CANADA
'Give autistic kids a chance'
Standing behind a wooden podium outside Tom Davies Square, 10-year-old Matteo Raso strained to pull the stationary microphone down to his mouth so he could address the crowd gathered for an event on autism. His mother and younger sister sit attentively listening to the articulate boy's story about how it feels to struggle with autism.
Raso was diagnosed with autism at the age of six. He wasn't able to speak until he was four. The diagnosis does not bother Raso, who, in a self-assured voice, said he is proud of who he is. Despite being bullied in school for his "constant questions," Raso sees himself as a miniature Einstein because of his curiosity and love of science. "Maybe I could be the next Einstein," he said. "Give autistic kids a chance."
Raso spoke to the crowd as part of an event signifying the arrival of members from Run for the Dream, a cross-Canada trek meant to raise awareness and funds for autism.
Mississauga athlete Jonathan Howard marked the halfway point of his run for the disorder and aims to raise $2.5 million by the end of his journey. "I chose autism because it is on the rise," he told the crowd. "A few years ago, the rates were one in 1,000 children would have autism, now it is one in 165." Howard was joined by friend Terry Robinson, a two-time Paraolympian who suffers from cerebral palsy. Robinson is participating in the Ottawa-to-Winnipeg leg of the run.
Discussion at the event turned to the struggle of social agency Child Care Resources. The organization is in a dispute with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services over funds the agency says it was promised by the province.
Maxine King, chair of the Child Care Resources board, said the ministry told them to make more spaces available for clients needing intensive behavioural intervention (IBI) therapy. The treatment is designed to provide individualized care and education for children with varying levels of autism. King said they began providing the treatment to more children after the ministry promised additional funding but were recently informed the money was no longer coming.
"They would periodically flow money through and when it got to the end of the year we found that we were short $122,000," she said. "They guaranteed they would cover the increased costs ... they have an outstanding bill that has not been paid." King said they had a 58 per cent increase in services to children in 2007-08, but only received a 31 per cent increase in funding. "Clearly, those don't line up," she said.
The ministry has now said they do not have the cash to cover the cost and Child Care Resources has been forced to close enrollment. This means the already lengthy wait times will be extended. MPP France Gelinas was at the event and said while the average wait time is 17 months, she has heard of families who have waited three to seven years for IBI.
Child Care Resources is now facing a $2.5-million deficit and board members are concerned they may be financially responsible for the shortfall. An investigation by the ministry examining the funding discrepancy has been completed and King said the results support their assertion that the province is responsible. The board will be speaking with the Minister of Children and Youth Services, Deb Matthews, on Thursday and King hopes it will be a step toward resolving the issue.
"There is now a trust issue," she said. "We are definitely going to change the way we work in the future. We won't make anymore changes until we see the money first."
Angela Scappatura
14 August 2008
