Thinking about the future
We should care more about kids with autism
At a breaking point and forced to provide ‘inhumane’ care for their son, Jonathan’s parents considered the unthinkable: leaving him in hospital, May 18
Most people don’t stay up to date with news related to autism services for children if it doesn’t personally affect their lives. In Ontario, families of the one in six children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) pay close attention because it can have lasting impacts on their children and their lives. The glaring issue that these families face is not being able to access essential, medically recommended therapies in a timely manner. At $100-plus an hour for speech therapy, occupational therapy and applied behaviour analysis (ABA) therapy, you can guarantee a bill for up to $3,000 a week. This is unattainable for most families and so many children go without supports for their disability that the government should be funding.
Far too many children with ASD have their futures in limbo. Waking up every day worrying about if your child is going to be sent home or be safe at school is the reality for so many parents of children on the spectrum. Next time you question why a child on the spectrum at school or the park is having difficulties, remember it is not their fault. They likely don’t have access to the services that will address their needs and as a result that family is doing the best they can.
It is time for this government and every government to make sure that these services are included as a part of funded health services to make sure that all children can thrive, not just survive. We need needs-based therapy as opposed to discriminatory politics because we all know that autism does not discriminate. The provincial government must make sure that families can access services in a timely manner, no matter where they live in Ontario. That is their job!
If they care, make it happen. Their actions speak louder than their words.
Madison Hughes, Thunder Bay, Ont.
As I read about the lack of care workers for the aging, nurses for our hospitals, and then hear and read stories about the parents of Mason Serenko and Jonathan Mitkovski, who both have autism, it makes me think that as a capitalistdriven society we have to ask ourselves one fundamental question as we choose our government and leaders: do we value the price of a share and the almighty dollar above helping support the health, well being and dignity of a person’s life? Matthew Marosszeky, Aurora
Charges quietly dropped for four of the ‘Indigo 11’ pro-Palestine protesters: Paradkar, May 22
I wasn’t one of the people arrested for protesting the support given by Indigo owner Heather Reisman to the Israeli army. But I am one of the people, some Jewish, some not, who have held a weekly vigil in front of the Israeli consulate for 20 years and counting.
Sometimes we are asked about China’s occupation of Tibet, Myanmar’s genocide of the Rohingyas and famine in Sudan? Well, Canada isn’t sending arms to those countries, or buying arms from them, nor has it sworn eternal friendship with them. Speaking out against what is happening in those places won’t get you fired from your job. Elizabeth Block, member of Independent Jewish Voices, Toronto
Liberal budget fails the confidence test: fiscal policy, taxes and economic growth are getting worse, April 19
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau doesn’t understand that increasing the inclusion rate will limit improvements in Canada’s wages and standard of living and tax base to pay for his programs. In my early years as a chartered accountant, I worked in the mining sector and participated in the creation of wealth and the expansion of the economy. It is with sadness that I see our prime minister going backwards to score quick, political points that imperil the improvement of wages and our standard of living. He needs to be more concerned about the economic future of Canada and surround himself with good economic advisers. Douglas Clark, Aurora, Ont.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s brain is writing cheques for Canada that the country has no money to cash. In what universe is debt service the road to prosperity? Will Trudeau please stop cosplaying as the Liberal King who thinks he has infinite money, when really he is bringing our country to the edge of bankruptcy? History will remember Trudeau as the unethical prime minister who condemned our children into economic slavery for the rest of their lives paying off a debt they did not create.
Chris Robertson, Stony Plain, Alta.
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