Families across British Columbia are raising serious concerns about the Province’s decision to phase out individualized autism funding and replace it with a new “needs-based” disability model set to fully take effect by April 1, 2027.
Families welcome the long-overdue inclusion of children with other disabilities in provincial funding programs. Expanding eligibility beyond autism is an important step toward equity.
However, many parents and service providers warn that the new structure will significantly reduce access to early intervention for a large number of autistic children who are currently receiving support.
Many families feel the funding figures are presented in a confusing and misleading manner, creating the impression that families will not be significantly impacted.
Let’s make this completely clear:
Children with a diagnosis of autism, and no additional qualifying medical condition, will lose thousands of dollars in funding.
This is not speculation. It is confirmed in the Province’s own example: Persona 4 — Ollie.
Funding Comparison: Current Model vs. New Framework
Under the current Autism Funding Program:
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Children under age 6 receive up to $22,000 per year
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Children ages 6–18 receive up to $6,000 per year
This funding is individualized and family-directed, allowing parents to choose services such as behaviour intervention, speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, and other supports tailored to their child’s needs.
Under the new BC Children and Youth Disability Benefit:
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Only children assessed as having “significant or complex” needs may receive between $6,500 and $17,000 annually
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Many children who are already diagnosed will receive substantially less funding
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Some children may receive no direct individualized funding, because the province deems them as “not high needs”.
For many families, this represents a potential reduction of thousands of dollars per year in direct, family-controlled therapy funding.
A child under six who currently qualifies for up to $22,000 annually may receive only a fraction of that amount — or nothing.
The Province’s Own Example Shows the Scale of the Cuts
While the new system is described as needs-based, families are concerned that eligibility thresholds will exclude many children with Level 1 and Level 2 diagnoses who still require structured therapy to maintain communication, regulation, and learning progress.
Under the new model, diagnosis alone is no longer sufficient.
For example, in the Province’s own illustrative case study (“Persona 4 – Ollie”), the child would receive approximately $3,200 under the new structure.
Under the current model, a child under six in a similar situation could access up to $22,000 annually.
Under the new proposed system, Ollie’s funding would represent $48,000 over his childhood.
Under the current system, loved “Ollies” under 6 across the province receive $22,000 per year, and after 6, $6000.
If a diagnosis is made at the age of 2, then a child would receive $160,000 up to the age of 18.
For families in comparable situations, this could represent a reduction of more than 80 percent in individualized therapy funding during the critical early childhood window.
Calling this a “needs-based improvement” is deeply misleading and insulting.
Children must now meet functional criteria that demonstrate significant impairment to qualify for higher funding tiers.
Families fear this may result in:
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Increased administrative burden
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Delays in accessing services
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Gaps in therapy during reassessment periods
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Regression in developmental gains
The Province Is Replacing Guaranteed Autism Funding With Undefined Community Services
The Province has indicated that expanded community-based services will help offset changes in direct funding.
However, families report limited clarity regarding:
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Who will operate these service hubs?
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How many providers will be available?
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What will wait times be?
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What quality standards will exist?
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Will children still have access to qualified professionals such as BCBAs, SLPs, and OTs?
Without detailed implementation plans, families remain uncertain about the continuity of care.
Early Intervention Is Proven to Work. The Province Is Limiting Access to It
Research consistently demonstrates that early intervention improves long-term outcomes in communication, independence, academic readiness, and emotional regulation.
When early services are limited, costs often shift downstream to:
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Education systems
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Mental health services
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Crisis response
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Adult disability supports
Families and clinicians argue that sustained early investment is both developmentally beneficial and fiscally responsible.
The province is deliberately limiting access to a proven early-intervention method.
Parents Are Already Speaking Out And Being Silenced
Parents, clinicians, and advocates are calling on the Province to provide clearer implementation details and reconsider funding thresholds to ensure that children with moderate support needs are not unintentionally left without meaningful access to services.
The official announcement on social media channels is inundated with negative comments and panicked parents.
The first town hall on Wednesday, 11th February, was filled with concerned parents.
During the first call on Wednesday, 11th February, Persona 4, Ollie was discussed.
Frustrated parents were making their displeasure known via the “reaction” feature in Microsoft Teams.
On subsequent calls, parents reported that the Ministry of Children & Family Development disabled the reaction feature.
Autism is not one-size-fits-all.
Many children who are not classified as ‘complex’ still rely on consistent therapy to maintain developmental progress. A reduction in early support may have long-term consequences.”
As the transition timeline approaches, families across BC are seeking transparency, consultation, and safeguards to ensure that no child loses access to critical developmental supports.
We encourage all affected families, therapy providers, and concerned residents to sign the petition that will be sent to the Ministry of Children & Family Development.
We hope that this decision will be reversed.
A petition to stop funding cuts to Autism services in BC can be found on Action Network.
More information can be found on autismfundingbc.com
Media Contact
Company Name: Save Autism Funding
Contact Person: Ollie
Email: Send Email
Country: Canada
Website: https://www.autismfundingbc.com/
