New Ontario Funding Information

14 December, 2010

Minister Broten, the Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS), announced $25 million in new funding to provide a new service for Ontario children with autism.

Points to note:

• This funding will be annual.
• It is expected to cover services for 8000 children annually. 
• The program is expected to be in place by late spring 2011.

ABA Life Skills:

• All children, up to 18 years of age, who have a diagnosis of ASD (including Asperger's and PDD-NOS) will qualify for this new program.
• The service will provide ABA therapy through six to eight week long modules. The modules will be on various life skills. Parents can access these modules for their children based on the parent's choices of what life skills are most needed for their child. 
• There will be no limit as to the number of modules per child/family, it will be on an as needed basis until the child turns 19.

In addition:

• There will be an independent review system set up that parents can appeal to when they feel their child has been unfairly discharged from the IBI program.
• Benchmarks will be dropped for the time being until a separate independent expert clinical panel is convened to review and adjust the current benchmarks.
• MCYS is working to provide a seamless service for children with autism that carries into adulthood by fostering a cooperation between government ministries.

For the lastest information upadte go to:

Ministry of Children and Youth Services