Currently, the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) provides funding and supports to families whom have children on the Autism spectrum.  The support model design is intended to provide a "needs-based" approach depending on severity of diagnosis, which is reviewed annually.

However, within this needs based system there is a maximum or capped funding amount allocated annually per child regardless of the severity of the needs.  This means for many children, they attend public eduction institutions, generally in special needs classes and use the OAP supports for additional therapy services available.  

If a child has severe behavioural, social or life skill challenges that are especially difficult to manage within a public education environment, there is no recourse or funding exception process to account for children with extraordinary needs that cannot attend or thrive in Ontario schools but rather require full time ABA or other therapies.

The public education system is not designed for these extraordinary needs and the full time school staff lack appropriate training or qualifications to work effectively in these circumstances.  Support teams are typically brought in to counsel, build programs, model and measure the performance of the day to day staff supporting these children. 

2 critical areas of concern:

• Inability for these children to receive an education under Canadian Human rights.  The education they require is typically not academic in nature, but rather life skills, behaviour management, necessities building and is not what the Ontario school boards are designed to do.
• Tax revenue/funding misappropriation.  This situation leads to three times more total tax funds being spent within the Ministry of Education budget in an attempt - often unsuccessful - to accommodate these students within classrooms.  Cutting the budget of one Ministry (The Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services) and spending 3x on the same child in another Ministry is irresponsible and illogical.

Our son Logan, like many other children, is one such child on the severe end of the Autism spectrum. The recent funding cuts have had a devastating impact on his education, mental health, social engagement, and overall well-being. Instead of receiving ABA therapy that specifically allows him to build skills and learning that would support his societal effectiveness now and in later years, he's been thrust into a public school system that is ill-equipped to handle his behaviours, his learning methods and his needs overall.

We urge our government officials to provide an exception for severe cases under OAP and allocate sufficient funds towards scientifically proven 1:1 support programs for autistic students who cannot attend public school effectively. By doing so, we can ensure that all our kids get the right of education set forth in this country while also making efficient use of Provincial public funds.

Please sign this petition if you believe the government should be held accountable to properly spend taxpayers money and providing an effective needs based process based on what is best for your child or a child with Autism that you know.