Local Member of Provincial Parliament, John Yakabuski, says it’s important to provide more families the support and services they need as soon as possible. The MPP was reacting to the announcement this week that the province has decided to develop a new autism advisory panel. The needs-based program for autistic children will be established next year with feedback submitted by the end of the summer. The autism advisory panel will examine results from online surveys, telephone town halls, and written submissions as well as relevant evidence and data while submitting their advice. The Minister of Children, Community and Social Services says the new program will include continued services for families with existing behaviour plans. The province will continue to issue childhood budgets as the government works towards the needs based program. Social Services Minister Todd Smith apologized for the earlier version of the program, which based funding solely on age and family income. Yakabuski says he looks forward to hearing the recommendations put forward by the panel. The provincial government is investing an additional $278-million into the autism program in Ontario.
