David BridgesB次元官网网址� son, Cameron, was in B次元官网网址渄ire straits,B次元官网网址� attacking others and risking his safety by trying to run into traffic, at a time when no autism support or funding was available early in his life.

B次元官网网址淣ow heB次元官网网址檚 living a fantastic life, largely thanks to the funding that was available to us,B次元官网网址� Bridges said of his now 27-year-old son. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been almost like a life-or-death kind of change for him and heB次元官网网址檚 a happy boy and heB次元官网网址檚 able to go to work, heB次元官网网址檚 able to participate safely in activities in society and weB次元官网网址檙e so happy for him.B次元官网网址�

ThatB次元官网网址檚 because Cameron received individualized care while growing up, Bridges said, a B次元官网网址渓ifeline for parents.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 also why the Langley father and his wife Michelle took part in a small event outside the B.C. legislature on Wednesday (Feb. 9) that saw parents, family members and opposition MLAs call on the province to end its plan to phase out individualized funding for neurodiverse children and youth.

Under the new system, families will receive services at community-based hubs by March 2025 and wonB次元官网网址檛 need a diagnosis to access medical care and provincial support.

Elena Lawson, one of the parents who organized WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 event, is concerned B.C. is taking an approach similar to Ontario, which has seen its autism services wait list balloon to more than 50,000 people.

B次元官网网址淲e canB次元官网网址檛 have that here,B次元官网网址� she said, adding parents have spent years building support teams for their children. B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 all getting ripped away from us.B次元官网网址�

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The province is running information and outreach sessions until this spring to B次元官网网址済ather input and help with a smooth transition for families and service providers.B次元官网网址�

In LawsonB次元官网网址檚 experience, she said consultation has basically been non-existent so far. An online information session she attended late last year saw participants muted, she said, which felt as if the government was boasting about the hub model instead of fielding concerns.

WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 demonstration heard accounts from parents who have seen positive transformations in their children B次元官网网址� as well as people on the spectrum whoB次元官网网址檝e experienced it for themselves B次元官网网址� due to the individualized funding system.

Burnaby resident Diane Pearce said her daughter, Madison Ross, couldnB次元官网网址檛 read, write or count until she received specialized education. B次元官网网址淧lease listen to the kids, (who) know what works best for them,B次元官网网址� Ross told the crowd.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 devastating, my son will be affected by this. ThereB次元官网网址檚 going to be regression,B次元官网网址� Lawson said. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e worked so hard to build support for your child and theyB次元官网网址檙e so successful, and now (thatB次元官网网址檚) being ripped away and you donB次元官网网址檛 know what the future holds.B次元官网网址�

The Ministry of Children and Family Development says parents and advocates have told them that the current system isnB次元官网网址檛 working, leaving children unable to access help. The new B次元官网网址渇lexible,B次元官网网址� trauma-informed, needs-based system will increase support levels for children in rural and remote communities and allow every family to access support, said Kirsten Lauvaas, a ministry spokesperson.

B次元官网网址淭his idea that you can make sweeping changes without talking to the people that are affected is an unfortunate pattern that weB次元官网网址檝e seen with this government,B次元官网网址� said newly minted B.C. Liberal leader Kevin Falcon, during a brief appearance at the event. B次元官网网址淭here is nothing more important than our children when making sure that they get the best possible services they deserve and (families) know what those services are.B次元官网网址�

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