THREAD.

Hey Todd. I know that you want the autism community to be patient. But here’s the problem: you cut off our air supply. You are responsible for the autism community NOW, not in April 2020. Here are some thoughts on what you could do to help TODAY:

1. Scrap the algorithm. Want to talk about the erosion of trust? Boom. There it is. Take the one thing families could rely on—a position on a waitlist based on intake date—and turn it on its head to favour a lottery system, and you’re bound to get backlash. Fix it.

2. Extend service for Childhood Budget recipients who are prepared to reconcile in advance of April 2020. It is absurd that you’re willing to continue to extend contracts for kids already in service (NEEDS BASED service) and on the flip side toss the ~2200 who have received

Childhood Budgets to the dogs. Continuity of service in critical for a variety of reasons: from a planning perspective, a fiscally responsible perspective and most importantly, from a clinical perspective. If you’re going to bring 2200+ into service, THEN BRING THEN INTO SERVICE.

Renew budgets, create a bridging program, revert to the 8-10k program. Do something. Anything less is irresponsible and a disservice to the Childhood Budget kids you’re claiming to help.

3. Urgent Response Service as recommended by the Advisory Panel. @ToddSmithPC, I’m not altogether sure you realize what a crisis situation is. If you’re filing for bankruptcy, spending nights in Emergency Rooms, physically unable to manage your child, at risk of turning your

child over, unable to sleep at night, a victim of violence and aggression, unable to send your child to school... you’re in crisis. There are families falling apart, Ontarians at risk of losing homes, jobs, their lives. These families need help today. Not in April.

@ToddSmithPC - we need to see the creation of the Implementation Committee. Immediately. It’s absurd that we’re going on a month and a team hasn’t even been formed. How in god’s name are we expected to have confidence in the timeline of the program delivery if we’re still

waiting on a group to create it.

It’s been 17 months on Doug’s watch, @ToddSmithPC . When it comes to the health, education, safety and well-being of your child—how on earth can you ask a parent in crisis to be patient?
@fordnation #AutismDoesntEndAtFord #ticktocktodd #onpoli