children are young. But, it is a reality I have decided to talk about openly and honestly.

My son displayed severe symptoms from the time he came home from the hospital. He could not suck and he cried nearly 24 hours a day. He would not allow us to cuddle and he would stretch his back when we tried. As a young child, although he did learn to talk by age four, he could not be left alone outside unless there was a fenced yard.  On far too many occasions he would disappear like lightening with me chasing after him down the street.
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Words and related policies come and go in education.  In the last thirty-five years alone, since I have been involved in the field, there has been “discovery learning,” “individualization,” “student centered,” “maximizing potential,” “performance-based,” “competency-based,” “mastery learning,” “ethnocentric” and “ethnodiversity.” And now, coming to you in school boards across Ontario, will be the latest buzz word – ”EQUITY.”Now, let’s just figure out what that word actually means. To me it means that all children will be provided with the same opportunities for learning. That is what equal opportunity means, right?

Wrong. According to Ontario Education Minister, Kathleen Wynn, ”equity” is what we are not doing that is causing kids, usually those who are minorities, to fail in the system and why youth violence is on the upswing. And, can you guess whose fault that is? None other than the nasty Mike Harris. For example, in an article in last weekend’s London Free Press, Wynne, 55 is quoted as saying to a ballroom full of teachers: 

“In 1996, Mike Harris expunged the word ‘equity’ from ministry documents…  [Therefore] we have to introduce that so teachers, parents and kids can function in this diverse society.”

Well, I was working for a Mike Harris MPP at that time, who also happened to be a Parliamentary Assistant to the Education Minister. I read every curriculum document that ever passed his desk and I don’t remember anything about that. In fact, the whole idea is ridiculous. And, the notion that words on a curriculum document’s page can change how people in our society function is extremely naive and simplistic. 
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