Parents of autistic children in London demanded the Wynne government reverse its decision to cut off funding for intensive therapy for kids five and older at a rally on Friday.
The rally held outside of London North Centre MPP Deb Matthews' constituency office on Piccadilly St. was one of many being simultaneously held across the province.
Cynthia Boufford brought her 17-year-old autistic son Gordon with her to prove how effective Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) therapy can be.
"When he was three he didn't understand what words were for. He used them to label things only. If I made any motion like clapping my hands, he couldn't copy that," says Boufford. "Today he can have a full conversation with me, he is doing a supported co-op at East Side Marios, and he is going to be a chef some day. He is going to be independent, that's what IBI did for him."
The province recently announced a new Ontario Autism Program with $333-million in funding but the program limits IBI to children aged two to four.
"The problem is, they (kids) are going to get to school and they're not going to have learning readiness skills. They are not going to have the skills they need to sit in a classroom and learn," says Boufford. "When Gordon got to school he barely had those skills because he hadn't had enough IBI, it took a while but now he goes to a regular high school and he functions."
Anna Van Dyk helped organize the London rally. Her son was diagnosed with autism at age two and received IBI therapy for two and a half years.
"All kids need this. Don't cut anybody out. Don't leave any child behind. Give them what they need to thrive because a stronger child makes a stronger family, makes a stronger community," says Boufford. "It is very stressful to have a child with autism. These families need support."
The new program is slated to begin in 2018.
