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Ontario government rethinks treatment options for autistic kids

A Sudbury mother and advocate for autistic children is breathing a sigh of relief.
Wendy Bird · CBC News ·
Parents of children with autism in Ontario spent the spring protesting over Ontario's plan to cut funding for behavioural treatment for kids over the age of 5. But on Tuesday, the province pushed the reset button on that plan. Sudbury's Andrea Felsman is relieved to hear the news. Her five-year-old son Rielly has autism. (Facebook)

A Sudbury mother and advocate for autistic children is breathing a sigh of relief.

On Tuesday, the province announced new investments for autism treatment.

All children will be eligible for Intensive Behavioural Intervention, no matter how old they are.

Andrea Felsman, whose five-year-old son has autism, says she's relieved to hear the news.

"I think it will change everything," she says.

"I mean, it will give [my son] the tools now, at a young age, to be able to, to learn in a regular school system ... which is our hope."

The Liberals had previously announced Ontario would stop funding IBI treatment for kids older than four.

But even with the government's change in autism funding, Felsman says there are still groups that feel like they're being left out.

She says there needs to more programs for autistic youth and adults.

Listen to the interview with Felsman on CBC Sudbury Up North radio program.

Up North7:57Sudbury parent relieved all children will get treatment for autism
Parents of children with autism in Ontario spent the spring protesting over Ontario's plan to cut funding for behavioural treatment for kids over the age of 5. But yesterday, the province pushed the reset button on that plan. Sudbury's Andrea Felsman is r

With files from Jason Turnbull.

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