STANDING UP FOR AUTISM
Families fight changes in funding
A group of local parents have organized a rally Thursday to demand the provincial government under Premier Doug Ford take another look at planned changes of funding support for children with autism. The group Autism Parents United formed a couple of weeks ago after policy and funding in support of families with autistic children were significantly altered by the provincial government. Several protest rallies have already been held in cities across Ontario voicing anger against the proposed changes with this to be the first in Windsor.
“The more we make our voices heard, the more likely Toronto (provincial government) will hear us,” said April Pare, who helped launch the local group and is an organizer for the rally.
“We also wanted to bring our Windsor families together to show that we do have a voice for our children affected by these changes.” Pare is mother to seven-year-old Adyson who has autism. They are among local families upset with the planned changes recommended by the government that would see funding support capped and essentially applied on a ‘one-size fits-all’ basis. Families will be eligible for a maximum of $140,000 in therapy, respite and education support until their child reaches the age of 18, but much depends on income levels and it will be handed out on an age-related basis, Pare said. She said families across Ontario are angry because each child with autism requires support that can be drastically different in nature depending on their needs — which often can be complex due to an overlap of other illness or disabilities. Adyson also struggles with ADHD and epilepsy.
“A couple years ago, she was not potty trained, could not speak, but after therapy support for a full year now she can speak and has social skills,” Pare said.
“I can see what the right therapy can do.”
Parents fear the new program will treat all children with autism the same, robbing them of the ability to better benefit from more individualized services and therapy.
If the government follows through on planned changes, children such as Adyson will not get the full support they need, Pare said.
“With therapy my daughter can become a functioning member of society and not a drain on society,” she said.
“She won’t learn the necessary skills to live an independent life under this new program. Every child needs an individualized program based on each family ’s needs. That won’t happen under the new plan.”
The new local parents group already has 200 members signed up in its first couple of weeks, Pare said.
The Autism Parents United rally will take place starting at 11 a.m. Thursday near the corner of Erie Street and McDougall Street in proximity to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services office.
“The PC government needs to go back to the drawing board and figure out a better way,” Pare said. “We would like them to figure out a better system where every child gets the therapy they deserve. They need to be looked at on a case-by-case basis and not as a whole.”