By Bryn Levy

Saskatoon parents push province to keep kids’ autism program

Feb 27, 2015 | 4:54 PM

A group of Saskatoon families are fighting to keep provincial funding for a therapy program for their autistic children.

Autism Services of Saskatoon has operated the Lil Tots program as a pilot project since 2012.

Team lead Jodi Brown said Lil Tots uses an approach called Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) to help kids develop speech and social skills. It’s an intensive process. 20 hours a week of therapy is provided onsite and parents are required to deliver at least five more hours on their own.

Brandie Allan said her three-year-old daughter Luna has made major strides since joining. Over the past year, Allan said Luna has gone from speech skills equivalent to an infant to functioning just below her age level.

Allan said other kids from the program have gone on to elementary school needing only minimal supports. She said she wants the same for her daughter.

Politics

Saskatchewan has cards to play: Moe on tariffs and Trump

3h ago

Ronald McDonald House

Construction to start this spring on P.A. Ronald McDonald House

4h ago

Gun Ban

Ottawa outlaws another 179 types of guns, announces classification review

5h ago

“You get an autism diagnosis and you envision care homes and all types of things in your future, and this program gives you hope,” she said.

But now the program is in jeopardy. Provincial money for the project is set to dry up. That has Allan waiting nervously for the provincial budget, due in March, to see if the funding gets renewed. She said less-effective private therapy costs around $15,000 a year. 

“Come the end of March, if this happens, I don’t know what I’ll do … I am completely distraught at the thought, because I may have to give up my career just to make sure my daughter gets what she needs,” she said.

Allan joined a group of mothers from the program in Regina for a meeting with Health Minister Dustin Duncan.

“They took us seriously, they know it’s important to us. I guess only time will tell if (the funding) makes the cut,” she said.

She said she and the other moms will be heading back to meet with Duncan again on March 16. She said she hopes others will join them in writing their MLAs, signing petitions and advocating for the program.

“These therapists can make a person who wouldn’t otherwise have the ability to speak, communicate with words. What is that worth to the community?  What is it worth to save (the money) we’d all have to pay into social services later on in life to have full time support? I mean, we all know the horror storeis of some of the things that happen to people. Why deny children the right to have a voice? We have the answer and if we don’t provide that, what are we doing here? I mean, to me, that’s not humane at all,” she said.

news@panow.com 

On Twitter:@princealbertnow