Parents of children with autism protested on Talbot Street on Tuesday (August 6) near Minister Jeff Yurek’s office to let the government know that they have not gone away.
Parents have been protesting the importance of a needs based funding formula since the government announced their plan to move to a system that based funding solely on age and family income and capped funding for children over 6 at $5,000 per a year.
Community and Social Services Minister Todd Smith recently announced they were dropping the controversial new funding model and going to a needs-based program, but not until next year.
31 year old Elsbeth Dodman who is autistic says that while going back to a needs based funding system is positive and what they’ve been asking for, having to wait until next year for it will put some children behind.
Dodman says that they would also like to see society become more accessible and welcoming to people with disabilities so they can be seen as full persons.
