JONES QUESTIONS MINISTER AGAIN ON PROVINCE’S AUTISM STRATEGY

(Queen’s Park) – Today, Sylvia Jones MPP Dufferin-Caledon again called on the Minister of Children and Youth Services to reverse her decision to remove children over the age of 5 from receiving IBI therapy, until she develops a coordinated provincial Autism strategy.

Yesterday, Ontario’s Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth released his report titled We Have Something to Say which outlines the challenges facing young people with special needs.

In the report it includes a story of a family with a child with Autism that sold nearly everything and were on the verge of selling their house till they received a call that their child will be receiving provincially funded IBI therapy. “Had this child been under the government’s new Autism strategy, this family would be left with nothing,” Jones said.

“Now that the Minister has cut-off children over the age of 5 from accessing IBI therapy, families are being forced to sell everything and take out loans, just to give their child privately funded IBI therapy,” Jones said.

“The Minister has said she is open to suggestions. Here’s our suggestion: stop removing kids over the age of 5 from receiving IBI therapy until we have a coordinated provincial Autism strategy that provides support for everyone, no matter what their age or developmental stage is. Autism doesn’t end at 5,” Jones said.

To read more about what Jones is doing in the Legislature please visit: www.sylviajonesmpp.ca.

-30-

For more information, contact:
Christopher Dacunha
416-325-1898
sylvia.jonesla@pc.ola.org