Autism support services: Ontario needs to ante up, advocate says
Sudbury Developmental Services is close to signing a contract with its caregivers for autistic adults.
The organization provides programs and assisted living for those with developmental disabilities.
But executive director Mila Wong said she's waiting for the province to make good on its promise of more money for support workers.
The report also recommends providing services to children at a younger age, she noted.
Wong said earlier intervention is better, “not just for the patients, but for the families. If these interventions are started early and as they age, there will be improvement although there is no cure, you can modify behaviour.”
She said she feels the report advocates a more integrated approach to behavioural therapy — and that funding for more holistic care is needed now, in order to sign a new contract.
“To treat a human being as a whole person, because every challenge is interconnected,” she said.
“If we provide services that are fragmented, you never get to fix the whole problem.”
Wong added she also advocates direct funding to families so they can choose behavioural therapists to meet their needs.