Can you imagine a situation in which, even though you’re know doing OK, to help you out, someone took one of your children away? Removed them from your care, took them to a different place, medicated them, preventing you from doing all the things that work best for them?
Sounds like the worst nightmare in the world.
It’s happening right now. Right now in British Columbia, Derek Hoare has had his daughter Ayn taken away from him. Ayn is 9 years old, she has autism, as does one of her older brothers. Derek cares for all three of his children, and no one has claimed that he is neglecting them, or doing anything wrong. But Ayn managed to get out of the house and get lost for a few hours some weeks ago, and after she was found safely and returned home, the social workers got involved.
In Derek’s own words:
On the morning of June 16th two workers from CPS arrived at my home to request that I “voluntarily” give Ayn over to them (she was at school at the time), if I refused they would simply coercively remove her. There should be no illusions here when someone approaches you and says “give me your child or i’m taking her” you should not pretend that any such choice would be done “voluntarily”. Within hours of her removal Ayn had hospitalized and drugged with powerful neuroleptics, one of which at double the maximum daily dose. Her whereabouts has been concealed from me, due to me refusing to sign the voluntary agreement.
The nightmare has just begun.
Derek is a loving parent. His family need him. His daughter needs him. And right now they need us. They need us to get involved to tell British Columbia that their treatment of this family is just plain wrong. That Ayn needs to be at home with her father and brothers. That an apology wouldn’t go amiss, but probably isn’t top of the list.
If you agree with me, you can get involved with this worldwide campaign for Justice for Ayn.
You can read the details in a google doc. You can join the facebook group, sign the petition or donate.
Or you can contact any of these British Columbia officials and let them know what you think of this behaviour.
Stephen Harper Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2
Fax: (613) 941-6900
E-mail: pm@pm.gc.ca
Christy Clark
Premier of British Columbia
Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4
Fax: (250) 387-0087
E-mail: Christy@christyclark.ca
Mary McNeil
Minister of Children and Family Development
Room 306 Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC V8V 1X4
Fax: (250) 387-9722
E-mail: mary.mcneil.mla@leg.bc.ca
Earlier this week, me and my fab team mobilised to get over 200 votes on a facebook page for a competition. I’m hoping that at least that many ppl will get involved in this campaign one way or another, because let’s face it, *this* is important.
I’d really appreciate your help. But I’m not what matters here. Ayn is. Let’s bring her home.
I learnt about this from Dara at Readily a Parent. She’s coordinating a blogging campaign, and you can find other blogs involved below.
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