Dear Editor,
In honour of Autism Awareness Month, I would like to provide some perspectives on the difficulties parents and other caregivers of autistic people encounter. The neurological condition known as autism spectrum disorder affects behavior, social interaction, and communication.
Increasing knowledge and understanding is essential to creating a more welcoming and supportive environment for individuals with autism and their families. Finding resources for their children might be difficult for mothers of special needs children. First of all, the available resources are scarce. There aren’t many schools, and the ones that do exist have “conditions” that the children must fulfill to enroll. Because of this, mothers may find it challenging to locate the right resources and assistance for their children with autism. Communities need to advocate for more inclusive and
accessible resources for individuals with autism and their families.
I applied to a school recently with the hopes of getting a transfer for my child, and he didn’t even get the chance to be evaluated, nor was I able to drop off the supporting documents. He was denied admission on the condition that he didn’t meet their criteria for admission. When questioned about the “criteria,” I was told that they were not at liberty to say.
It is bad enough that the school fees for admission to these schools are horrendous, but the government needs to do more for the special needs community, as schools can pick and choose who they want to give admission to.
This lack of transparency and accountability in the admissions process is unfair to families with special needs children who are seeking quality education.
The government must implement policies that ensure equal access to education for all children, regardless of their abilities. As a parent to a child who suffers from autism, he has to get weekly therapy, and this has to be paid out of pocket as insurance does not cover any of these things. I was told that the government offers grants for therapy, but when I go to the disability office at the Ministry of Labour, I am told that the government hasn’t released the funds yet and they can’t say when, so I shouldn’t get my hopes up too much just yet.
How is it fair to us? Institutions can treat us however they want, as we can’t do better. Not to mention that these fees have to be paid in full before the child can attend. I have had to pull my child from therapy because I cannot afford to pay for it. This lack of access to necessary therapy services due to financial constraints is a barrier that many families face. It’s frustrating that those who need help the most are often the ones who struggle to afford it.
Consider parents of autistic children who either earn minimum pay or are unemployed. How are they able to endure? The government advertises a grant to help with education, but when you apply, you are informed that you might or might not be accepted. You cannot even be guaranteed to gain anything from these “so-called grants.” When you visit the Ministry of Education for help with school placements, you are given unfeasible possibilities. You will be deeply in debt by the time you pay all of these fees and your commute to and from school.
This financial burden only adds to the stress and challenges faced by families already struggling to support their children with autism. It’s a harsh reality that many families in similar situations have to navigate every day.
These schools want you to pay their fees upfront in full, and if they are not paid, then you cannot collect your child’s report. There is a specific autism school that charges $85k for admission (the fees may have changed since I last went there). The fees have to be paid in full; they do not accept payment plans. And if you are late for picking up your child, you are charged $600.00 for every half hour that you are late. What about the people who can’t do any better? What will they do? We cannot keep our children at home. Not to mention the discrimination faced by parents of children with special needs and even the children themselves, as they are seen as retarded and handicapped.
I am urging the ministry to do more for the special needs community. These families need more support and understanding from the community. The ministry must provide more resources and assistance for families with children with special needs.
The challenges they face daily can be overwhelming, from navigating the healthcare system to finding appropriate educational resources. It is important to show support and understanding for these families, as they work tirelessly to provide the best care for their loved ones with autism.
By providing more resources and assistance, the ministry can help alleviate some of the burdens these families face. Additionally, promoting awareness and acceptance within the community can create a more inclusive environment for individuals with special needs.
I am,
A concerned and disgruntled parent