B.C. families worry election could affect autism and disability service funding

Families of children with autism and other disabilities want voters to consider program and service funding in the upcoming B.C. provincial election. In February, the BC NDP announced it would end the B.C. Autism Funding Program and replace it with the B.C. Children and Youth Disability Benefit. The changes are scheduled to take effect April 1. Some families with autistic children would lose funding, while other families managing different conditions would benefit.

Noah Kubiak-Gore, one of two-year-old triplets, has cerebral palsy. The triplets were born in June 2024 at just 25 weeks’ gestation. After multiple surgeries and lengthy hospital stays, doctors told Noah’s parents he would never walk or talk. The family launched a GoFundMe campaign and took him to Duke University in the United States for stem cell treatment, which the family says has led to major improvements.

Noah’s father, Matt Gore, said the family received a letter a few weeks ago saying they had been approved for new funding under the B.C. Children and Youth Disability Benefit. He said the support would be life-changing. Gore is worried, however, that if the government changes and reverses the program changes, the family could lose its funding. He said they have not received the money yet, but have received a letter confirming their eligibility.

The B.C. Conservatives are promising financial assistance for Noah and other children. Carson Binda, the party’s candidate in Vancouver-Quilchena, said children diagnosed with other conditions would not have their support withdrawn and would continue to have access to funding. He added that the B.C. Conservatives would continue to fund autism support programs for children and youth. Those eligible for funding now would remain eligible if the Conservatives form government, he said, and children diagnosed after the election would receive the same supports as those diagnosed before it.

Binda said the commitment would be expensive, but that the party is reviewing the B.C. budget for what he called “bloat,” including executive compensation and bonuses, travel allowances and luxury vehicle leases. CentreBC’s platform proposes reviewing eligibility and income thresholds for the children and youth disability benefit, and adding a supplement to help more families. The BC Greens say they would maintain current autism funding while planning supports for the broader disability community. About 120,000 children and young people in B.C. live with disabilities.