Election: Pringle, Liberals on autism

NEWS RELEASES

JOSH PRINGLE PROGRESSIVE CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE SAULT STE. MARIE

LIBERAL PARTY OF ONTARIO

************************* A John Tory government will deliver to respect and fair funding to families dealing with autism

Autism like other disabilities is not just a challenge for individual children, but for entire families.

“I can relate to these families as I have a young brother in the school system with cerebral palsy. I understand that for children with autism and their families - every day brings challenges in areas the rest of us take for granted. Addressing this issue is about building the kind of caring compassionate community and society we all want to see,” said Pringle.

Since the last election, not only has the McGuinty government ignored Dalton McGuinty's written commitment - they have actively stood in the way.

Dalton McGuinty failed to introduce IBI and ABA capacity into the public school system.

A John Tory PC government will invest an additional $75 million annually in their plan to:

- Clear the wait list for treatment for children with autism who are under the age of six.

- Partner with educators, child support workers and school boards to ensure that upon reaching school age, children with autism have the supports they need.

- Provide flexibility and choice for parents by giving them the option of whether to use regional service providers for autism therapy or take direct funding for accredited outside providers instead.

- Streamline support for children with autism by increasing direct funding options and improving the assessment and regulatory environment.

- Expand respite programs so parents and children with autism can have the opportunity to engage the broader community and develop other experiences.

Days before the 2003 election, Dalton McGuinty wrote a letter to Nancy Morrison, the mother of an autistic child promising that, if elected, a McGuinty government would end the age cutoff for children in the IBI program.

He called the practice “unfair and discriminatory."

Following the election, the McGuinty government did nothing to meet these specific commitments and completely reversed its position by appealing an Ontario Superior Court ruling that the provincial government had violated the constitutional rights of autistic children by cutting off funding for IBI at the age of six.

In July 2006, despite the appeal, given the political pressure placed on the government by the families, the government finally made the policy change and removed the age restriction for IBI on the basis of age.

Although the policy barrier was removed, a practical barrier was created by the increased wait list for treatment; not only did children six years of age and older not have access to treatment, but those under six were now not able to access services either.

The children and their families were no further ahead.

As of August 17th 2007, there were more than 1,000 children sitting on waitlists unable to access the autism services they require.

In June 2007 Dalton McGuinty dragged Shelley Martel to court after she filed a freedom of information request to reveal how much the government spent defending against a lawsuit filed by parents of children with autism.

John Tory commented after that: “Our party fully supports Shelley Martel’s efforts to get this information released. She has been a diligent advocate on behalf of children with autism and Dalton McGuinty should stop stonewalling her,” said Tory. “This is taxpayers’ money that should be spent on reducing the wait list for treatment for children with autism, not on lawyers defending Dalton McGuinty’s broken promise. You have to wonder what Mr. McGuinty is trying to hide.”

John Tory appeared at the courthouse to show his solidarity for Ms. Martel’s case stating “I think this issue goes well beyond partisanship.”

Ultimately Dalton McGuinty was forced to disclose that the government spent more than $2.4 million in taxpayer dollars on a seven-year court battle with parents of autistic children.

John Tory supported the court decision and said it was a step toward more government transparency.

************************* Abridged Liberal Party release: NDP candidate leaves party

TORONTO, ON – A parent wants to set the record straight regarding her experience with the current government regarding treatment and care funding for her 16-year-old son and the so-called "Autism file."

Cynthia Cameron, a former NDP candidate who is no longer connected to the party—states that the current government has in fact done a good job regarding the start-up of the provision of complex care residential funding and supports for her son, Jesse Cameron, who has autism spectrum disorder (ASD). “We fought a very public battle in Ontario for three years regarding this funding mechanism being placed into the community from the Children’s Aid Society (CAS) to retain custody of our son and receive desperately needed supports."

Cameron adds that the current government has begun a transformation process which must continue, particularly for youth transitioning into the adult developmental sector: “this is not only about ABI funding, which is not the only treatment that benefits those with ASD or an intellectual disability, nor is it something all people wish to acquire for their loved ones…this is a far broader issue than ABI funding for individuals with autism spectrum disorder." Cameron believes that it is critical that the citizens of Ontario understand that autism — which is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain - is not only about the ABI funding issue.

Families of people with autism and the individuals themselves require flexible, annual and inclusive supports such as respite services, in-home supports, complex care residential funding for youth and adults (when no other option is viable) and more.

Cameron is not supporting any candidate or party in this election.

“As a constituent in the riding of York-Simcoe where Nancy Morrison, an NDP candidate is running on a very specific Autism agenda, I will be monitoring what all candidates from all parties present as their position regarding support for people with intellectual disabilities, including that current funding commitments are honoured by the Government of Ontario," Cameron stated.

Good government has a moral obligation and shared responsibility to enable all individuals to be full citizens of our society.

One way to do that, Cameron insists is by building capacity within the current system.

“By walking away from a political party I was only briefly involved with, I am demonstrating that I no longer support the idea that politics should be in the autism file, or within the developmental sector at all."

“Families should not be used and paraded in front of cameras for the agendas of political gain for some politicians; that has become very transparent to voters in Ontario."

“My son has a successful residential placement we enjoy at Blooming Acres and will be there for the long-term into adulthood. This has served to assist very well in facilitating his contribution to our community.”

*************************