TO The Legislature of Ontario:-
WHEREAS the average waiting time for Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) treatment in Ontario is 2 to 4 years;
WHEREAS the number of children with autism waiting for IBI has increased by 454, between Q3 of 2007 and Q2 of 2010;
WHEREAS the long waitlist for IBI is a violation of Section 15(1) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Section 1 of the Ontario Human Rights Code, Sections 3. (1) and 3. (2) 3. of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act;
WHEREAS it is also a violation of Principle 5 of the UN Declaration of the Rights of a Child, Article 23 1 and Article 29 1 of the UN Convention on the Rights of a Child, Sections 3 and 5 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons, and Article 7.1, and 7.2 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
WHEREAS if children with autism do not receive IBI treatment, they would require lifelong specialized services that could cost families, parents, and the government up to $4 million per child
WHEREAS, we support MPP Andrea Horwath's efforts to improve the level of treatment for children and families dealing with autism and other disorders on the autism spectrum and we petition the Legislature of Ontario as follows:
That the Government of Ontario decrease the average wait time for children with autism to receive IBI treatment to 6 to 12 months.