earlier this week, the first ontario provincial legislature after the winter break was overshadowed by the queen’s park rally of those against the ford government’s overhaul of the ontario autism program (oap).
in december, social services minister todd smith said that the new needs-based autism program will be phased out over two years, as opposed to the previous date of april 2020. around five buses full of parents, advocates and those with autism arrived to protest the continued delay of essential services.
vanessa coens, who works with autism ontario, has two autistic boys, one twelve and one ten years old. through various therapies and supports they no longer require educational assistance at school. but her nephew, who is in the first grade, faces a different challenge.
“he’s one of those children who had full day support and is now down to half days with movement and toilet breaks. he’s not fully toilet trained,” says coens. “when i think of who is getting hurt, it’s him and all the other children who require that extra level of support. hopefully, they can get to a place one day where [the support] isn’t needed anymore, but know it’s there if they do need it.”
coens believes the provincial government should follow the recommendations set out in an october
report
from the oap advisory panel. the report was compiled by parents of children and youth on the autism spectrum, clinicians, researchers, autistic adults, service providers, former public servants and others who have professional and personal experience with individuals on the autism spectrum.