The Ford government’s plan to overhaul the Ontario autism program has sparked furious debate, led to angry parent protests and triggered calls for the minister behind the revamp to resign. The Star consulted experts, advocates and government officials and websites to answer some questions about autism and what lies ahead for Ontario families. The latest research shows roughly 1 in 66 Ontario children have autism, or about 40,000 kids under age 18. About 8,400 children are receiving needs-based treatment funded by the Ontario Autism Program, set up in 2017 by the previous Liberal government. Any money families have already received through the Ontario autism program will not be deducted from the new childhood budgets.

Source: thestar February 16, 2019 00:00 UTC