Autistic Girl Seized by Canadian Government Heading Home

Of all the sad autism stories I have encountered, perhaps none has haunted me more than that of Ayn Van Dyk, the ten year old Canadian girl who was abducted from her school by Canada’s Child Protective Services.  As this site has documented in the past, Ayn had been successfully found safe and sound after a wandering incident at her home, but authorities seized her and put her in state custody “to lighten the load” of her single father of
three.

While in custody, she was heavily drugged on anti-psychotics as her frantic father Derek, fought tirelessly for her release. 

So it was with great trepidation that I recently set out to learn what had become of her in the many months since I had followed the story.  To my great and utter delight, the Freedom for Ayn blog has reported that the family’s horrible ordeal of more than five hundred days is now drawing to a close.  Ayn is coming home very soon. 

While details are scant, it appears that her father finally had his day in court. 

In a time when we’re overdue for good news, this is indeed a candle in the darkness. Ayn won’t be the same little girl who wandered out of her yard so long ago and the damage to this family has been done, but at least now the recovery and healing can begin.

For more details on Ayn’s story, here’s a timeline of previous posts that shed more light on her and her family’s plight:

The
State vs. Autism Families – June 26, 2011

Nine
Year Old with Autism Still Being Kept from Her Father – July 17, 2011

Update
on Child with Autism Removed from Home – August 4, 2011

Child
with Autism Taken by Authorities, Remains in Custody – January 29, 2012

Agency
Involved in Autism Case No Stranger to Controversy – February 13, 2012

Justice
Sought for Autistic Girl Seized by Canadian Government – March 12, 2012

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UPDATE —  WE RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING NOTE FROM A REPRESENTATIVE AT PROTECTING CANADIAN CHILDREN:

Yes, Ayn is coming home to her daddy and 2 siblings. Derek, however, did not receive his day in court… Actually, MCFD entered with a deal to avert a trial just days prior to a scheduled hearing. An agreement was reached in which the Ministry conceded, no finding of need to intervene existed! More than a year and a half has transpired since the nightmare began; an unacceptable delay of justice.

The story of Derek Hoare and his little girl, Ayn, is a tragic one; one that sadly, is afflicting many Canadian households: Children with disability, such as Autism, are being herded under the scope of Child Welfare Intervention despite absence of negligence or abuse.

SAMANTHA’S LAW in the neighbouring Province of Alberta could have averted this tragic demonstration of Ministry’s ignorance towards the disabled community in British Columbia. Caring families dealing with issues of medical and developmental diversity must be handled distinctly from the Child Welfare Intervention Model.

Sincerely,

Velvet Martin,
Spokesperson for Protecting Canadian Children
https://www.protectingcanadianchildren.ca