A Toronto-area children’s services agency involved in administering Ontario’s autism program is distancing itself from Ford government changes coming April 1.
In a statement on its website Tuesday, Kinark Child and Family Services says the controversial revamp that aims to clear a therapy wait list of 23,000 children by giving more families less money, “does not reflect our advice.”
“Many parents are telling us that these changes will be very difficult for them, and for their children, and we believe the new program will have significant limitations in terms of its ability to support the best possible clinical outcomes for children and youth” with autism, said the statement by Kinark president Cathy Paul.
Kinark is the only regional service provider — so far — to publicly oppose the changes announced by Lisa MacLeod, minister of children, community and social services last month.
Under the overhaul, provincial funding will no longer be administered by nine regional service providers and instead flow directly to families who will use the money to buy therapy from private therapists or publicly funded agencies such as Kinark. A new independent agency to be established in the next year will administer “childhood budgets” to families based on household income and a child’s age.
Children up to age 6 will receive up to $20,000 a year to a lifetime maximum of $140,000. Older children will get up to $5,000 a year to a maximum of $55,000 by age 18.
However, applied behaviour analysis (ABA) therapy — the only evidence-based treatment funded under the program — can cost up to $80,000 a year for children with severe autism.
In an interview, Paul said her statement is in response to questions from families and is no different from what the agency has been telling the government.
“We have been a service provider for autism for many years and people look to us for advice,” Paul said. “We are accountable to (families) to share our perspective.”
“Kinark continues to express concerns while working with government to understand the new program in detail and to prepare to support families to transition to the new program,” added Paul in the statement.
Critics of the changes praised Kinark for speaking out.
“To make that public statement … is quite courageous,” said Louis Busch an ABA therapist. “It just shows how wrong-headed this decision is when your own funded programs are in revolt.”
Emails obtained by the Star show agencies administering provincial autism funds have been under pressure from the government not to disclose a government-imposed wait list freeze or other information to families or the public in the lead up to the announcement.
“These agencies have been unable to voice their concerns for a very long time,” Busch said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the other providers also make statements.”
School boards have also expressed concern about the program, saying they don’t have the resources to properly serve children with autism. They are expecting some to turn to the school system for supports this spring due to the limited amount of funding under the changes.
When asked about Kinark’s statement, MacLeod’s spokesperson said the Ford government is “making a historic investment in autism services,” budgeting $321 million annually for programming. However, that is the same amount the Liberals had budgeted for this fiscal year.
“Over the next 18 months, there will be four times as many children receiving support through childhood budgets that offer parents the opportunity to choose the services that are right for their family,” the spokesperson said. “We trust that providers will continue to provide quality care to meet the needs of the influx of children and youth seeking autism services and supports.”
When developing the new autism program, MacLeod and her parliamentary assistant, MPP Amy Fee — the mother of two children with autism — consulted with Kinark and other service providers such as ErinoakKids, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario/CHEO, Hamilton Health Sciences, the Ontario Disability Coalition and Autism Ontario.
After the new program was unveiled last month, statements of support were provided by Holland Bloorview Kids rehab hospital, McMaster Children’s Hospital, CHEO and Toronto’s Jake’s House for Children with Autism.
Meanwhile, a mass protest is planned Thursday at Queen’s Park, as parents continue to pressure the government over the changes.
Laurie Monsebraaten is a Toronto-based reporter covering social justice. Kristin Rushowy is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics.
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2019/03/05/childrens-agency-slams-ford-governments-autism-funding-changes.html
Recent Comments