Saskatoon parents struggling to find daycare for autistic child
A Saskatoon family has been left in the lurch after having their two-year-old autistic toddler kicked out of two daycares that said they weren’t able to care for the child.
The first time, it was without any notice.
“We were kicked out. The lady said we cannot come back. She did not give us 30 days notice and also this daycare didn’t know about his autism, but we didn’t know either, we just knew he was flagged,” the toddler’s mom told CTV News.
The parents asked to conceal their identity because they don’t want to jeopardize being accepted into care for speaking out.
“We might have a daycare that says, hey you’re exposing these daycares. I don’t want to be in a situation where one of us has to quit our jobs,” the toddler’s dad said.
Adding to the troubles, their current daycare has also said they need to go elsewhere as of February 1 because they don’t have the proper staff needed.
“Working with other people’s children and seeing mine not be included. I’ve cried a lot of tears over this,” the toddler’s mom said.
They were getting a government grant to help out, but mom says the grant stipulates both parents have to be working. When the father got laid of for just two months, the grant was rescinded.
“I feel it’s tougher than the government thinks. They just keep saying apply for this daycare. We’ve tried every other daycare we can think of and it’s a wait list, and then it’s a wait list on top of him having a disability,” she said.
The Ministry of Education, which oversees daycares, offered this emailed statement:
We will continue to work with facilities that request supports. While funding is available, child care facilities are responsible to hire the additional staff.
Olivia O’Neill, who works at Autism Services Saskatoon, says for most autistic children moving the child is detrimental.
“Being kicked out of a daycare and start all over again in a new environment with new routine and new staff can be a lot and be overwhelming,” she said.
O’Neill says she hears from many parents in Saskatoon that it’s difficult to find daycare.
This shouldn’t be the case, O’Neill adds.
The parents are hopeful they will eventually find a permanent daycare that can properly care for their child until kindergarten begins in a couple years.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6963479.1720972590!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
DEVELOPING Bomb-making materials found in vehicle and home of Trump rally shooting suspect: law enforcement
Law enforcement officials tell The Associated Press that bomb-making materials were found inside the vehicle of the man suspected in the Trump rally shooting. There were also bomb-making materials found at his home.
DEVELOPING Here's what we know about Thomas Matthew Crooks, the suspected Trump rally shooter
The FBI identified 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania as the suspect in Saturday's attempted assassination of former U.S. president Donald Trump at a campaign rally.
'Let me get my shoes': What was said on stage in the seconds after Trump was shot
Transcript of the audio from the shooting and aftermath at the podium with former President Donald Trump and Secret Service members.
Shannen Doherty, '90210' actress, dies at 53, People magazine reports
American actor Shannen Doherty, best known for her role as high school student Brenda Walsh on hit 1990s television drama "Beverly Hills, 90210," has died after years living with cancer, People magazine reported on Sunday. She was 53.
Kate, Princess of Wales, at Wimbledon in a rare public appearance since revealing she has cancer
The Princess of Wales attended the men's Wimbledon final at the All England Club on Sunday and handed out the winner's trophy to Carlos Alcaraz after the match in only her second public appearance since announcing she was diagnosed with cancer.
Ontario educational assistant charged after alleged relationship with 14-year-old boy
An educational assistant at a Catholic elementary school in Welland has been charged after allegedly having an "intimate relationship" with a 14-year-old boy who was her former student.
Mother searching for answers after son dies in OPP custody
The SIU is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 36-year-old man inside a Rockwood, Ont. police cell.
opinion Why 'paying yourself first' is the key to a comfortable retirement
One of the most effective retirement savings strategies is to pay yourself first. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines strategies for consistently saving and investing over time and building a solid nest egg.
Canada loses on penalties to Uruguay in Copa America 2024 third-place match
Luis Suárez tied the score two minutes into second-half stoppage time, and Uruguay beat Canada 4-3 on penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw on Saturday night to finish third in the Copa America.