On April 2, 2019, the government of Ontario announced its consultation process to gather input on the recent changes related to the Ontario Autism Program (OAP).

In response to the recent updates to the Ontario Autism Program the Ontario Government announced a consultation process that will include:

• An online survey
• Telephone town halls
• The creation of a new advisory panel made up of parents with lived experience, adults with autism and experts from a range of disciplines like psychology, behavioural analysis, rehabilitation services, education, developmental pediatrics and research

The advisory panel will review the results of the digital survey and telephone town halls and provide their findings later this summer. The panel will have input on a new needs assessment process as well as an approach to provide support through Childhood Budgets. The consultation process will start in May 2019. CTN will post information on how families can participate on our website when it becomes available to us.

Autism Ontario will be assisting the ministry to review the results and monitor how the compiled data from the online survey is shared with the ministry and the advisory panel. The government expects to announce further supports for autism services in the fall, including in the classroom.

As always, we endeavor to provide the most up-to-date information and encourage our clients and families to stay informed about changes affecting the OAP via the ministry’s website and conversations with your service providers. For the full government press release of the April 2nd announcement please click here.

Children’s Treatment Network (CTN) is the Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnostic Hub in Central Region covering Simcoe, York, Dufferin, Halton, Peel, Waterloo and Wellington. CTN is not a provider of behaviour-based intervention services in York and Simcoe, though we work closely with partners who provide this service: Kerry’s Place, Kinark Child and Family Services and Mackenzie Health's Centre for Behaviour Health Sciences.

For information on community supports and services please connect with CTN via our ACCESS team at 1-866-377-0286. CTN and our staff remain committed to building brighter futures together.
 

2019-04-04