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Autism Funding under Age 6

Children and Family Development

Parents may purchase intervention as recommended by a professional.  Funds must be spent on items considered as eligible expenses.

YES

Children
under
age 6.

$20,000 per year per child.  Invoice payment or direct funding.  Serves currently
700 children.

Together, the four programs have a budget of $34.48 million for
2006-2007.  They are serving about 4,000 children and youth diagnoses with ASD and their families.

Ministry of Children and Family Development:
A Parent’s Handbook:  Your Guide to Autism Funding Programs.

Autism and Children Under 6.

Services for School-Age Children (6-18) with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Autism Funding Ages 6-18

Children and Family Development

Parents may purchase intervention as recommended by a professional.  Funds must be spent on items considered as eligible expenses.

YES

Children
aged
6 to 18.

$6,000 per year per child.  Invoice payment or direct funding.  Currently serving about 3,300 children and youth.

Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention

Children and Family Development

Some autism treatment and intervention services for children under age 6 through three contracted agencies serving eight communities:  Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, Kamloops, Surrey, Delta, Langley, Greater Victoria.

YES

Children under age 6 living in one of the eight communities where the program is available.

Approximately 70 children participate in this program.

Behavioural Support Program

Children and Family Development

Provides consultation, training and development and monitoring of individualized behaviour management plans.

YES

Available to all children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder.

n.a.

Alberta

Family Support for Children with Disabilities

Children’s Services

Includes a wide range of services and supports to children and families, such as autism therapy, respite service, child care, and school support.

YES

n.a.

$40,000/year or more per child.

654 children with a diagnosis of autism and 6 with PDD – NOS (March 2002).  318 children received autism therapy, among which 89 exceeded the three years of programming available in the policy
(November 2001).

“New Legislation Introduces Two Service Levels for Children with Disabilities,” News Release, 29 July 2004.

Family Support for Children with Disabilities Policy and Procedure Manual, 2004.

Alberta Children’s Services, A System of Care for Children with Autism, Expert Panel Report, September 2002.

Saskatchewan

Autism Early Childhood Therapy Program (AECTP)

Health

Learning

Community Resources and Development

About 10 hours of direct service per week,
10-month program.

The Autism Resource Centre provides between
5 to 30 hours per child per week depending on age and time of year.

YES

Children aged 3 to 5.

$25,000 per child under AECTP; 6 children served in 2005-2006 with a budget of $180,000.

About $4,660 per child per year at the Autism Resource Centre, for a budget of $456,600.

“Saskatchewan Families for Effective Autism Treatment,” News Release, 24 March 2005.

Cognitive Disabilities Strategy (CDS)

Health

Learning

Community Resources and Development

Funding for special services in school settings.

Funding for respite and other support services.

Children
up to age 22.

Up to $1,200 per child per month under CDS, for a budget of $2,260,000.

The “Learning” component provides from $6,300 to $12,610 per child per year, for a budget of $9,600,000.

Manitoba

Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) Program

Family Services and Housing

Health

Education

For preschoolers, 36 hours per week per child, with 5 hours provided by the family.  Participation of families essential.

YES

Preschool and school-aged children.

Up to a maximum of $6,000 per year for the home-based portion of the ABA Program for school-aged children.

58 children served in 2004-2005.

$3.2 million per year.

Minister Responsible for Persons with Disabilities, “Increased Funding Will Improve Services For Preschool Children With Autism,” News Release, 10 September 2004.

Family Services and Housing, Year at a Glance, 2004-2005.

Children’s Special Services.

Children’s Special Services

Family Services and Housing

Health

Education

Supports to families with children with developmental or physical disabilities, including respite care, child development, summer supports, equipment and supplies, transportation assistance and home and vehicle modifications.

Children 17 years of age and younger.

n.a.

Ontario

Autism Intervention Program

Children and Youth Services

Five components:

• Autism therapy;
• Support services to families, including training;
• Transition services and supports;
• School Support Program:  185 autism consultants provide autism therapy training; and
• Other supports and services, including respite.

YES

Children aged 2 to 5.

Autistic disorder or condition considered to be towards the severe end of the autism spectrum disorder.

$99.4 million in 2005-2005 and $112.6 million is 2006-2007.

There are about 70,000 individuals with autism in Ontario, including some 7,000 students in the public education system.

Intensive Early Intervention Program for Children with Autism.

Autism Intervention Program – Program Guidelines, Revised August 2006.

Help for Children with Autism.

Quebec

Autism Action Plan (Plan d’action en autisme)

Health and Social Services

Comprehensive program for preschool, school, families, training, including autism therapy for children aged 2 to 5.

