Quinte West Council has agreed to back a local autism advocacy group in its battle with the province for better funding and programs.
Erin Rogerson of Quinte Autism Advocates shared her experience with councillors on Monday, telling them about the challenges of raising her autistic son and asked them to write a letter to the province pushing for the reinstatement of the Applied Behaviour Analysis Therapy program.
Rogerson says having access to that program made an incredible difference in her son’s life.
In her presentation, Rogerson noted that there are close to 350 families in the region who are on hold waiting for help in paying for the program, which can cost $60,000 to $80,000 a year.
Erin Rogerson gives a presentation to Quinte West Council, on March 2, 2020, asking for support to push the province to reinstate the Applied Behaviour Analysis autism program. (Photo: David Foot / Quinte News)
Councillor Sally Freeman was one of a number of councillors who supported the request from Rogerson and says if she were MPP Todd Smith, “she wouldn’t be able to look in the mirror knowing kids aren’t getting the services they need”.
Councillors agreed to send the letter with Mayor Jim Harrison saying he hopes the province continues to look at the autism portfolio and increases funding for those programs.
Smith says the Ontario government has already doubled funding for autism programs and is spending $300 million more than the previous government did on that portfolio.
