Sask. government announces increased funding for children on autism spectrum
Saskatchewan families caring for a child with autism spectrum disorder will soon see an increase in funding.
In a press conference on Tuesdayy, Health minister Paul Merriman announced an extension of annual funding for children between the ages of six and 11 to provide them with more opportunities to seek therapeutic interventions and family supports.
“Parents wanted the ability to make sure they can customize their services for their individual child,” said Merriman.
Children in this age group will receive 6,000 annually while those zero to six will receive 8,000.
Merriman said the government wanted to make the process as possible.
“We wanted to make it simple for us on the government but we also wanted to make it very simple for the parents to be able to access those services so we started with that dollar amount and that dollar amount can be accessed every year," said Merriman.
Shannon Hill, who works as a behavioural analyst and whose son is on the spectrum said the increase in age means the children who need it will continue using services.
“This will help to be able to extend those services for some of those kids that are beyond six that are still needing services which most of the kids with autism still need services beyond that age,” said Hill.
Merriman said that in this year's provincial budget, the government invested more than 19.1 million to support autism services and of this amount, 10.3 goes to individualized funding.
Hill believes that while the funding is helpful, the problem lies elsewhere.
“The problem is that there's not enough service providers doing the work that needs to be done and especially for those folks in the rural areas.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.