Media Release
April 7, 2017
The Autism Community Will Remind The Wynne Government That The New Autism Program Must Serve All Children And Youth With Autism
On Wednesday, April 12th, between 12:00 noon and 2:00pm, during Autism Awareness Month, many families from around Ontario will once again gather at Queen’s Park to let the government know that every promise it makes is being watched. These families, professionals, and advocates are making the trip to remind the government of their distrust after a promise to remove the age five cut-off, has resulted in newly diagnosed children five and over still being unable to access intensive treatment.
Speakers at the rally will include professionals in autism-related fields, parents with concerns, and a child over 5 who is now able to speak at the rally because of ongoing intensive therapy.
Families want to know how quickly this $500 million investment will shorten the wait list. They want to be sure that newly-diagnosed children over five years old will get access to intensive service, something that still isn’t happening now. Parents are very worried that the creation of new diagnosing centres are opening before a plan to shorten the wait list is in place will only lengthen the wait list.
Minister Coteau (Children and Youth Services), has written that every child will get what they need, but families are being told by the Ministry’s lead agencies, that no child will be accepted into the new OAP if over the age of five.
We want to make sure that this does not happen, again.
#AllOfUsOrNoneOfUs
For more information, please contact:
Ontario Autism Coalition
Bruce McIntosh, President, 416-451-8315
bruce.mcintosh@ontarioautismcoalition.com
Laura Kirby-McIntosh, Vice-President, 416-315-7939
laura.kirbymcintosh@gmail.com