WHEN AYN IS COMING HOME.

WHEN AYN IS COMING HOME.

THEY CAN’T TALK OR DON’T WANT TO TALK, OR DON’T KNOW.

They are not speaking about it.

Both Derek Hoare and Amie Van Dyk, biological parents of Ayn Van Dyk (she carries her mother’s surname), have not spoken about the delay.

Some months ago, pre-Christmas 2012, Derek updated us with glad information that consultation with the Ministry of Children assured him that with a graduated process and whatever protocol mechanisms MCFD deemed necessary, Ayn would be returned in the near future, early in the new year.

A PETITION - HELP BRING AYN VAN DYK HOME

A petition by advocates for a 10 year old girl's return to her family cannot affect that transfer of custody. It can however demonstrate the strength of public conviction that the apprehension and foster care of this child was ill advised and inappropriate. Within hours now the goal of 5000 signatures will have been reached. Almost 5000 people believe that Ayn, the ten-year old autistic daughter of Derek Hoare and Amie Van Dyk should not have been removed from parental care on the 16th of June 2011, and given that she was removed, she should have been returned to parental care much sooner than the six months, the 196 days that she has been in government care.

I am asking you to sign this petition. I want you to sign it. I am not the sponsor but merely a supporter of this child's return to normalcy. The petition as of this posting requires 48 more signatures to reach 5000.  Here is the link to the petition site, HELP BRING AYN VAN DYK HOME.

SOME THOUGHTS ON AUTISM

by Ray Ferris

In today’s post, my friend Ray Ferris offers a cautionary and common sense glance at Autism. You may concur with his observations or you may challenge an aspect of the piece. Leave a comment.

“Derek Hoare rightly reminded us the other day that there is no precise definition of autism. It is a description of a spectrum of symptoms, which may have a number of possible causes. Most of the suggested causes are speculative. In the field of autism, as with many other areas of psychology, there are numerous experts with special theories. There are numerous experts who have their own special theories about how to treat autism. So we find that we are in a subjective and speculative minefield, which can completely confuse the parents of a child who has been labelled autistic. Thus it is important to know what we can really rely on and what we cannot.

A RESPONSE FROM DOUG HUGHES

Doug Hughes, Dir Child Welfare

Here is a reply to one of my recent letters to government officials asking for consideration of the Ayn Van Dyk case. It comes from Doug Hughes, the Provincial Director of Child Welfare, and it is written as an official response on behalf of Premier Christy Clark and Minister of Children, Honourable Mary McNeil, though I wrote to each of them separately. So this response can be viewed as the shared perspective of the highest ranking bureaucrats that can relate to the ‘freedom’ of Ayn Van Dyk. If you are dropping in to the blog uninformed, then please know that Ayn is an autistic nine year old who was removed by MCFD following a 3-hour absence from her father’s care. She was playing in her back yard, climbed a fence when daddy wasn’t watching, found a neighbour’s back yard and played there. That was 5 ½ months ago, June 16^th to be precise.  

BEAUTIFUL GIRL

Today I am inserting a poem written by an advocate for Ayn Van Dyk. The author is Katrina Valentino and in this poem she addresses Ayn and she also speaks to child protection workers involved with Ayn's removal from her family and to the continuing custody by the government.  Katrina lives in Staten Island, NY, and this reflects the continental network of supporters that has embraced this 9 year old autistic girl's plight. This apprehension was not in her best interests. It was reckless. It was callous.

'Beautiful Girl'     by Katrina Valentino

UNDER THE GUISE OF GOODNESS

Some days ago I composed a poem to convey the essence of the legalized act of removing an autistic child named Ayn from her parent and home for a reason that cannot be justified to the social conscience. She left her back yard and daddy didn't know where she was for three hours. For that she was taken from him five months ago and one can only imagine what she is experiencing. 

UNDER THE GUISE OF GOODNESS
by Ron Unruh ©

“It’s pernicious” is what I said.
There seems no better word for what they do,
these snatchers guised as guardians.
A pretext it has become, this protection of a child
when the youngster safe and happy is detached
by strangers.

“It’s insidious” I say to portray the taking of a child
without the knowledge of her parents
frenzied and fuming at the abuse of their child
and their own liberties.
What right can squash parental rights with impunity
when due diligence and fairness are derelict
and justice seems a stranger on a democratic soil.

“It’s sinister” I proclaim to parents of all children
because their own fears mount with the mention
of the protectors’ names.
This is not the only child to be taken
for her best interests don’t you see.
Free she was and alert although unpredictable.
She seems a stranger now, deeply drugged but controlled.

Pernicious, insidious, sinister do you now agree
are the appropriate descriptors for her abductors.
She is not at home because she wandered, oh but
she is a precious girl, precocious and autistic
and therefore apt to wander.
This is punishment not protection and perhaps she thinks
that she did something terrible. Why not, since the captors
have never inquired about the health of the family.
Strangers to justice they are – these takers.


Derek Hoare / 778-240-6373 / Facebook: justiceforayn.com
Derek's email: iconoclast_ensues@yahoo.com
Fundraising email: aynsfreedomfund@gmail.com
WEBSITE: www.Justice4Ayn.com
PLEA FOR AYN: http://on.fb.me/pUnuk0
THE PETITION: http://bit.ly/mrfdlE
VISIT OUR BLOG: http://bit.ly/qqO7ig
FUNDRAISING: http://on.fb.me/noNues
DOCUMENT LIST: http://on.fb.me/nQassx   

QUESTIONS THAT CHILD PROTECTION SOCIAL WORKERS SHOULD HAVE ASKED THEMSELVES WHEN RESPONDING TO AYN’S 3 HR. DAY TRIP.

