Feb 7, 2019, CBC: Province's new autism plan rips away Burlington family's hope for son https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/autism-therapy-1.5010042 Overhauled autism plan will allot funding based on age, not need Shay Boshis suddenly doesn't know what kind of future her son Wesley will get to have, as a complete overhaul of the province's autism program is about to slash funding for essential therapies he desperately needs. Wesley is six-years-old and has severe autism. He is non-verbal, functions at the level of a two-year-old, and can sometimes be aggressive. Boshis knows this firsthand, as she's dealing with the after effects of a concussion brought on by one of his outbursts. … In the province's current autism program, he is eligible for over $92,000 a year in funding for treatment, which translates to 32 hours a week of intense therapy. That's allowed him to start communicating through pictures, and opened up an avenue for Boshis and her husband to better understand their son. That's all about to change. The provincial government has announced plans to change how the funding model works — leaving Boshis with only $5,000 a year to go towards treatment, which will allow the family to provide only 90 hours of therapy per year. "When he was doing the full-time autism therapy, I was certain that at some point he'd become verbal … I don't know if he'll ever be able to graduate high school or anything like that, but I'm sure he'd be able to maintain a part time job, probably live at home, but do most self care things on his own," Boshis told CBC News. … Premier Doug Ford's government announced a plan on Wednesday to clear a province-wide wait list for autism therapy within 18 months. About 23,000 children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders are waiting for government-funded treatment in Ontario, while just 8,400 are currently in the program receiving therapy. The government will give funding for treatment directly to families, instead of regional service providers, with a total of up to $140,000 per child until the age of 18.) That funding is based on age, said Lisa MacLeod, minister of Children, Community and Social Services. A child entering the program at age two would be eligible to receive up to $140,000, while a child entering the program at age seven would receive up to $55,000. … Yesterday, the provincial government announced changes to autism funding in Ontario, and a pledge to tackle lengthy wait lists for therapy. The PCs say the plans mean more kids will get help -- but some parents are worried that help won't be enough. Matt Galloway speaks with the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, Lisa MacLeod. 15:38 MacLeod said the money will be front-loaded for younger children, because they experience the most need at younger ages. A spokesperson for MacLeod said she was not available for an interview Thursday about this specific case. …. The new plan doesn't recognize the differences in need between children at different ends of the autism spectrum, said Bruce McIntosh, who is the former president of the Ontario Autism Coalition and a father of a child with autism. … The funding "doesn't come close," to what families require, said McIntosh, calling needs-based funding "absolutely critical." NDP children and youth critic Monique Taylor said in a statement that the province's changes will mean high-needs children will have their services ripped away. … The government also announced Wednesday it will double government spending on autism diagnostic hubs to $5.5 million a year for the next two years. There are around 2,400 children in line for assessment, with an average wait list of 31 weeks, according to government figures. … MacLeod said families on the waiting list can expect to receive funding within the next 18 months.
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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.
Loss of Brain Trust features over 9,000 news stories published worldwide since January, 2017
Anne Dachel, Media editor, Age of Autism
http://www.ageofautism.com/media/
(John Dachel, Tech. assist.)
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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
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