The Canadian Press
Allison Jones
TORONTO–Ontario’s social services minister opened the door today to giving more funding to children with more severe autism, which an advocacy group described as a “huge concession” in the province’s controversial plan.
The new program announced last month by Children, Community and Social Services minister Lisa MacLeod sparked waves of protests by parents, who said the fact the funding wouldn’t be needs based–instead dependent only on age and family income–would mean kids would be left without access to the levels of therapy they need.
MacLeod said today that the past month has been “incredibly emotional” for families, and she has heard their concerns.
“Parents were right when they said that autism is a spectrum and that there are different needs for children on the spectrum,” she noted.
“So for the next few months, I’ll take their input to best assess how we better support those with complex needs and provide additional supports for them.”
Laura Kirby-McIntosh, president of the Ontario Autism Coalition, said the devil will be in the details but called the news is a very positive development.
“Oh my God, she heard us,” Kirby-McIntosh said.
“I heard a commitment to move to a system that is needs-based and that doesn’t simply give everybody the same amount regardless of need, so that’s a huge concession.”
MacLeod, until now, had been firm in her message that the plan would go ahead as is, and that there was no room to provide additional funding.
She said today that more money would go into the program to provide the new needs-based supports.
MacLeod also announced she is eliminating income testing for the program so all kids under six diagnosed as on the spectrum will receive $20,000 while those over six will receive $5,000.
Kids currently receiving government-funded therapy will have their contracts extended by six months, MacLeod added.
Families also had been asking for more services to qualify under the program and MacLeod said today that speech language pathology, physiotherapy, and occupational therapy now will be included.
