loading...
Adrienne Janfield and Lisa Watson were among a group of about 10 moms who protested outside Kelowna-Mission MLA Steve Thomson's office this morning. (Photo Adrian Nieoczym)
A group of about 10 mothers gathered with their protest signs in front of Kelowna-Mission MLA, Steve Thomson’s office this morning, to express their outrage at his government’s cuts to autism programs.
“In the long term, the government is being shortsighted,” said organizer Lisa Watson.
The B.C. government is chopping the Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention program, which currently serves about 70 autistic children under the age of six at a cost of $5 million. The money is being redirected to regular autism programs serving approximately 800 children.
The province is also closing the Provincial Office for the Infant Development Program which provides services to families of infants with disabilities or who are at risk for developmental concerns.
Watson said that by not spending money to support children with disabilities now, the government risks having to spend a lot more when they become adults because they will be less likely to be self-sufficient.
“They aren’t making our children a priority,” she added.
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental condition that impacts normal brain development and can affect a child’s motor-skills and their ability to socialize and communicate.
While there is no cure, early therapies and interventions can improve quality of life and help children get to a point where they can attend school with other kids and grow into functioning adults who are capable of living in the community rather than institutions.
Watson is the parent of a five-year-old boy in an EIBI program. He spends 20 hours a week in one-on-one therapy that includes time with occupational and speech therapists.
“He’s got more language, less tantruming,” she said about the effects of the program on her son. “He’s more engaged and has more eye contact with adults and children.”
Watson added that the cut won’t affect her son much, as he’s nearing the end of the program but for others, “it’s going to be devastating.”
“It’s going to be bad and I think it will be a few years before we see the ripple effect.”
Thomson, who is also the Minister of Agriculture, was in Victoria this morning, so did not see the protesters.
One of his constituency assistants said he and Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick met with a group of parents about this issue on Oct. 13.
She added that Thomson intends to also meet with the executive director of the Central Okanagan Child Development Association, a local non-profit which provides services to families with autistic children.
adrian@kelowna.com
250-575-3517
Related stories:
- Cuts to autism ‘leaving children behind’
- B.C. government axes intensive therapy program for autistic children
Tags: autism, government cuts, Kelowna, steve thomson
