Liberal government votes against autism therapy for children over five

NEWS RELEASE

PC CAUCUS

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Today in front of many affected families, Ontario’s Liberal Government voted against the Progressive Conservative’s opposition day motion to reinstate life-changing autism therapy for children over the age of five.

As of May 1st, the Liberal Government has terminated Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) therapy for those aged five and above.

“Over the last couple of months, the PC Caucus has shared the stories of families that were counting on IBI as a last hope for their child’s future, only to be told they won’t be getting the treatment they have been waiting years for,” said Patrick Brown, MPP for Simcoe North and Leader of the Official Opposition. “Despite the plea from parents across the province, the Liberal Government continues to show a lack of compassion by cutting these children from needed therapy.”

The Liberals’ decision to cut autism therapy has been met with disbelief by affected families. By the Ministry of Children and Youth Services’ own numbers, approximately 85 percent of children who receive IBI therapy are over the age cut-off.

Children over the age of five still have special needs the province must address, and the wait-list for a less intensive form of therapy, ABA (applied behavioural analysis), is approximately 14,000 children.

“Autism doesn’t end at five, but the Liberal Government continues to cut autism therapy even though it has benefited so many children above the age cut-off,” added Brown. “It’s clear these cuts are the direct result of years of Liberal scandal, waste and mismanagement. Now the Wynne Liberals are attempting to balance the budget on the backs of some of our province’s most vulnerable.” 

“The Liberal Government needs to re-evaluate its priorities, and offer transformational IBI therapy to children over five.”

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