Sask. families react to increased autism funding

More autism supports are coming for some Saskatchewan families.

But for many, they will still be on their own.

Beginning in 2021, families with an autistic child under the age of 12 will be eligible to receive $6,000 a year for therapeutic supports–an age increase of six years, as currently children under the age of six in the province are able to receive the $6,000 in funding.

Saskatchewan Premier, Scott Moe, spoke about the funding age increase in his throne speech on Monday, Nov. 30.

Katie Emde is an outspoken advocate for autism supports in the province. She also has a nine-year-old son with autism named Avery. She says the new age increase for funding is a great start in getting more families the support they need.

“This is something as a province that this government needed to address. There is a lot of families that have a lot of kids, multiple kids that are on the spectrum or just one that needs to be supported,” Emde said. “This funding is just one more step and one more way that families can get some help.

“Things are definitely going in the right direction, but as a parent with a child on the spectrum, I think that there shouldn’t be an age attached to it.”

Many parents we spoke with were quick to voice their concerns about the funding stopping at age 12, saying the need for therapeutic supports does not end.

“I personally feel like this government always puts an age on autism. These kids need lifelong support. They need consistency of funding, they need consistency of therapy,” Emde said. “These people need to be surrounded by communities that have an understanding of acceptance, inclusion, and long-lasting supports.

“So many families in this province can’t afford the support they need. Some families have had to remortgage their home or claim bankruptcy. These are huge realities that nobody really talks about. The majority of families in this province that have a child with autism are suffering in silence and that’s the sad truth.”

Rhonda Nimmo, a parent of a 15-year-old child with autism says it’s almost impossible to afford the extra supports that her son needs.

“Our kids don’t grow out of it,” Nimmo said. “We can’t even afford whatever extra supports our kids with disabilities require and I’m not sure if $6,000 is really enough.

“It’s important to acknowledge that their disability isn’t going away after the age of 12. I feel like this is a losing battle, but I’m hoping things will turn around.”

Nimmo’s son will not be a eligible for the funding change starting in 2021.

Moe has been vocal about wanting to work with Saskatchewan residents to get the supports that they need, as he spoke about the desire to make autism supports more accessible to more people in an announcement made on Oct. 6.

“We want to work with parents, we want to work with stakeholders, our health-care providers, everyone that has an interest in ensuring children with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) receive the support that they need,” Moe said. “This is a step in the process. If there are additional supports that may be required, we most certainly will consider those at that point and time.”

Expanding the current age limit from six to 12 will help expand coverage for roughly 1,500 children with autism spectrum disorder throughout the province.

Emde hopes families in the province will continue to be vocal about what they need so that more families can access support.

“There are so many families that live in this province, including myself, that have a child on the spectrum that look at other provinces and what they have to offer,” she said, “When you compare how we are handling things, versus how they supporting their most vulnerable, we are definitely missing the mark in some ways.

“It takes hundreds of families, it takes school providers, it takes therapy centres to start using their voice and advocating and saying that we are missing the mark.”