Autism budget should double, report says
As 27,600 seek services, $600M will only shorten, not eliminate wait list
The government needs to double its autism budget to maintain the current average amount of behavioural therapy for children and eliminate wait lists, says a new report from Ontario’s financial watchdog.
The report from Financial Accountability Officer Peter Weltman also found that the number of children on the wait list for help hit 27,600 in 2019-20 as the government changed course on autism services last year.
Queen’s Park is in the midst of fully rolling out a new plan by 2021 to serve the province’s 42,000 children with autism, with a budget of $600 million. Autism advocates had previously said the amount was sufficient. But Weltman estimated the cost to be double that, and said while the wait list would be shorter, it would not be eliminated.
“You’re still going to have a significant waiting list, but it’s not as high as it was before,” Weltman said of the funding. “If you as an MPP think, ‘Well, no, we really should clear the wait list completely,’ then our report says, ‘OK, but that’s going to cost about $1.35 billion in year one.’ ”
The province had made controversial changes to the autism program before it struck an expert panel to help create a needs-based system that would not limit amounts provided by a child’s age or family income.
Some families spend as much $95,000 a year on behavioural therapies, although others spend less. Weltman said the $600 million would provide an average of $29,000 each year to some 17,860 children, but still leave another 22,900 on the wait list. Lowering the average funding to $13,100 per child — a 56 per cent drop — would “completely eliminate the wait list,” the FAO office said.
Social Services Minister Todd Smith said more than 22,000 children are receiving support through existing government programs and one-time funding. “We are determined to get this right and will continue to support children and youth during the transition to the new needs-based Ontario Autism Program,” Smith said.
Liberal MPP Michael Coteau, who was at one time the minister responsible for the autism program, said “when (Premier) Doug Ford implemented his disastrous changes to the Ontario Autism Program last year, everyone told him it was the wrong thing to do. Parents said it. Experts said it. Now, the Financial Accountability Officer is confirming there is less money being spent per child and less capacity in the system. Families are being left behind.”
Coteau said children, parents and service providers face dire situations amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “Children are regressing without in-person therapy or school. Parents are facing severe stress, and service providers worry about keeping their doors open as bills pile up. There needs to be urgent action to support those in the autism community, who have already endured so much.” NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said while the Ford government “inherited a terrible autism program that forced children to wait … (it) has made it much worse, with longer waits, and a Ford budget that shortchanges kids badly.”