Share this Story: Protest over changes to autism supports draws hundreds Protest over changes to autism supports draws hundreds Photo by Dave Abel / Toronto Sun Article content Parents of children with autism came by the hundreds to Queen’s Park Thursday to protest dramatic changes to the support their children will receive as of April. 1. It led to an emotional and angry Question Period as some parents wept and others hurled insults at Premier Doug Ford and Children, Community and Social Service Minister Lisa MacLeod. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Protest over changes to autism supports draws hundreds Back to video One man called the Premier a “coward,” and there was a dispute over whether another protester shouted “killer” or “kill her” to MacLeod. Photo by Frank Gunn / The Canadian Press By and large, the parents and their advocates attending the rally were loud, but reasoned as they argued that their children would lose whatever progress they’d made when full funding of services was reduced. MacLeod has announced that the current system — where about one-fourth of children diagnosed on the autism spectrum receive funding — will be replaced with a lifetime limit of $140,000 per child available to all eligible children, including 23,000 sitting on a wait list. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Isaiah is non-verbal and receives services to help him learn to communicate and develop life skills. “(Ford told families) we support you 1,000%, and you won’t be protesting at Queen’s Park to get more for your children,”Dobo said. “None of those things were delivered. In fact, they’re all being drastically reversed.” In the Legislature, Ford described the autism services program as his most heartbreaking and difficult file. “But when we came into office, we saw a bankrupt system when it comes to supporting families of children with autism. Actually, we had to run to the treasury … to ask for $100 million just to keep the system going,” Ford said. “Then, when we looked into it even further, we saw systemic problems throughout the whole system.” MacLeod said she can’t accept a system where three out of four children get no support. “This will be the plan that we will implement on April 1, and I think it’s irresponsible for the members opposite (NDP) to provide false hope to parents that that this plan will change,” she said. aartuso@postmedia.com We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Share this article in your social network Latest National Stories Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Toronto Sun Headline News Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Toronto SUN, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. The next issue of The Toronto Sun Headline News will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Trending<doc-sep>They came by the busloads. Hundreds of families of children with autism from all across the province gathered at Queen’s Park on Thursday hoping their voices will make a change. “We’re going to fight for our kids and get them what they need!” Children, Community and Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod, announced last month that to clear a waiting list of 23,000 children, kids with autism would receive direct funding to pay for treatment. Families will get up to $20,000 per year for treatment for children under six and $5,000 a year for children six to 18, but intensive therapy can cost up to $80,000 a year. Parents are calling for the funding to be based on children's individual needs, instead of just their age. Karen Shepley has two children with autism and made the trip from Barrie to the Ontario legislature this morning. “I feel sick to my stomach for all the families out there. There’s going to be nothing left for them,” she says. “It’s not fair that a whole bunch won’t get to learn how to talk and do basic things.” Many of the parents protesting the changes have children that were waitlisted for funding, and admit they would rather keep waiting with the knowledge that help would eventually come. “My son will not get the funding, and he’ll slip through the cracks,” says one mom. Parents, advocates and some within the school system say if children with autism who are currently in intensive therapy no longer have those costs fully covered, they will be in classrooms before they've had the chance to develop necessary skills. Amanda Baysarowich, an advocate at the protest warns, “These school systems are not prepared for what’s to come.” That also means already-stretched educational assistant resources will be spread even thinner. The education minister's office has said she is reviewing the results of an autism pilot project in schools, but the results won't be available until weeks after the autism funding changes have kicked in on April 1. - With files from The Canadian Press<doc-sep>​Hundreds of parents, therapists and union members gathered outside Queen's Park on Thursday to protest the provincial government's changes to Ontario's autism program. Families of children with autism say the plan unveiled last month by Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod will leave kids without access to the level of treatment they need. MacLeod has faced severe criticism over the revamped program, which aims to clear a wait list of 23,000 children by providing direct funding to all kids diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum. Families will get up to $20,000 per year for treatment for children under six and $5,000 a year for children six to 18, but intensive therapy can cost up to $80,000 a year. The new program kicks in on April 1, and families say they are still lacking details of how it will work. Critics say it will leave thousands of children with autism in schools without the proper supports. Will and Nev Dundas attended the protest together. The couple has a young son on the autism spectrum who had been receiving intensive behavioural therapy, which is usually administered in a small group setting by a registered therapist and overseen by a psychologist. When the changes come into effect, their son will have to move to a regular school within the Toronto District School Board. "We spoke with the principal there, and there will be absolutely no support for him when he starts," Mev said through tears. Huge crowds