“My hopes of finding a new place for him are slim,” Kim Nolin told The Sun.
Less than three weeks after the start of activities at the Domaine Maizerets day camp, the management, assisted by an employee of the Center for Rehabilitation of the Intellectual Disabled, recommended the release of the little girl, whose file had previously been analyzed by a committee.
According to his mother, the reason given by the camp was that his suitcase was “too heavy”.
Six and a half year old Émy was born with a rare genetic disorder, microdeletion syndrome, which causes, among other things, developmental delays. Doctors gave him a preliminary diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Puzzle for a place
His mother was aware of the mystery that awaited him this summer, but planned it anyway. Kim Nolin began the process in February to secure a place in a day camp for her daughter with special needs. She had made three applications for admission to different camps, all close to the house, in the La Cité-Limoilou district.
The program to integrate children with special needs into day camps states that a child “may benefit from having an attendant to facilitate participation in activities”.
On the condition that the Domaine Maizerets day camp finds a staff member to accompany Émy on a daily basis, her mother’s application was accepted. However, his other two registrations would have been canceled at the request of the City of Quebec.
“Only the first application remained effective. “I was told that we couldn’t do several in different camps, that there was no better place than another and that the program was definitely the same everywhere,” she recalls.
The city confirms on its website that its program does not allow for more than one application for the same child.
“Not enough experience”
After Émy’s admission, things quickly went wrong. Her teacher was “overwhelmed by the workload”, according to the mother, who nevertheless swears that she was as “transparent” as possible about her daughter’s behavior in her application for support.
A committee is also responsible for assessing the child’s support needs beforehand, based on pre-established criteria, and ensuring that they are eligible.
“It should have rang my bell, but two days into camp they told me she was having trouble adjusting. She’s an ASD kid, you have to give her time to adjust. »
—Kim Nolin
Kim Nolin is even said to have visited Autisme Québec to help the camp, so a worker there spends time with Émy.
After a teacher change and a reduction in attendance hours, the dreaded moment has come. When the mother was summoned by the camp management on July 14, she found out about the bad news. “With a CUSSS employee who has never seen Émy, they recommended his release,” she says.
The City of Quebec advises that an “organization, after complying with the planned sequences of interventions and ensuring that all appropriate interventions have been implemented, may terminate a child’s registration, whether or not they benefit from the benefits of the.” integration program […] if the camp is not able to provide the service the child needs.”
In the specific case, “several adapted measures” were taken, according to the city. There were actually “several interventions”, confirms the mother. “They tried whatever tools they had, but the fact remains that they quickly caused panic. As if her idea was dreamed up after two days. »
“Despite the efforts of the organization in collaboration with the parents and various specialized stakeholders, it was deemed necessary to remove the child from the camp as the program did not meet his needs,” said community spokeswoman Karine Desbiens. According to the city, nearly 1% of children with special needs enrolled in day care centers are expelled each year.
The turn of events leads Kim Nolin to believe the camp “didn’t have enough experience” to care for a special needs child like hers. “I searched for the best place and was told that the program was the same everywhere. If I had known, I would have registered them as a priority in a more appropriate camp, such as the Patro Roc-Amadour, but the city has blocked my other requests.”
obstacle course
Nothing since Émy was banned a few days ago.
“I have no news. Émy hasn’t been going to the camp since Friday and I feel like I’m being abandoned,” said his mother, who was arrested by the Québec Office of Persons with Disabilities.
Far from throwing stones at the Domaine Maizerets day camp – a “great” place her other daughter still visits – she repeatedly emphasizes, Kim Nolin is more opposed to the silos between organizations.
“Everyone does it according to their own programs. If you get involved as a parent, you’re stuck. »
— Kim Nolin, mother of Emy
She also regrets the lack of support from the city. “I asked them if they would help me find a new job. The lady replied that if she had a restaurant that I had reservations at and there was water damage, she could cancel my reservation without helping me find another one,” reports Kim.
The municipality told the Sun on Wednesday that it had sent parents the coordinates of suitable day camps. “Because the City of Quebec’s day camp integration program is consistent across the area, the young girl will not be able to integrate another location,” we decided.
What her mother only found out later that evening when she received a call from one of the city camps she had contacted. “Even if a place becomes free somewhere, I can’t take it this summer,” she marvels.
Meanwhile, Émy’s grandmother watches over her during the day, but this temporary solution won’t last the whole summer, her mother warns. The little one will be changing schools in September and in the meantime prolonged loss of contact with her peers could harm her.
As a last resort, Kim shared her story on her Facebook page. Dozens of reactions later and a ton of possible solutions on her list, she’s already started searching again.
His alarm signal could be heard. According to her, specialized resources are working to quickly accept the girl into their camp.
“There are many people who want to help us find a solution, but in many day camps there are waiting lists, there is a shortage of workers and there are delays everywhere. I’m not completely losing hope, I’ll keep trying because I don’t know what else to do. »