This announcement made by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Education represents many important steps towards acceptance and opportunities for people on the autism spectrum in Ontario.
In the next few months, the Ontario Government will undertake public consultations through surveys and tele-town halls to help inform how best to support children and youth with autism and their families. As a way of supporting and advancing this process, an advisory panel made up of key stakeholders is to be established. This type of consultation and feedback process requires procedural transparency, and the autism community would benefit from hearing the outcome of the community input gathered.
We are encouraged to see a positive shift in the approach the Ontario government is taking at various levels - the inclusion of diverse professional voices and those of adults with lived experience, the commitment to working across key ministries and what we hope will be a movement towards non-siloed approaches to autism supports across the lifespan.
The recognition of the importance of a responsive, person-oriented approach is perhaps the most encouraging component of today's message. The wide-range of expression of Autism Spectrum Disorder that changes over time demands nothing less than incorporating this thinking into comprehensive, focused, and timely supports, not only for autistic people, but also for their caregivers.
Autism Ontario is pleased to contribute to supporting the development of a province-wide survey and in continuing its work with families in navigating service systems. To access our family supports or to connect with a Service Navigator as announced by the Ministry today, please visit autismontario.com to learn more about our program and services.
New to Autism? Find help for navigating the system after a diagnosis, school issues, and other ASD information; please contact your local Family Support Coordinator here.