Posted 8 hours ago

Local autism activists will take their plight to
Sarnia-Lambton MPP Caroline Di Cocco’s front door this weekend.

Local parents upset with the McGuinty government’s treatment of autistic
children will march in front of Di Cocco’s London Road campaign office at 11
a.m., one of seven demonstrations across the province. They will be joined by at
least two of her rivals in this fall’s provincial vote, Conservative Bob Bailey
and NDP candidate Barb Millitt.

"What we’ve always been asking of (McGuinty) is do what you said you’d do,"
said Ontario Autism Coalition co-founder Susan Fentie of Bright’s Grove.

Fentie said before Dalton McGuinty was elected in 2003 he promised the
parents of autistic children that he would cut wait lists for treatment for the
brain disorder. Fentie said the wait lists remain long and the government has
been slow to act on dealing with the issue of treatment in schools.

The Liberal campaign platform for this election includes provisions to cut
the wait for Intensive Behavoural Intervention (IBI) and have it instituted in
schools to help treat children.

"He’s promised this before," said Dan Fentie, also a co-founder of the
coalition. "We had it in writing. We’re not going to be fooled again."

The protesters will be accompanied by eight "McGuintios", life-size models of
Premier Dalton McGuinty adorned with a broom-handle nose. The coalition has
raised the ire of the government with the caricatures which liken the premier to
the wooden puppet Pinocchio. "It would cost every taxpayer $7.50 a year to cut
the wait lists and put IBI in the schools," Susan Fentie said. "It’s important
they know the facts."

The group will also be accompanied by a TVOntario film crew who are working
on a documentary about the effects of autism on families. Local parents are
welcome to offer their experiences, said Fentie.

"Autism can take a terrible toll on families," she said. "It’s been hard on
mine."