April 12, 2007

Building And Improving The Continuum Of Services For Ontario Children And Youth With Autism

• Ontario children do not age out of autism services: In July 2005, the McGuinty government ended the policy of cutting kids off of IBI services at age 6.
• More children receiving service: More than 1,100 children are now receiving Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI), more than double the number of children receiving IBI in April 2004.
• More investments: increased funding to nearly $130 million in 2007-08—nearly tripling the support for children with autism and their families since 2003-04.
• More therapists: more than 165 new therapists have been hired since 2004 and the government has established an Ontario College Graduate Certificate Program in Autism and Behavioural Science – 100 graduates in 2006, another 100 expected by the end of this month, and a target enrolment of 200 in 2008/09.
• Reduced wait list for assessment: the number of children waiting for assessments has been reduced by approximately 73 per cent since 2004.
• More support in early years: the government is investing in training 1,600 childhood educators and child care workers who work with children with autism through the Geneva Centre for Autism – a $6 million investment over three years.
• More support in our schools: the government is investing in training up to 5,000 teacher assistants who help students with autism – a $5 million investment over two years – and is directing school boards on the use of ABA, an effective teaching approach for many students with autism.
  

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