in front of Queen’s Park right now for rally to protest the PC government’s changes to the way Autism services are offered in this province #Onpoli pic.twitter.com/Ro3Wy3FgoX —@FarrahMerali The pair says they are currently looking at selling their home so they can afford to continue to provide their son with behavioural therapy. "We are selling our home to be able to support our son. What parent would want to make that decision? What options do we have? The impact, financially, is staggering," said Will. He said he believes the PC government failed to consult with experts about the changes and produced an "arbitrary, random policy that doesn't help anyone." "This isn't a one size fits all and the most vulnerable, they need the help. What the government is doing is ridiculous." Joseph Trozzo, father to a 14-year-old son with autism, echoed that sentiment in an interview with CBC Toronto. "Each child on the spectrum has unique needs. We need a long-term solution that works for these families so that these kids can be a part of society," he said. Families of children with autism staged another protest outside of Queen's Park on Thursday, while inside the Ford government defended its changes to autism supports. (Ali Chiasson/CBC) Trozzo's son was not able to speak until age five. "Without the intensive behavioural therapy, he wouldn't be where he is," he explained. "I can tell you that the therapy works. We can't keep coming here every three or four years and keep doing this." The protest was also attended by NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and several other NDP MPPs, as well Liberal MPP Michael Coteau. MacLeod wasn't at the protest on the lawn of the legislature, telling reporters on Wednesday that the tone of the debate has raised concerns about her personal safety. "We've had some credible threats, so we're going to make sure that first and foremost [we're] maintaining the safety of me and my team," she said. Her office says MacLeod has received threats against her life through social media and by phone, and a spokesman says police have been contacted.<doc-sep>
Allison Jones, The Canadian Press TORONTO -- Hundreds of families and advocates of children with autism protested at the Ontario legislature Thursday to plead with the government to reverse changes they say will leave kids without the therapy they need. Children, Community and Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod announced last month that in order to clear a waiting list of 23,000 children, kids with autism would receive direct funding to pay for treatment. Families will get up to $20,000 per year for treatment for children under six and $5,000 a year for children six to 18, but intensive therapy can cost up to $80,000 a year. Parents are calling for the funding to be based on children's individual needs, instead of just their age. Kristen Visser came from Kitchener, Ont., with her six-year-old daughter who is in government-funded therapy part-time. That therapy has allowed her to feed herself, communicate and say, "I love you," Visser said. But that therapy costs about $60,000 per year, and under the new program she will qualify for less than $5,000. "Obviously the (Ontario Autism Program) that they want to put in place is not right or all of these people, thousands and thousands and thousands of people and families, would not be protesting all over Ontario," Visser said. "There's obviously something wrong here and they need to go back to the table and they need to figure this stuff out." Tina Walker has two children on the autism spectrum -- one on the wait list and one in full-time therapy -- and said the program changes are "absolutely devastating." "It feels like we're up against a party who doesn't care about our children, who seems to be wrapped up in just having their own way," Walker said. "(They're saying,) 'We made this decision and we just don't want to back down from this decision no matter the consequences."' With no funding for full-time therapy, her daughter will go into a school system that is unprepared, Walker said. "She is non-verbal, she's not toilet trained, she is a flight risk and she doesn't know about danger, so she doesn't know that if she runs into the street she could be hurt," Walker said. Parents, advocates and some within the school system say if children with autism who are currently in intensive therapy no longer have those costs fully covered, they will be in classrooms before they've had the chance to develop necessary skills. That also means already-stretched educational assistant resources will be spread even thinner. The education minister's office has said she is reviewing the results of an autism pilot project in schools, but the results won't be available until weeks after the autism funding changes have kicked in on April 1. Five education worker unions released a joint statement Thursday condemning the changes to autism funding. "We strongly urge the government to rethink its rash decision-making on the Ontario Autism Program and put the needs of children with autism first," they wrote. "These changes are a devastating blow to thousands of families and will undermine the inclusion of children with autism in the public education system." Three associations representing principals at Ontario's English, Catholic and French boards also raised concerns about the program this week, as did two regional autism service providers. "During consultation meetings with the ministry, Surrey Place provided alternative models for service delivery that focused on evidence based clinical treatment required to meet the individualized needs of children living with autism," Surrey Place said in a statement. "Our recommendations are not reflected in the new model." Ontario Autism Coalition president Laura Kirby-McIntosh said she has confidence that MacLeod and Premier Doug Ford will "see the light." "I believe that in politics it's an honourable thing to say, 'You know what, we kind of goofed. We need to start over,"' she said. "So I'm calling on the premier today: press pause, call stakeholders back to the table, it's not too late to fix this." MacLeod has indicated she will not be making changes to the program. But Kirby-McIntosh said families are not backing down, either. "She may think she's stubborn, but have you met these people?" she said.