Ottawa parents protest provincial changes to autism treatment funding

Dozens of parents of children with autism protested outside the Ottawa officeof MPP Yasir NaqviFriday,angry at the provincial government's decision to refocus its treatment funding on children ages two to four.

Angela MacDonald brought her four-year-old son Casey to the rally. Hehas autism and has been on a waiting list for the most effective treatmentavailable therapy known asintensive behavior intervention (IBI) for twoyears.

But he's about to turn five,and under thenew Ontario Autism Program,that means he will no longer be eligible.

"We got a notice last week that he would be removed from the list and we're pretty disappointed, scared, and upset," said MacDonald.

New provincial funding for autism

In the March provincial budget, the Liberal governmentannounced it will provide $333 millionin autism funding over the next five years.Thatmoney will go chiefly towards IBIfor children between the ages of two and four.

Within twoyears, IBI wait times are expected todrop by 50 per cent, andthe government believes that will mean young children with autism will get treated earlier,when research showsit is most effective.

Parents of children older than fivewill receive $8,000to go towardscommunity services and supports while they transition to applied behaviouralanalysis (ABA),which the province says ismore age-appropriate programming.

But another parent at the rally, TanyaCorey, says that money won't even cover two months of therapy for her son.

Still, Ontario'sMinisterof Children and Youth Services, Tracy MacCharles, believes these new efforts will reduce wait times."But more importantly, we want to get the right service for children inthe best developmental window," she said.

The new program goes into effect May 1.