Members in the community rallied against the changes to the Ontario Autism Plan in front of MPP Mike Schreiners office on Friday.
Last week, the government announced that in order to clear the waitlist of 23,000 children, the budget a child is allocated will depend on the child’s household income and the duration of time the child will be in the program.
"Its moving kids from one waitlist to another. They're not clearing the waitlist. They're making a new one,” said Katie Kocnarak, who’s nephew is autistic.
Leigh Lahaise, a mother of a six-year-old autistic son says she's seen significant improvement in her child after the amount of therapy he has been receiving which cost $5,000 a month. Now it is capped to $5,000 a year for children between six and 18.
“It’s not going to do anything. There is proven science that it takes intensive therapy for this to actually work,” said Lahaise.
“He's having conversations with me and I just don't want to see this stop. I'm just dying to have real conversations with my child so he can tell me what's wrong.”
Roughly 35 parents, teachers and advocates came out to support the rally to make sure their voice got heard while passing cars honked in support.
Schreiner had petitions to oppose the changes in his office for people to sign so he can take them to the legislature next week to present to Queens Park.
He says he's pushing for five principles.
The first one is that funding is based on need. Second, there should be no discrimination between age or income in the funding model. Third, funding should go to service providers because kids should not go from one waitlist to another as that prohibits their access to services. Fourth, funding support in schools so teachers receive support as well. Fifth, adults with autism cannot be forgotten.
“I think if we come up with a plan based on those five principles then we will be serving children in the way that they deserve and that they need and we as a society can afford.”
