GIANT STEPS VANCOUVER SEEKS GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE

Coquitlam, BC, Canada 26-FEB-02 - Giant Steps Vancouver, facing closure of its therapeutic centre for young children with the neurological disorder known as autism, has asked the provincial government to take immediate steps to keep the program going and, in doing so, ultimately bring substantial cost savings to the provincial treasury.

In a letter to Premier Gordon Campbell, the Greater Vancouver Giant Steps Society says it has raised and invested more than $1 million to develop and deliver the Giant Steps Centre program here over the last 2.5 years.

If we can assume that during our 2.5 years of operation we have enabled one child to remain within the family unit then we have potentially saved government and taxpayers more than $9 million," the letter says. That number
reflects costs per student of $50,000 a year for a permanent teachers aide, compared with the $29,000 per student cost of delivering the Giant Steps therapy, and an annual cost of $150,000 to keep a child in a group home for the rest of his or her life.

In the letter, signed by Society President Susan Marcoux, the Society says: We recognize that government is looking for ways to partner with the community to achieve cost savings, and we offer our program as the perfect opportunity to
achieve this goal." A supporting submission adds:

Without immediate financial support, we are facing imminent closure of this much-needed service. The burden of responsibility for ensuring medically necessary treatment will fall solely on the Ministry of Education, and other
ministries associated with the care of special needs children in our society. Schools will bear the full time responsibility for the education of these children as well as other children who would benefit from this program in the future.
The goal of maximizing the potential of these children will not be recognized and will certainly result in full government support as they reach adulthood."

We are in critical need of funding to avoid closure of this extremely effective facility."

The Giant Steps Centre, which opened in leased portable classrooms in School District 43 in September 1999 to help young children and their families cope with the challenges of autism, has been fully funded from the start by parents,
donors and fund-raising activities. Fund-raising efforts have not been able to produce sufficient revenues this year to ensure ongoing operation.

It would be a shame to see this facility closed," said Marcoux. The investment of money, time and energy to assemble our staff and have them trained by the Canadian developer of the unique and highly-successful Giant Steps therapy
will be lost. And worst of all, the children, parents and school districts whove found some very real help through Giant Steps will lose this vital program."

Marcoux noted that the province apparently anticipates having a funding option available to assist parents of children with autism by June.

The Hon. Linda Reid, Minister of State for Early Childhood Development, has said that an inter-ministry committee is working on a joint strategy for an integrated and comprehensive service and support structure for children and youth with autism, but Marcoux said immediate action is needed to ensure the Greater Vancouver Giant Steps program continues until then.

Giant Steps Vancouver has received no direct financial support from the provincial government. It has found several school districts to be cooperative, but none has provided any direct financial resources, even though the Giant Steps
program has brought some classroom relief to schools in the eight districts that are home to the 14 children currently enrolled.

The Giant Steps Centre is located at Millside Elementary on Schoolhouse Road in Coquitlam. It delivers a comprehensive educational and therapeutic program for children with neuro-integrative dysfunction, including autism - children who may have developmental delays in areas of complex language skills, motor skills,
auditory and visual processing, behaviour and social skills and higher cognitive thinking.

The therapy was developed by Darlene Berringer, who established Giant Steps Montreal in 1984. The Greater Vancouver Centre is a satellite of the Montreal centre which is funded by the Quebec Ministry of Education as the Canadian Institute for Neuro-Integrative Development.

The program and its founder have been recognized with a Governor-Generals Award for service to the community in autism and with a Hilroy Fellowship Award from the Canadian Educators Association for outstanding work in
innovative teaching methods.

The Greater Vancouver Centre provides a safe, secure learning environment with unique teaching methods designed for children with Autism. Students attend Giant Steps on a part-time basis, spending up to four days a week in Giant Steps and the other school days in their home public schools. The program focuses on mainstream integration with the public school system.

Further information on the Giant Steps Vancouver program is available at the societys website at http://www.giantstepsvancouver.bc.ca or from Society directors who can be reached at info@giantstepsvancouver.bc.ca

Contact: Susan Marcoux (604) 529-1920