Bruce Grey Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker is blasting the government for cutting autism therapy for children.
Walker would like the government to reverse a decision and allow children over five to access Intensive Behavioral Intervention therapy.
The government terminated the treatment for those children as of May 1st, even though Walker says it is considered effective and life changing for many children.
He says Ministry of Children and Youth Services numbers show 85 per cent of children who receive the therapy are over 5.
Walker says families should not go bankrupt to pay for treatment, and suggests withholding the treatment violates children's rights.
“Autism doesn’t end at five,” added MPP Walker. “This is inherently wrong. Families should not go bankrupt in order to pay for treatment for their child. This goes beyond just being a critical health issue. Withholding IBI treatment violates the child’s rights.”
MPP Walker was one among 11 other members who shared during Question Period a story from their constituency.
“I told the story of Valerie’s grandson. In Valerie’s words, ‘He has now been considered trash, unfixable because of his age. The provincial lifetime buyout to parents of $8,000 when therapy can cost up to $5,000 a year—is this what you call equality for children in Ontario?” MPP Walker challenged in Question Period on May 5.
“All of us are deeply disappointed that the Premier and the Minister responsible are refusing to recognize IBI as medically necessary treatment and pay for it for all Ontario children who need it,” said MPP Walker.
Minister of Children and Youth Services Tracy MacCharles says affected children will be transitioned to a waiting list for a restructured program.
She explains, "Then they will move up the wait list for the new program, and hopefully be at the top of that wait list, and that they get the intensity and the duration of services that they need to reach their full potential."
