David Bridges含羞草研究社� son, Cameron, was in 含羞草研究社渄ire straits,含羞草研究社� attacking others and risking his safety by trying to run into traffic, at a time when no autism support or funding was available early in his life.

含羞草研究社淣ow he含羞草研究社檚 living a fantastic life, largely thanks to the funding that was available to us,含羞草研究社� Bridges said of his now 27-year-old son. 含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 been almost like a life-or-death kind of change for him and he含羞草研究社檚 a happy boy and he含羞草研究社檚 able to go to work, he含羞草研究社檚 able to participate safely in activities in society and we含羞草研究社檙e so happy for him.含羞草研究社�

That含羞草研究社檚 because Cameron received individualized care while growing up, Bridges said, a 含羞草研究社渓ifeline for parents.含羞草研究社�

It含羞草研究社檚 also why the Langley father and his wife Michelle took part in a small event outside the B.C. legislature on Wednesday (Feb. 9) that saw parents, family members and opposition MLAs call on the province to end its plan to phase out individualized funding for neurodiverse children and youth.

Under the new system, families will receive services at community-based hubs by March 2025 and won含羞草研究社檛 need a diagnosis to access medical care and provincial support.

Elena Lawson, one of the parents who organized Wednesday含羞草研究社檚 event, is concerned B.C. is taking an approach similar to Ontario, which has seen its autism services wait list balloon to more than 50,000 people.

含羞草研究社淲e can含羞草研究社檛 have that here,含羞草研究社� she said, adding parents have spent years building support teams for their children. 含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 all getting ripped away from us.含羞草研究社�

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The province is running information and outreach sessions until this spring to 含羞草研究社済ather input and help with a smooth transition for families and service providers.含羞草研究社�

In Lawson含羞草研究社檚 experience, she said consultation has basically been non-existent so far. An online information session she attended late last year saw participants muted, she said, which felt as if the government was boasting about the hub model instead of fielding concerns.

Wednesday含羞草研究社檚 demonstration heard accounts from parents who have seen positive transformations in their children 含羞草研究社� as well as people on the spectrum who含羞草研究社檝e experienced it for themselves 含羞草研究社� due to the individualized funding system.

Burnaby resident Diane Pearce said her daughter, Madison Ross, couldn含羞草研究社檛 read, write or count until she received specialized education. 含羞草研究社淧lease listen to the kids, (who) know what works best for them,含羞草研究社� Ross told the crowd.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 devastating, my son will be affected by this. There含羞草研究社檚 going to be regression,含羞草研究社� Lawson said. 含羞草研究社淵ou含羞草研究社檝e worked so hard to build support for your child and they含羞草研究社檙e so successful, and now (that含羞草研究社檚) being ripped away and you don含羞草研究社檛 know what the future holds.含羞草研究社�

The province has not yet responded to a request for comment, but said last year that families will receive the same level of support through the needs-based hub model.

含羞草研究社淭his idea that you can make sweeping changes without talking to the people that are affected is an unfortunate pattern that we含羞草研究社檝e seen with this government,含羞草研究社� said newly minted B.C. Liberal leader Kevin Falcon, during a brief appearance at the event. 含羞草研究社淭here is nothing more important than our children when making sure that they get the best possible services they deserve and (families) know what those services are.含羞草研究社�

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