OT: Ontario wins autism case

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Ontario wins autism case

Jul. 7, 2006. 11:25 AM

CANADIAN PRESS

Ontario taxpayers are off the hook when it comes to paying for the

costly treatment of autistic children over the age of five.

The decision today by the Ontario Court of Appeal — worth tens of

millions of dollars — comes after a lower court ruled in favour of

parents who are forced to bear the expense.

The lower court had found the government's decision to cut off funding

for autism therapy after the child turned six to be discriminatory and

ordered it to pay.

The government appealed, and the Appeal Court agreed with the

province, saying the aim of the age cut-off was to help the younger

children more effectively.

The cost of the intensive one-on-one process, known either as applied

behavioural analysis or intensive behavioural intervention ranges from

$30,000 to $80,000 per year for each child.

It's estimated that about 8,000 kids under the age of 18 have been

diagnosed with autism in the province.

Carol F.

Celiac, MCS, Latex Allergy, EMS

SCD 6 years