May 16, 2022
The plan is to open 40 family connections centres across the province and four are slated to provide services under a pilot program next year. Families of autistic children will no longer get the current funding of up to $22,000 a year until age six and $6,000 annually to age 18. Instead, they’ll be provided services through the new system. Parents believe it's unrealistic to put in place a no-wait system that won’t require assessments or a diagnosis due to a shortage of healthcare professionals. The province is working with service providers to bring multidisciplinary teams together for the program. It's giving community agencies until July to tender for implementation of the program and contracts will be awarded in the fall.