Far from keeping their promise to provide increased supports for children living with autism spectrum disorder, the Sask. Party heartless cuts and broken promises have left them and their families with fewer and fewer supports and – in some cases – without access to school.
“It’s hard for parents of children living with autism to trust the Sask. Party when they say they care about early learning, because all they’ve seen are broken promises and cuts to programs designed to help their children,” said NDP Early Learning and Childcare Critic Carla Beck. “The Sask. Party needs to do what’s right and help these children get access to the education and supports they need and deserve. We need more spaces. Not fewer.”
During the last election, the Sask. Party promised to finally catch up to other provinces and offer individualized funding for children living with autism spectrum disorder but they have failed to deliver on that promise.
“The Sask. Party has cut supports in schools and access to speech pathologists and occupational therapists,” Beck said. “Those heartless cuts are having a devastating impact on Saskatchewan students and their families.”
“It is getting harder and harder for parents like me because the proper supports simply aren’t in place,” said Brittany McDonald, a Regina mother whose daughter Ru was diagnosed with autism about a year ago. “What children with autism need is the full recommended amount of time with educational assistants, preschool programs to help high-need learners to be reinstated and adequate access to speech pathologists and occupational therapists in the school system.”