TORONTO STAR Aug. 25, 2004. 01:00 AM Autism funding should draw ire --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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As a parent of an autistic child, I am painfully aware of the sacrifices the Deskin family has been forced to make. Yet, I am baffled by the decision of the Ontario government to continue to fight families which have had their lives turned upside down by this terrible disorder. This situation is akin to having a child diagnosed with cancer, and having to take the Ontario government to court to have them pay for the treatment. Every day, I see taxpayer dollars spent in all kinds of low priority areas, or in ways that are less than optimal. Yet, our government prefers to punish families with autistic children rather than provide them with their only chance at a normal life. The most frustrating part is that even from an economic standpoint, the decision to deny funding for the treatment of autism makes no sense whatsoever. Although the cost of treatment in the early years is high, it does not even compare with the cost of caring for children who go untreated and end up in group homes for the rest of their lives. If Ontarians truly believe in the principles of universal access to medical treatment, there should be an uproar over what their government is doing on their behalf to families with autistic children. This is not somebody else's problem; having an autistic child could have happened to anyone. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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