An association of behaviour analysts says Ontario's minister in charge of the autism program told them it would be a long four years for them if they did not publicly support recent changes.
The Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis says in a note to members today that Children, Community and Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod and her staff requested a quote of support a few days before the new program was announced.
They say the request came without providing full details of the new program -- which they say will leave many children without the level of therapy they need.
The association says MacLeod and her staff indicated that failure to provide a supportive quote would result in "four long years" for the organization.
MacLeod's office did not immediately provide a response.
MacLeod announced last week that in order to clear a backlog of 23,000 children waiting for publicly funded autism therapy, families will get up to $140,000 to pay for treatment, though funding will be subject to annual caps that families and advocates say will fall far short of what's needed for intensive therapy.
