The topic of Autism is quite often discussed on here, particularly the challenges faced by parents of children becoming adults with the disorder in Canada.

Here is a link to a recent case in Ontario, heartbreaking reality that some parents may face and highlights the potential financial and emotional impact of the system here.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/...nts-costs.html

At the heart of this is a philosophical issue, if there are adults who cannot care for themselves, should responsibility for those adults fall upon the state or upon their parents? Conservatives, and Canada is a conservative nation, believe that, having created them, the parents should care for them. An argument that might make a degree of spiteful sense were it technically possible.

My adult autistic child, who was born in Canada, lives in Europe. Simply, this is because I'm not going to live forever, I don't have the funds to provide care for her for the rest of her life and I don't think it's right to pass the responsibility to her siblings.

Canada is not, imo, a good place for people with disabilities. Parents considering bringing autistic children to Canada should give their head a shake(!)

Then there are the situations where you arrive and then receive diagnosis, longer term future is a concern, especially with the absence of a crystal ball and how successful the development of the child is going to be into adulthood!

Day at a time

I did think of you when I read the CBC story yesterday and largely agree with your sentiments. But, isn't care for autistic adults - or any other adults with a mental or physical issue, largely a provincial responsibility as opposed to a federal one. So, more an uncaring provincial society rather than Steve and his boys?

or the child is born here, or the disability isn't autism but one brought on by some sort of accident. There are lots of ways in which one can end up disabled and in Canada (or another country without provision for those in need).

Unavoidable problems are one thing, we just have to deal with them as best we can. Chosen problems are another, so I'm aghast whenever there's a thread about wanting to get around the "excess demand" restrictions. I think that's emigrating "against the children".

agree

I intended small c conservative and wondered if I should have rephrased so as to avoid the capital. I don't think the tender mercies of Mrs. Thatcher would serve the disabled better than those of Mr. Harper. "State" was written to mean "the government in general".

AFAIK, the worst individual villan in this regard in Canada has been Mike Harris, of the "Common Sense Revolution" and "Care in the Community", initiatives that closed mental hospitals and moved the inhabitants to the parks of Toronto. A local Keith Joseph, one might say.

This is, I think, a core nanny state vs. individual initiative issue. If there was such a thing as society one might measure the quality of it by its treatment of the most vulnerable. Alas, conservatism in English speaking countries no longer values society, it's all about harming the weakest for the benefit of the strongest. Canada's generally conservative and so no place for the weak.

Unfortunately, thats something that we now have to consider. Our youngest (15 months old) has hypotonia & a physical developmental delay. At this moment in time the prognosis for just how much mobility she will ultimately have is unknown. The short, medium and long term impacts of this are really something we're only starting to get our heads around. As someone else said "one day at a time".

I'm entirely in agreement here unless the potential immigrant is fleeing from a country with markedly less in the way of healthcare provision than Canada. So not the UK then.

There's no other way to go at it. Best of luck.

There is talk of 'reforming' the welfare system in Ontario. ODSP would be abolished reducing disability welfare payments from $1000 a month to $600. I don't know what hellp there is for adults who are not capable of self care, if any.

I think that it should be noted that your experience is in Ontario not Canada as a whole. As we all know provinces differ immensely in how things work.

I have no direct involvement in this area but I've read in the past that Alberta (a very Conservative province) surprisingly has the best setup to aid autistic individuals and their families. So much so that it has been known for families to move to Alberta from other provinces for the improved aid.

My nephew in UK is now an adult and he is severely autistic, non-verbal etc

Whilst he was of school age access to a school was fine. Since then it has been woeful and a battle for anything. Ultimately he now has some care, but it took an almightly battle wth several departments etc etc a load of uncertainty and a load of stress.

Don't understand the situation where most parents would be prepared to do a bit, but want some respite and maybe for both parents to work but there is no real half way house it seems in britain maybe. If its the same in Ontario I am not surprised these parents did this. Long term it would have been simpler and more cost effective for the state to help them out maybe 20-40 hrs a week rather than now fund a full-time programme.

There simply should be more support for aprents in this time of situation; its sounds like they called for help a lot.

It's very sad. I'm embarrassed for Canada.

Your proposal for how Canada could avoid such embarrassment is?

Bring back institutions. We're a (hopefully) more enlightened society these days, it doesn't have to be like One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest. But the fact is there are some people, as adults, who just can't function in society whether it's due to mental illness, disability, or whatever.