Additional Funding for Autism
In late March the Province announced it will double the funding for autism
initiatives in the 2004-2005 fiscal year. But the funds will continue
to be focused primarily on meeting the needs of children under six years
of age.
The new $40 million in funding will support advancements in four areas:
- To ensure more
pre-school children receive assessments and programs, additional therapists
and psychologists will be trained and more funding will be provided
for services to pre-school children,
- Additional supports
for children making the transition to school, as well as more guidance
for educators working with autistic students,
- Tools to help parents
manage their children and a new registry of autism service providers,
and
- Support for graduate-level education and research into autism, along with a commitment to ongoing evaluation of programs.
The age 6 cap for many autism program remains a point of contention. There are currently a number of cases pending before the courts and the Ontario Human Rights Commission challenging the age cap.
For more information please visit:
http://www.children.gov.on.ca/CS/en/newsRoom/newsReleases/040326.htm
Webmaster's note:
- My 8 year old
son was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder on his 3rd birthday.
- He was on a
waiting list for services from the age of 3 to 6.
- At the age
of 6, he suddenly become ineligible for services which hadn't been available/accessible
to him in the previous 3 years anyway. What a
crock of shit!
- So at the age
of 6, he went on a "different" waiting list, with the CCAC
(community care access centre) and he has continued to sit on their
waiting list for the last 2 years without so much as a return call from
the case manager!
- That is 5 years
of sitting on waiting lists!
So bloody much for early interventions!
~ Barbara Anello
Source: United Ways of Ontario's Government Relations Bulletin - Issue dd April 30, 2004
Other news ...
Consultation
Launched on Rental Housing
Legislation to Curb Sixty-Hour Work Week
New Provincial Rent Bank and Energy Emergency Fund
Legislation to Allow Family Medical Leave
Report Finds Domestic Homicides Predictable and Preventable
Minimum Wage Workers and Low-paid Worker Mobility
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Page last updated April 30, 2004