Ford government’s bait-and-switch on autism
For some time now research has shown that early intervention leads to better outcomes for kids with autism.
So it’s hard to overstate how difficult it is for parents to sit on waiting lists that stretch for years to get the government-funded autism supports their children so desperately need.
That terrible wait is the piece of this challenging health care file that the Ford government decided to tackle by doubling the funding to get kids assessed faster and handing money directly to families to clear the waitlist for autism services within the next 18 months.
If the government could actually deliver on that promise — and it seems impossible given the shortage of qualified professionals in the system — this new direction would provide some immediate relief to families in need.
But it comes at an incredibly steep price for all kids with autism down the line. And those with the greatest need are at particular risk of getting far less support.
And it provides even more cause for concern about the Ford government’s plans for broader health care reforms.
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