Funding delays plague families of children with autism and their support workers

Professionals who provide services for children with autism say the approval process for government funding requests has become so slow that some have been forced to cut off some clients, despite their dire needs.

Some parents of children with autism spectrum disorder are urging the province of B.C.to speed up the reimbursement process as they're being left carrying debt, stress and guilt over not paying for speech pathologists or other daily behaviour therapy supports.

However, in an email, the provincialministry involved said the majority of the files are not delayed, and if they are it's because of "incomplete or inaccurate" forms.

In B.C., families with kids under the age of sixcan access up to $22,000 per year to help cover the costs of autism-related services andtherapies to help improve communication, social and academic developmentfrom approved service providers. Children aged six to 18 years old are eligible for $6,000 in support.

Some parents who use the processsay getting approved and thenreimbursed for services can take months, but the delaysare even worseduring the holiday season.

"It's very stressful dealing with the funding. It makes me feel sick sometimes.I wish I didn't have to deal withit," said Ashley Campbell, Vancouver Island mother of Liam, 6, who has autism.

She said for her family, behaviour therapists and speech pathologists are often involved every day, especially as she has three young children.

"My son is thriving. My family is doing well, but I'm not paying providers," said Campbell, who feels anxious when the support workers she depends on aren't getting paid.

Campbell said she has waited up to five months for payments from the Autism Funding Branch of the Ministry of Children and Family Development to process.

As a result, she hasended uppaying up to $100 for tools her sonneeded right awayand carrying that debt for months.

Ministry responds

In an email toCBCNews, the Autism Funding Branch said processing times have never exceeded the department's standard of completion within 30 business days and in most cases it's just 15 days.

A ministry spokesperson said funding approval can take longer if forms are "incomplete or inaccurate."

The ministryalso blamed recent delays ona "seasonal fluctuationin the amount of documentation received," but said the files were still processed on timeand additional staff have since been scheduled.

The ministry spokesperson said, "Parents of children with autism deserve to access funding and services in a timely manner, and we're working hard to ensure that happens."

The ministry is urging families with concerns to call the toll free help line at 1-877-777-3530.

'It's devastating'

Dozens of other parents chimed in after reading apost on social media, telling similar stories.

Jemana Elsharkawiruns Salish Sea Behaviour Consulting and provides parent support for families from Nanaimo to Fort St. John. Elsharkawisaid of her 60 clients, half have faced long delays.

She said it is not fair to expect serviceproviders to work for free.

Elsharkawidescribedsubmitting funding requests thathave not been approvedfor six weeks orlonger. In a fewsituations, the initial request for coverage dates back to August, she said.

At one point in 2016, it took so long to get paid that she and her husband were owed $20,000. Theyhad to drain their savingsand live on credit.

Elsharkawi'shusband works for the federal government, which compounded their problems. The government'sPhoenix payroll system has been plagued by problems,leavingmany staffunpaid or paid incorrectly during the past year.

Elsharkawisaid other serviceproviders have been forced to cut off clients, leaving many in smaller communities with no other option, and a child in need of behavioural therapy and support.

"It's devastating," said Elsharkawi.

"It's ridiculous. There is no reason why this should be happening."