A rally is being held today at Confederation Building to bring attention to issues affecting those who live with autism. Although Budget 2014 provided some funding to try to reduce wait times, the organization Families for Effective Autism Treatment say there is more that still needs to be done.
Spokesman Ed Knox says that throwing money at the problem won't make it go away. The biggest issue, he says, is the long wait times both to get a child diagnosed initially, and then again to get treatment. He says each of these wait times can last up to a year. He says wait lists have to go, like any other diagnosis. He believes we need to get rid of wait lists so that children can get in and get the therapeutic treatment that they need.
Knox would like to see the school system and health care system work together, with a real plan by government. Data indicates that the rate of autism spectrum disorders being diagnosed is increasing rapidly, and the longer we wait, the worse the situation will become. He says that U-S numbers show 1 in 68 children will be diagnosed, which represents a large increase, especially over the past 10 years.
The rally will be held at noon today at the main entrance of Confederation Building.
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Autism Rally Today