By: Kayla Guerrette
Although the Saskatchewan government has once again promised to expand funding for autism families, Amanda Hayward — a mother of two autistic sons — doesn’t believe it’s going to happen.
“I quit my job to be at home so I could better support my son,” said Hayward whose seven- year-old son needs more care than his high-functioning 10-year-old brother. “I know that I am lucky, that not all families are able to do what ours is able to do.
“I don’t feel like the support is here. There’s no one here that is certified in applied behaviour analysis. Respite is also important and we don’t have the providers in Regina.”
Hayward heard a similar promise 4 1/2 years ago when then-Premier Brad Wall said he would introduce $4,000 in individual funding beginning in the 2017-18 fiscal year, with the amount rising to $8,000 per child by 2019-20. Hayward said she did not receives any funding from the program, apparently because her son was one month too old to qualify.
Louise Burridge is an occupational therapist in Saskatoon who works with autistic and Down syndrome children but has not met Hayward’s children. She understands Hayward’s frustrations.
“When it comes to autism things get tricky,” said Burridge. “One child may not be able to speak so a parent will take that individualized funding towards a speech pathologist. It will deplete the funding available for that family but the care for the child does not end there.
“Parents fight and feel that individualized funding is so important to have but from my standpoint it can only help short-term.”
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit things became even more challenging for Hayward.
“Many programs have been shut down or been decreased and what’s being told to us is there is no plan to re-open anything over the next year,” said Hayward. “I know a lot of people are moving away from Saskatchewan but then you have to think of the whole cost of relocating.”
The occupational therapist believes the province can take a page from how Alberta is helping children with autism.
“If we could turn away from individual funding and the province invest in a public funding initiate that moves more towards strengthening an autism pathway that consists of a space of many experts. We would be able to come up with individualized plans that would best support children with autism in the long term.”
Moe promised earlier in October that if re-elected he would expand individual autism funding for children aged six to 11. He went on to say the program would provide $6,000 per child. Moe’s Sask Party government was re-elected on Monday.
“Parents will be able to choose from a range of therapeutic supports and interventions that may benefit their child,” Moe said, according to the Sask Party website, adding that around 500 children under the age of six currently receive funding.
“The new promise is worse than the last election,” said Hayward. “We haven’t received any funding at this point and my son should have received something under the last government announcement because he was under 18 years old but they didn’t keep their promise. So, what hope do I have that they are going to come through on this one?
Before Monday’s election Sask Party candidate Tina Beaudry-Mellor paid Hayward a visit and spoke with her about her concerns and how the party is planning to further help autism families like hers if re-elected.
The Sask Party was contacted and were not available for further comment.
