Good News For Children With Autism
Nova Scotia is making good on its promise to help children with autism by funding early intensive behavioural intervention treatment.
The treatment, costing $4 million, will be offered through district health authorities and the IWK Health Centre by qualified professionals.
"Offering this treatment makes sense, and we're pleased that we now have the funding to move forward," Health Minister Angus MacIsaac said today, Dec. 2. "We are committed to putting the right treatment in place to make a difference in the lives of these children."
The focus is on providing intensive behavioural intervention to children as early as possible to attain the best possible results.
"This is a momentous day for children with autism and their families," said Dr. Susan Bryson, psychologist at the IWK Health Centre and Craig Chair in Autism at Dalhousie University. "We applaud the minister of Health."
The new treatment will be delivered by properly trained therapists to ensure that the children receive the right treatment and that the treatment can be evaluated. Mr. MacIsaac said that building in access to this treatment through the formal health system allows the province to effectively manage its resources while ensuring that the appropriate treatment is being delivered.
"As a clinician who works in the field, providing this treatment gives me a real opportunity to focus on the development of skills in a very intensive way," said Dr. Reg Landry, psychologist in Cape Breton District Health Authority and assistant professor at the University College of Cape Breton. "Given the amount of research conducted, we know that this treatment is shown to be effective. In addition, the treatment is flexible so that it can make room for other kinds of interventions."
Details of the treatment roll-out plan are still in development, but it is expected that it will take about three years before the program will be fully operational within the nine district health authorities and the IWK.
The first step in this process is to recruit and train appropriate staff. Some children will receive treatment through this training process.
"We recognize that time is of the essence in autism treatment, and it is never easy to have children wait for treatment," said Mr. MacIsaac. "This new treatment will be phased in, and will be available to children as soon as therapists are properly trained and qualified to deliver it."
Vicki Harvey, executive director, Autism Society Nova Scotia, said she is pleased to hear that early intensive behavioural intervention treatment will be funded. "Autism Society Nova Scotia promotes the life-span needs of individuals affected by autism spectrum disorders. The initiative announced today is a significant first step in addressing those needs."
Once a provincial project co-ordinator is in place, a treatment implementation committee will be struck to pinpoint implementation details. This committee will include, among others, representatives from district health authorities and the IWK Health Centre, the Department of Health and families of children with autism.
The Department of Health is committed to working with families and health partners to ensure that the highest quality early intensive behavioural intervention treatment is delivered across the province.
Since 2000, the government has provided an additional $2 million to enhance existing services for children with autism. As a result of today's announcement a total of $6 million will be spent annually on services for children with autism and their families.