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Ford government launches autism consultations in moves toward needs-based program

Thestar.com
May 2, 2019
Krisitn Rushowy

Ontario has launched province-wide consultations on creating a needs-based funding system for children with autism after facing an outcry over controversial changes it announced earlier this year.

Similar to the education consultations launched last fall, the initiative includes telephone town halls, online surveys and email submissions.

Lisa MacLeod, Ontario’s minister of Children, Community and Social Services, says the government will usher in a “strong” needs-based funding system for autism treatment following consultations.

The first call-in forum was held for the Toronto area on Wednesday.

“I think a lot of people signalled they wanted to have a conversation with the government, so we’re going to be able to do that,” Children, Community and Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod told the Star.

MacLeod said she’s also reached out to MPPs from all parties for their input, and will appoint an expert panel that includes those whose have first-hand experience with autism or a child who has the developmental disorder.

The panel will help wade through suggestions from the consultations and come up with recommendations on funding based more on need.

These moves “signal a change in tone that we’ve had as a government with respect to this, and reaching out across the aisle to make sure people understand that this isn’t a partisan issue -- it’s one every government over the past 20 years has been working on and trying to meet the mark,” MacLeod said.

“That’s the approach we’re taking right now -- so we want to hear from people. It’s a fresh start, a blank page. Those who are going to be a part of the consultations as well as the expert panel will have an ability to write what’s on that page.”

MacLeod also said her priority “has, and always will be, to clear the wait list” within the next 18 months.

In March, the government added an additional $300 million, essentially doubling funding for the autism program this year, and ended means-testing for services after intense criticism from families about the overhaul of the system.
Funding was extended for those currently in therapy for six months while also promising a needs-based system by this fall.

Under the PC plan, “childhood budgets” are set at $20,000 a year for children under 6, up to a maximum of $140,000, and $5,000 a year after that up to age 18 to a maximum of $55,000.

The full amounts are now available to all families, including high-income earners, and can be used for a wide range of services parents can choose from, including behavioural, speech or physiotherapy.

Critics have warned, however, that therapy costs can top $80,000 a year for high-needs children.

After the initial announcement, a number of front-line service providers began to -- and continue to -- lay off staff, with the Ontario Public Service Employees Union pegging the number at more than 50 in locations including Waterloo, North Bay/Parry Sound and Toronto.

Julie Koudys of the Ontario Association for Behavioural Analysis, said there’s uncertainty in the system, especially as families are still waiting to receive funding directly through the new “childhood budgets.”

Providers, she said, are “trying to make decisions that will enable them to help as many children as possible for as long as possible. For some of those, both public and private, they are having to make decisions on how best to stay in business for the long run, by restructuring and minimizing services or they will completely go under.”