QUESTIONS THAT CHILD PROTECTION SOCIAL WORKERS SHOULD HAVE ASKED THEMSELVES WHEN RESPONDING TO AYN’S 3 HR. DAY TRIP.

(On June 12, 2011 Ayn Van Dyk climbed out of her fenced yard and was gone for 3 hours. She was found by police and returned to her dad who had called 911. On June 16, CP workers took Ayn from her school & then told her father, the primary care-giver. Ayn is autistic, as is one of her two brothers, whom she has not seen for five months)

 

Sincere CP social workers are not unaware of the criticism directed at them by parents and other observers when children are removed from parental homes for reasons that appear insubstantial and unjustified. This note is directed to them, that is, sincere CP social workers. They are the altruists who desire to conduct appropriate protection and family support. The challenge comes when directives from their superiors suggest that in the interest of the child, ask questions later but act first. So a child is removed and the process of inquiry is so prolonged that relationships between social worker and parent cannot help but become strained and unproductive.

DEREK'S PLEA FOR AYN

DEREK'S PLEA FOR AYN
By Derek Hoare

Derek and one of his sons on a hike

My name is Derek I am a single father of three wonderful young children, aged 9, 10 and 11; my youngest two have both been diagnosed with severe autism. Though a constant and challenging struggle, I have done my best to protect and nurture them, as I love them so much and have dedicated my life to their achievement of happiness. My youngest child is a bright and beautiful little spitfire named Ayn. She has and is blossoming so well here at home and has come so far to overcome her obvious disability, she does however continue to struggle and outburst when in other environments, particularly at school.

Ayn is bit older now, still a bright light

Ayn is naive and unaware of the dangers that exist in the world at large, so when on Sunday June 12th she escaped the backyard we were very worried for her safety. With each passing moment the likelihood that something terrible had happened increased, as Ayn should stand out from other children easily and should have been quickly spotted. Fortunately Ayn was discovered two doors down playing in a neighbour’s backyard; the neighbour had taken an afternoon nap which provided Ayn with the ability to play undisturbed. The challenges I have faced in caring for my daughter have been encompassing and life altering, these challenges are very dynamic and new challenges arise as fast as the old one depart. Now with her discovery of the neighbours nearby trampoline and pool, she will undoubtedly seek to return there, vigilance will be required to face this new found challenge, but it is one which I must now face just as I have with each prior challenge and as I would have to with our future challenges as well. As it stands today I may never get that opportunity.

PUBLIC INFORMATION RELEASE FOR AYN VAN DYK

A Public Information Release for Ayn Van Dyk, Dated: November 11, 2011
            

Ayn, older than this pic, still wants her daddy

On June 16, 2011 Derek Hoare experienced the unthinkable shock of learning that his nine year old daughter Ayn had been removed from her school by the Ministry of Children and Family Services (MCFD). He was informed that the action was designed to ease his load of responsibility but in fact it created an intolerable burden. Four and one half months have passed since their separation. It is crucial for readers to know that Derek continues to provide care for his two sons, one of whom is also autistic and he has never complained to anyone about the complexities or problems of raising three children, two of whom are severely autistic. He has done this cheerfully for years and all three children are happy and thriving.

TAKING AYN WAS WRONG / 606

A Family shot during this past year

Josiah at 7 mo laughing

The Baynes are still rejoicing. All four children have been returned into the arms of Zabeth and Paul. Tomorrow I will celebrate this joyful event with them at a large party. Tomorrow I will close out this GPS campaign for the Baynes with my final posting. 

Today I am commenting on Ayn and her daddy Derek Hoare.

A young Ayn with Daddy

Derek Hoare expresses himself. Have you already noticed? He has a Facebook Page called ‘Help Bring little Autistic girl back to her daddy.’ Thousands of people are members and many of them write comments each day. His lead observations or his responses to others comprise the reading material. It is a busy page. I was going to say that MCFD would like parents like Derek to roll over and be quiet, but almost certainly MCFD don’t care about Derek. But MCFD should care. He has already appeared on more television and radio interviews and online and hard copy news articles than any previous parent whose child has been taken for questionable reasons. And it has only been 45 days or so since Ayn was removed from his care.

This is what he said yesterday, "Just got off the phone with MCFD, Ayn is sobbing to see me, she has been carrying around my picture, and is crying about wanting to see me. So saddening."

DEREK EXPRESSES HIMSELF ON FACEBOOK / 602

I will not presume to speak for Derek Hoare. A reliable account of his thoughts and opinions are featured in his own words in an ongoing string of remarks on a Facebook group page called ‘Help Bring Little Autistic Girl Back to her Daddy.’ Perhaps you have already found it. If not you should. I will place some of the quoted text here as samplers.

Ayn, in care and drugged, vacant look

First, let me introduce you once more. Ayn is nine years old. Two months ago she was removed from Derek’s custody and care by the Ministry of Children (MCFD). MCFD social workers unsuccessfully consulted with Derek and also asked him to sign a voluntary release document which he refused in an understandably emotional dispute. They left his house, went to the school where she was enrolled, and they apprehended her. Since then he has not seen her once. He will have to answer whether this option has been presented to him. I know that he has said he would decline this because he either knows how damaging it could be to Ayn when he must say goodbye, or perhaps Derek himself could not bear the pain.