Sask. Party promises to increase autism funding for children

The Saskatchewan Party is promising to expand individualized funding for autism in Saskatchewan.

Party leader Scott Moe announced eligibility for individualized autism funding will be expanded to include children up to 11 years old during a media conference Tuesday at the Saskatoon Autism Behavioural Analysis Treatment Centre. Each child will be eligible for up to $6,000 per year.

“This expansion is just the next step in enhancement of autism services here in Saskatchewan,” Moe said.

“We want to work with parents, we want to work with stakeholders, our health-care providers, everyone that has an interest in ensuring children with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) receive the support that they need.”

Expanding the current age limit from six to 11 will help get roughly 1,500 children with autism spectrum disorder the funding they need for therapies and supports beginning in 2021.

Shannon Hill, behaviour consultant and owner of the Saskatoon Autism Behavior Analysis Treatment Centre, described how this funding will be used.

“This type of funding is really crucial for those school-aged kids,” Hill said, noting the funding gap after a child’s seventh birthday.

“After age six they still need some supports. This is really, really important for those kids that sort of missed out on intervention … but the kids that had intervention up until that point and then were able to continue that care further on, it’s super important for that.”

Expanding autism services is expected to cost $6 million per year if the party is elected on Oct. 26.

In the province’s most recent budget, individualized funding for autism services was increased to $8,000 per year for children six years of age and younger.

The Sask. Party election platform in 2016 wanted to increase funding for children under six to between $15,000 and $18,000.

Moe wouldn’t say if that’s still a target goal for the party.

“This is a step in the process,” Moe said. “If there are additional supports that may be required, we most certainly will consider those at that point and time.”

The Sask. Party has no intention of expanding services for people over 11 years old at this time.

With more campaign announcements and promises that often come with a sizable amount of money, Moe maintained the Sask. Party is committed to balancing the budget by 2024.

“All of the announcements that we are making, have made and will continue to make will be incorporated into that plan to balance the budget by 2024,” Moe said.

“We have an opportunity as the world recovers post-pandemic, whenever that is.”

Moe touted the province’s reopening plan and its role in boosting the economy, but wouldn’t reveal anything more about his strategy to balance the budget — either through borrowing or cutting services.