Okanagan parents fear new funding model will hurt children on autism spectrum
Global News
The province said it's investing an unprecedented $475 million for the new model over three years to support children in need.
Sarah Balkenhol is deeply concerned about a new funding model and what it will mean for two of her four children on the autism spectrum.
“Regression is very common in autism,” Balkenhol said. “There will be negative consequences for many families.”
The West Kelowna, B.C., mom says under the new “needs-based model,” therapy funding for her boys will drop by thousands of dollars, nearly two-thirds of what the boys currently receive.
“It’s going to be a choice between feeding my family or accessing therapy for my kids,” Balkenhol said.
The new model, Balkenhol said, will classify her two boys, aged two and five, as having only moderate needs, resulting in the reduced funding.
She also says they will qualify for less funding because they only have an autism diagnosis and nothing else.
“Your children are not disabled enough to receive funds,” she said, as she described learning of the significant reduction in funding. “Where I struggle with that is that we’ve done hours and hours of therapy to get to the point we are today.”
Brandi Neff is another concerned West Kelowna mother.
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