Photo via Chris Rose Therapy Centre for Autism

The Chris Rose Therapy Centre for Autism in Kamloops is lauding the BC Government’s plans to retract plans to scrap individualized funding for children with autism.

Executive Director Wanda Eddy says she is quite happy about Premier David Eby’s announcement last week to not follow through with the plan that was first announced in October 2021.

“I was shocked, so happy, and so surprised,” she exclaimed. “I’m happy because ultimately, it is for the children. Ultimately, that’s who won on Friday, we hope.”

The BC Government paused opening 40 so-called family connections centres, or hubs, to provide services, instead of directly funding parents, with the exception of four pilot locations.

It means that families of children with autism will be able to continue getting up to $22,000 a year until the child turns six, and $6,000 annually after that until they turn 18; which Eddy says is relieving for families.

“A lot of families have a program that works for their children, and they’ve worked hard to get that program to secure the therapists that they need and the workers that work for their child, and there was just a lot of anxiety around what it would have meant if they didn’t have that service anymore.”

However, Eddy says there are still some concerns about what will happen to the funding model in the future.

“It’s difficult for them to think what’s going to happen and the deadline is 2025. What does that mean? What is that going to look like?” she questioned.

“Whether its indefinitely going to go or stay indefinitely, I don’t think we really know that answer, but at least we know there’s going to be consultations to look at the whole model.”

Premier David Eby and Children and Family Development Minister Mitzi Dean say the government will be “engaging in deeper consultation” with parents, caregivers, and more, which Eddy hopes will be to discuss various things including addressing long waitlists for an autism diagnosis.

While it’s unknown what will happen with the funding model for children with autism in the future, Eddy says having the province pause the October 2021 plan is a good first step.

–With Files from The Canadian Press