| February 23, 2007
PC plan focuses on eliminating
wait list, respecting parents and supporting children
(Ottawa, ON) – Progressive Conservative
Party Leader John Tory today announced a plan to help children with autism
and their parents get the services they need.
“Autism is not just a challenge for
individual kids, but for entire families,” said Tory. “Right now the parents
of more than 1,200 children under the age of six with autism are feeling
like they’ve been abandoned on an island. Their kids languish on a growing
waiting list for vital treatments that have been proven to work.”
Tory released the PC Party Autism
Policy at Children at Risk, Ottawa, an organization which provides training
and support to families with children who are diagnosed within the Autism
Spectrum Disorders. The plan, which would cost an additional $75 million
annually and be implemented after the October election, has several elements:
-
Clearing the wait list for treatment
for children with autism who are under the age of six;
-
Partnering with educators, child support
workers and school boards to ensure that upon reaching school age, children
with autism have the supports they need;
-
Providing 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;
-
Streamlining support for children with
autism by increasing direct funding options and improving the assessment
and regulatory environment;
-
Expanding respite programs so parents
and children with autism can have the opportunity to engage the broader
community and develop other experiences.
“We’re going to do things differently,”
said Tory. “We’re going to do what we say we will do. Clear the waiting
lists, respect parents, and give vulnerable children the support they need
– these steps will be job number one. On this issue, politicians should
not be wearing team sweaters. We should all be on one team working
for these kids and their families.”
Tory added: “People will be able
to rely on my word. We must never put ourselves in a position where
we look back and regret not doing more for these children. We must give
them the supports and programs they need today.”
For more information:
Brendan Howe
(416) 325-0412 |
