The Canadian Press
TORONTO—Premier Kathleen Wynne is leaving the door slightly open to changing the way the Ontario government implements its controversial new autism program.
The Liberal government recently announced a new Ontario Autism Program with $333 million in funding, which ultimately will integrate Intensive Behavioural Intervention and Applied Behavioural Analysis therapies—currently in two separate streams—into a flexible service they’re calling enhanced ABA.
But the changes include limiting IBI to children aged two-four as the government says expert advice is to focus on children in that developmental window.
Parents of kids who are removed from the IBI wait list because of those changes are getting $8,000 to pay for private treatment ahead of the new program’s full roll-out in 2018, but parents say that only will cover for, at most, a few months of intensive therapy.
The government has said $8,000 figure would pay for 36 weeks of moderate-level therapy.
Wynne said Wednesday that parents have told her they would benefit from more direct funding.
“Our response to that is well, the $8,000 is direct funding and could we look at whether once that $8K is spent, is there some opportunity to look at situations where families may actually benefit from more direct funding, as opposed to a direct service model?” she remarked.
“It’s very important that we get this right and so yes, absolutely, there is room to consider how we provide the best tailor-made service for students and young people because that’s the point of this,” Wynne added.
Brianne Brown, whose son has been in the IBI waiting list for about two-and-a-half years and will turn five in September, said Wynne’s comments are “definitely a backtrack.”
“She’s definitely softened her stance on it; it sounds like,” Brown noted.
But Kristen Ellison, one of the many parents who vocally has opposed the program changes through a social media campaign, as well as at rallies, said the pressure from parents will continue.
“Until she puts it in writing that there’s actually changes, it doesn’t mean anything,” Ellison noted.
