Families watched Riche Fevidal stand among them as he tearfully recalled the barriers he faced while trying to get help for his young preschooler, who was showing signs of autism.
Fevidal said he knew his child was developing differently, but he wasn’t sure where to start or where to seek help.
Families who rely on provincially funded services know this exhausting process well.
Navigating autism programs often meant frustration, information overload and confusing rules about who qualifies for therapy, not to mention long waits.
The new Ontario autism program aimed to fix this frustrating process. It was designed to give children help when they need it, up until age 18, said Michael Coteau, Minister of Children and Youth Services.
(This article reports on the program announced in 2017. Ontario’s autism program has changed significantly since then, so check the Ontario government website for current details.)
Coteau attended a conference to unveil the details of the new program and said the province would not define services by a young person’s age or gender, or by how significant their autism symptoms were.
The new program was planned to roll out the following year, with an investment of $533 million over five years.
Coteau said, “We are not imposing parameters on the number of hours a child receives or the duration of their intervention.”
Each child’s support plan had to be set by a licensed clinician.
Coteau said that from June 26, every child would have a single point of access to all services. This meant families would not have to repeat their story at every stop, and could receive services in a timely way.
A community that had been waiting a long time for relief welcomed the news with cheers. In previous years, many children were denied access because their support needs were considered too high, or not high enough.
Many could not qualify, or only received a few hours of support a week. There was no respite, and wait lists kept growing.
The new plan aimed to give families more control and the freedom to choose therapies themselves, as well as access to a range of government services.
Advocates hailed the program as a victory for autistic children and their families.
Hamilton mother Meghan Graham welcomed the new program and said her 11-year-old son could now receive extra support with social communication.
Riche Fevidal’s worries were also eased, although his son had to wait a year for intensive therapy because of his age.
Riche Fevidal says his son Argenion has learned to dress himself, play with other kids and, since starting therapy, has begun to speak.
I am Ash and I celebrate Neurodiversity! Growing up with an elder brother with severe Autism was tough – but it has also taught me essential life lessons. I don’t believe that people with Autism are necessarily or have any disorder (except in extreme cases). They are just different! And that is something to be proud of! I am passionate about helping other families who may have Autism conditions in their family. So please reach out and drop me a note. I will be glad to help 🙂
