autism waiting lists in alberta

Autism Waiting Lists In Alberta

The disparity in funding for autism treatment in Canada has, in the

past, led some families with autistic children to move to oil rich

Alberta, which has substantial government funding available for

autistic children. But the availability of better funding has not

translated into better services in all cases as children are stuck on

lengthy waiting lists awaiting assessment. In Situation critical for

autistic children Nicki Thomas of Sun Media reports on the critical

shortage of staff and funding threatening the futures of autistic

children in Edmonton. Terri Duncan of Children's Autism Services of

Edmonton indicates that there are staffing shortages everywhere in

Alberta and children are waiting up to a year for assessment. That

year is a critically important year lost for autistic children in need

of treatment:

Duncan said if autism isn't detected and treated early on, disruptive

behaviour - like hitting, kicking and biting - develop from an

inability to communicate effectively.

"Those behaviours can make lives really difficult and hard to deal

with," she said.

"We would be able to take a lot more children off the waiting list if

we had more qualified, trained staff," Duncan said.

Many credible studies and reviews of professional literature have

confirmed that early ABA intervention is critically important for

achieving the best possible outcome for autistic children. Lengthy

waiting lists for assessment deprive autistic children of a better

future.

In New Brunswick many, including me, have thought that a medical

doctor is the only professional who can diagnose autism disorders. I

was informed though that Psychologists can also make the initial

autism diagnosis.

New Brunswick, Alberta, or anywhere else in Canada, it would seem that

an important step in addressing the autism crisis, a crisis which is

very real for families of children with autism, is to take steps to

educate GP's in diagnosing autism. The tools being made available now

by the American Academy of Pediatrics and similar organizations should

be used by all doctors and psychologists to ensure autistic children

receive early ABA treatment during the important early years without

time being squandered.

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Posted by Autism Reality NB at 7:10 AM