'It's important that the funds get to where they're needed:' Ontario investing $62M for autism services
Ontario is putting more than $62 million in its autism budget this year to make services more available, as the province works to shore up its delayed revamp of the program.
The government announced that the money will go toward initiatives such as grants for service providers to hire new clinical staff, increase hours for existing staff, and travel to serve kids in rural or remote communities.
Families and providers have said that there has been a diminished capacity in recent years, particularly during the pandemic - with less service able to be offered even as the wait list grows.
The government tried to roll out a new autism program in February 2019, but scrapped it after it sparked outrage among parents because it capped funding at amounts families said would be too small for many, and made it based on age rather than needs.
After that plan failed, the government pledged to launch a new autism services program in April 2020 but announced in late 2019 that it would instead be phased in over two years.
Angela Brandt, president of the Ontario Autism Coalition, said capacity has been diminished partly because providers weren't able to provide adequate levels of service to families with the meagre amounts in the government's initial plan and some closed their doors.
"I applaud capacity building, that's absolutely critical," she said. "But the issue is this is a problem that they mostly caused...We've always had issues with capacity, but not at the level that it is now."
This spring the government started enrolling children in core services, with about 470 now participating. It had planned to launch with 600 kids, and Brandt believes the relatively low uptake is partly due to the autism community's history with the Progressive Conservatives.
"There's been a ton of trust eroded by this government with the community," she said. "They just don't trust them. They're scared to be part of the test phase."
Children, Community and Social Services Minister Merrilee Fullerton said the capacity announcement is an example of how the government is working to transform the program.
"Expanding the workforce will further support the delivery of core clinical services under the new needs-based program, ensuring families can work with a clinician of their choice to develop a treatment plan based on their child's individual needs and goals," she said in a statement.
The announcement is part of the annual $600-million budget for the program, which was doubled following the 2019 controversy.
It also includes more training for service providers, including on Indigenous cultural competency and mental health. As well, it will include funding for pilot projects to add more service in the north.
The government said it is moving forward on its plan to regulate applied behaviour analysis as a separate profession, and is expanding the autism program provider list to include speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists.
Kendra Thomson, president of the Ontario Association for Behaviour Analysis, applauded the announcement.
"From our perspective it's important that the funds get to where they're needed most, so if capacity is going to help people be able to access the core services, that's something we definitely can support," she said.
"In addition to what was in the announcement, additional efforts, cross-ministerial efforts, to invest in more training progs - especially in rural and remote, more underserved communities - would be a step in the right direction to increase capacity."
The NDP's children and youth services critic said the announcement doesn't directly help any more kids get off the wait list or increase the program's budget.
"Children with autism in Ontario are still being denied the services they need to reach their full potential," Teresa Armstrong said in a statement.
"Families have been to hell and back, fighting for a better Ontario Autism Program, while watching their kids languish without the help they choose for them."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 28, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.