Autism Program Funding Cuts
The government restructured autism funding in ways that drastically reduced support for many families, then partially reversed after massive protests.
📁 A reversed Other policy from February 2019 · Implemented · Well sourced
Updated · Created
"Making Services Accessible"
Redesigning the Ontario Autism Program to clear the waitlist and provide all children with some level of funding for therapy.
"Our motivation has always been to ensure that every child that has autism in the province of Ontario receives support from their Ontario government."
— Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, April 2019
"$5K for Children Who Need $80K"
The "reformed" program offered $5,000/year per child when evidence-based therapy costs $60-80K/year. Children with severe autism cannot access meaningful treatment, and 85,000+ remain waitlisted.
- $5,000/year funding for therapy that costs $60-80K/yearsource
- 85,000+ children registered, with only ~23% receiving core clinical servicessource
- Parents forced to sell homes, go into debt for private therapysource
- Previous program provided needs-based funding up to $80K/yearsource
This section represents editorial interpretation of documented evidence.
Figures are approximate, using publicly available Ontario cost data.
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