Too many B.C. children shortchanged by government support, advocate says

B.C.’s Representative for Children and Youth says the government’s decision to bring back individualized autism funding is good news, but she worries about others being left behind.

Jennifer Charlesworth says thousands of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, and a wide range of other neurocognitive developmental needs are underfunded by the province.

“Many families in B.C. who have special needs or support needs receive no funding and no support under the current system,” she told CityNews.

She says families need immediate help and wants Premier David Eby to provide equitable resources to support children with special needs.

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“We’re pleased that families of children with autism no longer have to worry about their funding coming to an end, and I know that it’s been an anxious year and they’ve fought really hard to make sure their voices have been heard,” she said.

Eby recently announced the government will drop its plan to phase out individualized funding for B.C. children diagnosed with autism.

The premier said the decision to keep individualized funding came after recent meetings with parents, caregivers, Indigenous groups, child rights organizations, and experts who lobbied the government about losing supports for children.

Charlesworth says maintaining individualized autism funding is vital, but is only one part of a larger issue where a wider range of children also need help.

–With files from Robyn Crawford