Eight families cut off of “court-ordered” autism services last month after receiving them for more than 15 years are suing Premier Doug Ford’s government, the Star has learned. “These are the original autism warriors,” said van Bommel, noting the families’ long-time activism led to government funding of behavioural therapy for children with autism in Ontario. The Progressive Conservatives, who were criticized for a botched revamp of autism services last February, have since doubled annual spending for the 40,000 families affected to $600 million. “Our government is committed to providing a needs-based, sustainable autism program that supports as many children as possible,” said Wood. “That is why we are investing a record $600 million into the Ontario Autism Program.”Robert Benzie is the Star’s Queen’s Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics.

Source: thestar September 27, 2019 21:22 UTC