Individualized funding for autism to be phased out by 2025 and replaced with community service hubs.

There are a number of initiatives and events being organized. Check ACT’s Facebook for the latest updates.

See ACT’s statements in the wake of the announcement. We will keep this section updated as our advocacy work continues.

• February 8, 2022: Analysis identifies serious flaws in MCFD’s proposed tools for determining how children with disabilities qualify for support
• December 10, 2021: On International Human Rights Day: A Letter from a Parent to Premier Horgan
• December 3, 2021: 34 Disability Organizations Unite for Letter to Minister Dean Regarding CYSN Framework
• December 2, 2021: MCFD’s Consultation Process – Light on transparency, heavy on control
• November 18, 2021: Opposition to MCFD Framework Grows: Petition, Rallies in Victoria and Vancouver
• November 9, 2021: CKNW interview with Executive Director Deborah Pugh [Audio Vault: Nov 9, 3:14pm]
• November 8, 2021: Letter to Minister Dean regarding CYSN Framework & Funding Changes
• November 3, 2021: Response from 500 families to MCFD’s plan to phase out Autism Funding
• October 28, 2021: CBC’s “On the Coast” interview with Executive Director Deborah Pugh
• October 28, 2021: Confusion Over Need for Diagnosis Follows MCFD’s Announcement on Autism Funding
• October 27, 2021: What is your response to MCFD’s Announcement cancelling Autism Funding in 2025?

Statements from the British Columbia Disability Collective, a group of BC-based organizations, clinicians, researchers, and businesses, including ACT:

• February 8, 2022: Analysis identifies serious shortcomings in province’s proposed tools for determining which children with disabilities qualify for support
• December 3, 2021: Second Letter to Minster Dean regarding CYSN Framework (34 organizations)
• November 8, 2021: Letter to Minister Dean regarding CYSN Framework (8 organizations)

Statements about the proposed framework from organizations that serve families across disabilities:

• Autism BC [Resource page: MCFD’s Autism Funding Changes and Family Hubs: What you need to know and What you can do]
• Autism Support Network
• British Columbia Association for Behaviour Analysis (BC-ABA)
• BCEDAccess
• BC Disability
• Down Syndrome BC
• Family Support Institute BC [November 5 Update]
• First Nations Leadership Council
• Representative of Children and Youth
• Speech and Hearing BC

A selection of media coverage on the new MCFD framework. Follow ACT’s Facebook for the latest.

• January 19, 2022: NDP government should fund families, not ministry
• December 14, 2021: Vancouver Island autism support providers blindsided by provincial funding changes
• November 24, 2021: ‘Condemned to a waitlist’ says B.C. parent protesting changes to autism funding
• November 24, 2021: Consultatio post facto (First Nations Leadership Council response)
• November 23, 2021: Therapist shortage could hinder new disability-support system for children
• November 12, 2021: Local mother outraged after Province monopolizes autism funding
• November 11, 2021: Provincial government’s changes to autism funding are unscientific and discriminatory
• November 10, 2021: ‘No faith’: B.C. autism community says they can’t support funding changes without consultation
• November 4, 2021: Concern and outrage after changes to BC’s autism funding system
• November 4, 2021: B.C. minister under fire for changes to child special needs support
• November 2, 2021: Opinion: BC funding cuts a critical blow for people with autism
• October 29, 2021: B.C. parents worry kids will suffer with changes to autism funding
• October 28, 2021: Planned changes to B.C. autism funding met with growing backlash
• October 27, 2021: Advocates raise concerns as B.C. moves to new support model for children with disabilities

Announcements and resources from MCFD on the CYSN framework. ACT will continue to update this section with information as it becomes available.

MCFD Survey: “Children and Youth with Support Needs Framework Engagement”

Families, service providers, and sector partners have been invited to participate in an online survey. MCFD has stated the feedback will be considered to “refine and support the provincial rollout of the service approach”. The survey will be open from April 20, 2022, to September 9, 2022.

• Take the survey
• Participez au sondage (French)
• 参与问卷调查 (Simplified Chinese)
• 參與問卷調查 (Traditional Chinese)
• ਇਹ ਸਰਵੇਖਣ ਪੂਰਾ ਕਰੋ (Punjabi)
• Kunin ang pagsisiyasat na ito (Tagalog)

MCFD’s Framework Guides (Published April 20, 2022)

• Service Framework and Service Descriptions Summary
  • Sommaire du cadre et des descriptions de service (French)
  • 服务架构及服务说明概览 (Simplified Chinese)
  • 服務框架和服務描述摘要 (Traditional Chinese)
  • ਸੇਵਾ ਫਰੇਮਵਰਕ ਅਤੇ ਸੇਵਾ ਵਰਣਨ ਸੰਖੇਪ (Punjabi)
  • Balangkas ng Serbisyo at Buod ng mga Paglalarawan ng Serbisyo (Tagalog)
• Family Connections Centres
• Disability Services
• Provincial Services
• Appendices, Glossary of Terms, Bibliography