Ontario government rethinks treatment options for autistic kids

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

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

• Ontario parents scramble to pay for autism therapy after government cuts

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 7:57