Fort St. John family fears autism support funding cut under eligibility changes

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A Fort St. John mom is worried about how she will support her daughter after B.C. made changes to autism funding in the province. 

On February 10th, the Ministry of Children and Family Development announced it will replace its existing Autism Funding program with a new B.C. Children and Youth Disability Benefit and B.C. Children and Youth Disability Supplement.

Jodie Wickens, minister of children and family development, told Energeticcity.ca in a written statement that “individualized funding is expanding from $190 million a year to over $326 million a year.” 

According to a press release, the government is investing $475 million over the next three years to expand support services in B.C. communities. 

The B.C. Children and Youth Disability Benefit will be implemented across 2026 and 2027, and in July 2027, the income-tested B.C. Children and Youth Disability Supplement will be available. 

The press release said the benefit will provide families of children with “significant” disabilities with $6,500 or $17,000 per year based on their individual needs. 

On the other hand, the supplement will be available to families with any child under the age of 18 who is eligible for the federal tax credit. It will provide up to $6,000 per year based on the level of family net income. 

Karla, a resident of Fort St. John who wishes to be known only by her first name for privacy reasons, told Energeticcity.ca she believes her daughter will only qualify for the supplement under the new system, and therefore the family will receive maybe half of what she has had for the past eight years. 

Under the former system, Karla’s family could use 20 per cent of the $6,000 allocation – $1,200 – for equipment, travel and training. This includes for Karla’s daughter’s ear moulds, which must be changed as she grows. Her daughter also regularly received occupational therapy and family members attended counselling. 

With the new changes, Karla believes they will receive no funding in 2027. 

If that transpires, they need to decide whether their daughter gets occupational therapy or if a family member does not attend counselling anymore. 

“It’s all of that combined, that’s just left us hanging, like, what are we going to do?,” she said. “How do we still continue to support our child?”

Wickens said if a family’s net income is over $200,000 a year or if the child does not meet federal criteria of having “daily functional needs,” they may no longer receive direct funding, but she claimed they will still be supported. 

“These families will be prioritized for expanded community-based services provided through a network of established child development centres and similar community-based organizations,” Wickens shared, adding the ministry will be providing $80 million to community-based partners. 

Families can access funding under the current system until March 31st, 2027. 

When asked whether it will be difficult for her daughter to adjust to a new place or therapist, Karla said: “A lot of autistic children either like you or don’t, and it takes time to build relationships with them. 

“Even our OT [occupational therapist], she’s become like a family member to us. She knows our daughter so to change that for her, that’s going to cause a lot of uncertainty in her life and anxiety.”

Although Karla and her family were initially excited that the new programs would provide more children with support, they had questions about what it would mean for their daughter.

She said: “It’s just actually brought up a lot of questions that aren’t being answered.”

Wickens claimed these changes were made after engagement with over 5,000 participants, will “modernize” how supports are delivered and are designed to offer a fairer system that “lifts” all children in the province. 

“We are committed to supporting families every step of the way through this transition and to clear communication so that families are not left to navigate these changes alone,” Wickens said. 

In a release by the B.C. Conservative caucus, the political party slammed B.C.’s NDP government, alleging it has walked back a promise to maintain individualized autism funding after 2025. 

Trevor Halford, interim leader of the Conservative Party of B.C., said in the release: “It’s the same pattern with David Eby’s government: overpromise and underdeliver. Three years ago, the premier promised stability.  

“Now he is pulling the plug on his commitment due to his reckless spending and financial mismanagement.” 

Wickens responded: “The leader of the opposition worked for a government that cut both mental health services and funding for children with disabilities. 

“Our government is taking a different approach and investing nearly half a billion dollars over the next three years to expand support and direct funding to thousands more families.”