FUNDRAISING FOR AYN'S RETURN

This post is my attempt to raise awareness that you as a reader may be able to assist Derek to recover his daughter named Ayn. She is autistic. He has two sons as well, one of whom is also autistic. His close friends observe and believe that he is an able and responsible and loving father. That is his life commitment. The children's mother Aime, from whom Derek is estranged, is still very much a part of the children's lives, and with respect to Derek's care of the children she is in full support. Ayn, however, was removed in June 2011 by the Ministry of Children following Derek's own call for police assistance in locating his child when she left the locked back yard one afternoon. She was located down the street 3 hours later, safe and enjoying a neighbour's yard. The Ministry's and the judicial system's wheels grind callously and cruelly at times. A court date is set for this case in December 2012. Can you believe it? He needs an excellent lawyer. He also needs funds to hire such a lawyer. Many people are seeking to help this cause. Perhaps you will read the options below and consider a gift or some activity that raises monies. Thanks for reading the story.

Fundraising

By Teresa Olvera, Derek Hoare and 5 others in Help Bring little Autistic girl back to her daddy 

We are not quite there to be able to help Derek and Ayn. Please help with fundraising if you can. Bake sales, garage sales and bottle collecting are all easy and fast things to organize in you area. please contact  aynsfreedomfund@gmail.com if you have questions or ideas.

For donations you have the following 4 options:

1:) You can mail cheques payable to Ayn's Freedom Fund to the following address:
Ayn's Freedom Fund
67-13822 102 Ave
Surrey, BC
V3T 1P1

2:) The Fundrazr Donation Page is found here:  http://goo.gl/gJ6Sz

3:) Email funds using www.hyperwallet.com

4:) Or donate directly to the PayPal account at aynsfreedomfund@gmail.com

Please contact the fundraising team at this email address listed above, if you have any ideas in your area for fund raising and would like support. Again thank you everyone for your support and I pray for a quick recovery of my niece.
~Mandy Pelkie~

Any and all proceeds from fundraising will go towards all efforts to Bring Ayn Home. If any funds are remaining after her return,  they will be donated to an Autism Charity of the families choosing.


Freedom for Ayn shirts and postcard packages are available for a set donation:

Postcard Package ~ $7.50 (mailing cost within CDN & USA incl.)
One postcard package contains:

• 1 large size Ayn magnet
• 2 Ayn stickers
• 3 standard size postcards (mailable and w/ story incl.)
• 4 large size postcards (non-mailable w/story incl.)
• 5 citronella wristbands (repel mosquitos)
• 6 Ayn balloons

T-Shirts ~ $15 + shipping costs
T-Shirts are available in Black, White or Beige in sizes S - L (limited number of XL in white & beige) These are sized generously and are 'man style' shirts.

Buy both & Save!!
$20 + shipping for one of each!

HAPPY VICTORIA DAY WEEKEND

In 2012, Victoria Day falls on Monday, May 21.

Victoria Day celebrates Queen Victoria's birthday (May 24th). Canada is still a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, of which the Queen is head.

Victoria Day is always on a Monday, and thus the holiday is part of a long weekend, which is commonly referred to as the Victoria Day Weekend, the May Long Weekend, the May Long, or the May Two-Four (a case of beer in Britain is called a "two-four" and many of these are consumed over the holiday). The weekend is also called the May 24th weekend, although it does not necessarily fall on May 24th. And, the Cloverdale Rodeo close to my home happens on this weekend as well.

The Victoria Day Weekend always falls on the weekend before Memorial Day in the U.S.

The Victoria Day Weekend is the first popular weekend for spring / summer travel. Lots of people open up their cottages, plant gardens, or just get away. Expect crowds at resorts and hotels and busy highways. Fireworks displays are common, especially on Monday night.

Banks, schools, many stores and restaurants are closed on the Monday. Call ahead to find out about other attractions and tourist spots. Public transportation will run on a holiday schedule.

HAVE A HAPPY WEEKEND.

FOR PARENTS: Info & Suggestions - EVIDENCE, MEDIATION, ACCOUNTABILITY & INTERNAL REVIEWS - part

INFORMATION AND SUGGESTIONS FOR PARENTS WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH CHILD PROTECTION AUTHORITIES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
Written by Ray Ferris

Part Four of Four
EVIDENCE, MEDIATION, ACCOUNTABILITY & INTERNAL REVIEWS
Part 4of4

Evidence. 

Evidence:Dilate Peoples by Ezekiel Antoniewicz

The only really valid evidence is factual. Expert opinion is allowed on validation of expertise, but even expert opinion must state the facts on which it is based. You will note under sections 66 and 68 that the hearing may be as informal as the judge may allow, so it is not necessary to be as slavish to process as in criminal court. Section 68 allows a certain amount of hearsay evidence that the court considers reliable. The writers of the act did not intend this section to make the act into a free for all, with no regard for the rules of evidence, but that is what happens. Social workers generally get little training in the rules of evidence. They cannot distinguish between fact, opinion, hearsay and rumour.

