GTA

Autism parents exhausted with long waits for Ontario’s new program

Jessica Szucki’s three young children with autism have waited nearly 12 months to take advantage of the province’s new program — and they’re still waiting.

“It’s exhausting,” said Szucki. “You never know where the next therapy is going to come from.”

Right now, Szucki — a single mother —pays out of pocket for most of her children’s autism support. When all three of her boys required specialized therapy, it totalled $450 per month.

“I go without, so they have [what they need],” said Szucki.

With Ontario’s new program, announced last June, she’s hoping most of those expenses will be covered. But she has no idea when that will happen.

“That’s one of the biggest things that autism parents have; it’s a whole lot of hurry up and wait,” said Szucki.

Her three children Lennon, 3, Cooper, 5, and Dryden, 6, are all at different places on the autism spectrum. Szucki’s oldest is non-verbal and recently potty trained, with her youngest being much more social with a great memory.

“Families deserve to know when their children can expect services, and we are collecting data that will help us manage wait times,” said ministry spokesperson Genevieve Oger in an email to CBC News. “We will continue monitoring wait times, while also expanding services so more children and youth with autism can receive the supports they need.”

Families at the top of the list are ones that registered in August, 2016, meaning the province is about two years behind.

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