Feb 27, 2019, Waterloo (Ontario) Record: Autism therapists warned of looming layoffs under Ford government overhaul System overhaul creating uncertainty, families can no longer afford services, they say. https://www.therecord.com/news-story/9197717-autism-therapists-warned-of-looming-layoffs-under-ford-government-overhaul/ Behavioural therapists say they have been warned of looming layoffs as the Ford government overhauls the autism system, saying new funding limits for families has led to the uncertainty…. Meanwhile, school boards are appealing to the province for some direction — and resources — saying children no longer accessing therapy at autism centres will expect those services to be provided in schools… She noted the province already spends $3 billion in total on special education. But NDP Education Critic Marit Stiles called it "disturbing" that school boards haven't received any word from the ministry. "Boards are telling us there has been absolutely no communication around the situation," said Stiles, a former school trustee. "Things were tough enough," she told the Star. "School boards already spend more than they are given for special education, and it comes through other funds. They are just moving shells around." Cathy Abraham, head of the Ontario Public School Boards Association, said "we don't know how many students will be coming — we don't know the degree of their need, we don't know the services required. We need to know what will happen so we can plan, because we want to be able to serve these children." MacLeod has said the government is "committed to eliminating the 23,000-long wait list for families of children with autism" and will do so in the next year and a half. Under the changes, the government will introduce a childhood budget allowing families to choose the services they want. They'll be eligible for up to $20,000 a year for children under 6 — with a lifetime maximum of $140,000. Children older than that can access up to $5,000 a year up to age 18, to a lifetime maximum of $55,000. The government's plan will provide autism services to more children — though that means some families will receive far less than they do now.
top of page
Childhood Lost
Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.
Anne Dachel, Media editor, Age of Autism
http://www.ageofautism.com/media/
(John Dachel, Tech. assist.)
What will happen in another 4 years? How can we go on like this? This is a national (and international) problem of monumental proportions. We have an entire new class of children who cannot be accommodated by the system: many are manifestly neurologically impaired. Meanwhile, the government and the medical profession sleep on regardless.
John Stone,
UK media editor, Age of Autism
The generation of American children born after 1990 are arguably the sickest generation in the history of our country.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
It seemed to me that with rising autism prevalence, you’d also see rising autism costs to society, and it turns out, the costs are catastrophic.
They calculated that in 2015 autism cost the United States $268 billion and they projected that if autism continues at its current rate, we’re looking at one trillion dollars a year in autism costs by 2025, so within five years.
Toby Rogers, PhD, Political economist
Search
bottom of page