FOR PARENTS - INFO & SUGGESTI0NS - How to Help Yourself, Part 3 of 4

INFORMATION AND SUGGESTIONS FOR PARENTS WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH CHILD PROTECTION AUTHORITIES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
Written by Ray Ferris

Part Three of Four
HOW TO HELP YOURSELF

How to help yourself.

There is a lot you can do to help yourself. It helps if you understand the process and what to expect. Any person with a reasonable degree of literacy can research the act. Internet users can simply enter the name of the act (Child, Family and Community Services Act) into a search engine and access it on line and print it. You do not need to know the whole act, but you can quickly learn how some key sections of the act are supposed to work and how they are meant to protect you. You can and should insist on compliance, even if your lawyer wants to be more casual.

FOR PARENTS: INFO & SUGGESTIONS - DO YOU NEED A LAWYER? pat 2 of 4

INFORMATION AND SUGGESTIONS FOR PARENTS WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH CHILD PROTECTION AUTHORITIES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
Written by Ray Ferris

Part Two of Four
DO YOU NEED A LAWYER?

Do you need a lawyer?
There are both advantages and disadvantages to using a lawyer. If you are in agreement with what the protection workers are doing and you have social workers that you can trust, you probably do not need to use a lawyer. You do have a right to address the court, but you may have to insist on being heard. At least it becomes part of the record. Like any other profession, there can be a great variation from one lawyer to another. They all have different levels of experience and expertise in different fields of law. A lawyer does not have to be experienced in family court to take a case and may not be familiar with how family court operates and with important precedents. Lawyers will vary in diligence and perspicacity and in many other ways. A person with expertise in your field may be far too expensive for your budget. Legal aid lawyers may take the line of least resistance and come ill prepared. So how do you decide on a lawyer?

AMIE'S VISIT WITH AYN WENT BADLY

Today, May 16, 2012, Amie van Dyk, Ayn’s mother has a regularly scheduled visit with her daughter who has been in Ministry care since June 2011. Ayn is autistic as most readers know. Many supporters of Amie and Ayn’s father Derek Hoare believe that it was unnecessary to remove this child from her home and certainly inappropriate to hold the child for this length of time. The conduct of this child as described here does not speak to improvement resultant from Ministry intervention. Today, Amie wrote a saddening entry into the Facebook page known as ‘Help Bring Little Autistic Girl Back to Her Daddy.’ 

FOR PARENTS - INFO & SUGGESTIONS - CHILD PROTECTIOIN & THE COURT, part 1 of 4

INFORMATION AND SUGGESTIONS FOR PARENTS WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH CHILD PROTECTION AUTHORITIES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Written by Ray Ferris April 29th 2012.

Part One of Four
THE CHILD PROTECTION AND FAMILY COURT SYSTEM

Introduction.

girlsportguide.com

These notes are aimed at helping people who have recently become involved with the Ministry of Child and family services directly or through others. The information is written in the light of a number of cases coming to me and to other child protection helpers. I have borne in mind many of the most common questions that have been asked me. In writing this, I warn readers that the child protection scene is ugly, not only in British Columbia, but throughout Canada and the whole English speaking world. Unfortunately, I have good grounds for this statement, which is based on contact with numerous cases and with consistent reporting on a number of child protection blogs. I am very blunt about it because I believe that people are better off knowing the stark reality of things, than in harbouring false hopes, only to be disappointed.

DEFENDING PARENTAL FREEDOMS IN A CHILD-CENTRED SYSTEM

Strain exists between the state and the parts which comprise it. As it pertains to the family issues aired for the past four years on this blog site, the question has become multi-faceted. What is the appropriate role of family within a free and democratic society? What is the appropriate role of the government with respect to families?

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO BE YOU

Here is a recorded song by Robin Thicke, entitled, "I don't know how it Feels To Be U." I have placed it here to underscore that although the song was generated as a romantic motif, it contains sentiments that accurately summarize Ayn’s daddy’s innermost feelings. No one has sought more carefully than Derek and Amie, to understand how Ayn looks at the world, processes life, events and people and ultimately feels in that sensitive part of her being. They have been committed to meeting the needs of this child that struggles with the manifestations of autism. They loved her without conditions.

PAINFUL BULLETS OF FACT

Aime (mommy) and Ayn

On the day that Ayn was born in 2001 and Derek saw her for the first time, his heart was hers.

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 is not accused of harming her. In fact his life has been dedicated to nurturing and understanding her. Ayn is autistic.

Derek was informed that the action to remove his daughter from his care was designed to ease his load of responsibility but in fact it created an intolerable burden.