NDP: Government, not garage sales, should
fund autism treatment
QUEEN'S
PARK -- The
Conservative government should be funding medically necessary IBI
treatment for all children who have autism, not forcing families to hold
garage sales and car washes to pay for this essential treatment, says NDP
Health Critic Shelley Martel.
"Garage
sales shouldn't pay for treatment for autistic children, government
should," says Martel. "IBI treatment is medically necessary. We
don't hold bake sales for cancer treatment. We shouldn't have to run car
washes to treat autism."
Martel,
the MPP for Nickel Belt, was joined at Queen's Park by Sharon Griffin, who
is holding a garage sale and car wash on June 21, to raise money so her
six year old autistic son, John Nolan, can continue his IBI treatment.
Like all Ontario children receiving IBI treatment for autism, on his sixth
birthday in May 2003, Johnny's birthday present from the Ontario
government was to be cut off this medically necessary treatment. Treatment
will cost the family up to $55,000 a year.
Scores
of families have complained to the Ontario Human Rights Commission and the
courts about the callous Conservative policy that is denying autistic
children their medical help, Martel said. Recently, an Ontario court
disallowed the government's attempt to appeal a lower court ruling that
upheld one autistic child's right to continue with IBI beyond the age six
cut off until a larger court case is decided within the next year. But
Martel said the court's message to the government is already clear.
"Hundreds
of other autistic children like Johnny face irreparable harm because the
Conservative government cuts them off from IBI treatment at six or they
languish on a waiting list and never receive treatment at all," says
Martel. "Or their parents face financial ruin trying to pay for the
costly treatment themselves. The Ontario Ombudsman Clare Lewis has
undertaken a special investigation because of the waiting lists for IBI
treatments. Two judges have made independent determinations against the
government. Ernie Eves should just do the right thing and fund all
children requiring IBI. Tell Sharon Griffin she can cancel her garage
sale, Minister. Commit to funding IBI today."
Martel
noted 29 Ontario families have challenged the government's cut-off policy
in court and another 80 families have filed human rights complaints,
arguing this discriminates against their children on the basis of age.
Martel
is leading the NDP's fight to gain full government funding of IBI for all
autistic children who need it.