Exclusion is not Inclusion: No Autistic or Disabled Child Left Behind

Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia

BC Families for Fair Autism Funding

As British Columbia moves to a new disability funding system under the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD), we, the undersigned residents of British Columbia, call on the Government of British Columbia to ensure the constitutional rights of autistic and disabled children are respected.

Though many disabled children will be able to access funding for the first time through this new Children and Youth with Support Needs (CYSN) model, thousands of autistic and disabled kids face a reduction in their funding, or are losing it entirely. This is not right. Autistic and disabled children have a right to dignity and inclusion.

Families rely on individual funding in order to access meaningful, timely, professional therapies and supports that best fit their circumstances, so that every disabled child gets the support they require to reach their full potential and best possible outcomes. All disabilities deserve equal access: Equity should expand support, not subtract from it.

To: Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia
From: [Your Name]

To the Honourable the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, in Legislature Assembled:

We, residents of British Columbia, draw the attention of the Legislative Assembly to the following:

That children and youth with disabilities in British Columbia rely on individualized funding to access therapies and services that meet their unique needs;

That the Province has introduced a new Children and Youth with Support Needs (CYSN) model intended to expand access to supports for more children and youth with disabilities;

That an estimated 10,000 children who are autistic and disabled currently receiving individual therapy funding will experience a reduction or complete loss of of this funding under the new CYSN system;

And that families require individualized funding in order to choose services that best support their children.

Your petitioners respectfully request that the Honourable House urge the Government not to infringe on the constitutional rights of autistic and disabled children as the CYSN model moves forward.