YES

Preschool children for autism therapy with a minimum of 20 hours per week.

Other programs for school-aged children and adults.

$30 million per year.

In 2004-2005, the program served 586 children under age 6; 1,854 children aged 6 to 21 and 765 adults.

About $1,397 per year is provided per family for respite, day care and other services and supports.

Un geste porteur d’avenir.  Des services aux personnes présentant un trouble envahissant du développement, à leurs familles et à leurs proches.

Press Release, 6 April 2005.

Rapport annuel de gestion, 2004-2005.

New Brunswick

Services for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Family and Community Services

Education

Health

3 Components:

• Funding Assistance for Evidence-Based Services, including autism therapy.
• Training and Clinical Supervision Strategy ($700,000):  for autism specialists, professionals, paraprofessionals and parents.
• Community Support Initiatives ($300,000).

YES

Preschool children.

Funding by component:

$1.8 million (up to $20,000 per year per child) for autism therapy.

$700,000 annually for training.

$300,000 for community initiatives.

Total funding:  $2.8 million per year.

Family and Community Services:
Backgrounder.

Services for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

News Release, 20 November 2003.

Eligibility Criteria and Funding Process for Purchase of Services for Preschool Aged Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Nova Scotia

Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention Treatment

Health

Autism therapy provided over the first six months for 15 hours per week, and is gradually reduced over the following six months (10 hours per week for the first 3 months and then 5-6 hours per week for the remaining 3 months).  Training to be provided to parents during that year.

After the first year, children who do not enter school are provided an additional graduated six months treatment.  For children entering school, consultative services available to parents and school personnel to ensure transition into school and maintain what has been learned through treatment.

YES

Pre-school children divided into two groups – above age four and below age four – and are selected randomly.  Equal numbers of children from each group are to be selected.  Parents must participate in training.

$4 million per year for autism treatment and
$2 million per year for enhancing other autism-related programs.

The Nova Scotia Early Intensive Behaviour Intervention Program for Young Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, July 2006.

“Good News for Children with Autism,” News Release,
2 December 2004.

Prince Edward Island

Autism Early Intervention Program – Preschool Children

Health and Social Services

Education

IBI supported at $10 per hour for a maximum of 20 hours per week for preschool children.

YES

Preschool children.

$200 per week per child.

Covers material for autism therapy, including $300 for start-up costs and $100 per month thereafter.

Annual funding:  $320,000.

Maximum caseload: 
16 preschoolers.

Ministry of Health and Social Services:
Autism Early Intervention Program.

PEI Disability Support Program.

Ministry of Education, Background Information.

Autism Early Intervention Program – School-Aged Children

Health and Social Services

Education

Additional home-based support during school periods up to a maximum of 10 hours per week to supplement school programs and up to a maximum of 20 hours during school breaks and during the summer months at $10 per hour.

School-aged children.

n.a.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Autism Services:  Under Age 6

Health and Community Services

Education

Early Intensive Intervention Services.

YES

Children from 18 to 72 months.

$40,000 per child for 30 hours per week for 2 years.

The program serves on average 30 children under the age of 6 per year.  Between 300 and 325 children under the age of 6 have benefited from the program.

In total, there are about 600 children up to 21 years of age with ASD; on average, 45 new cases a year are diagnosed.

Total budget for the province:  $3.6 million annually.

Ministry of Health and Community Services, News Release, 14 February 2003.

Ministry of Education, News Release, 9 July 2003.

Autism Services:  Over Age 6

Health and Community Services

Education

Two components:

• One year of intensive autism therapy for up to 15 hours per week;
• Community behavioural services and special services available in schools.

YES

First component available during the kindergarten year.

Second component available for the other years.

Cost per child in kindergarten:  $10,000 for 15 hours per week for one year.

About 30 children in kindergarten served under the program.

Northwest Territories

Autism Program

Health and Social Services

Education, Culture and Employment

Therapeutic intervention for children under the age of 6.

Children over the age of 6 have access to aides and other services in schools.

YES

Preschool and school-aged children.

n.a.

Yukon

Services to Children with Disabilities

Health and Social Services

Provides funding for therapeutic interventions, respite services, supported child care, medical travel, assessment, etc.

YES

Children
up to age 19.

No maximum.

Budget is $460,000 for direct interventions and $71,000 to Autism Yukon (parent-run group) for
2006-2007.

14 children receive direct intervention;
17 children receive other services.

“Government of Yukon Supports Autism Yukon,” News Release,
31 January 2006.

Nunavut