Protesters march on MLA's office

About a dozen people marched in front of Liberal MLA Steve Thompson's office Wednesday, protesting cuts to children's special needs funding.

Group spokesperson Lisa Watson says they are protesting provincial government cuts to children's special needs, in particular supportive child development, infant development and the EIBI (Early Intensive Behaviour Intervention) program.

"The EIBI program is available to all children in B.C. for kids under six that have autism and autism diagnosis," says Watson.

"It provides more hours of therapy and includes occupational therapy and speech therapy. There is about 18 hours of direct service to the kids per week."

Watson says the $5 million which is being spent of the EIBI program is being re-allocated.

"Our priority is to make the EIBI program more accessible to more people instead of just the 70 kids that are in it right now."

Autism is a disorder of neural development that is characterized by impaired social interaction and communication and by restricted and repetitive behaviour.

These signs all begin before a child is three years old.

Watson says about 900 kids below the age of six have been diagnosed with autism in the province.

While she doesn't have specific numbers for the Interior, Watson says 200 kids are waiting for autism diagnosis within the Interior Health region.

"They only do 160 assessments a year."

She says the rate of autism has risen from 1-in-150 to 1-in-91 that are being diagnosed.

Watson says the province claims only 70 kids are in the EIBI program. She says the program is a revolving door.

"My son will be ageing out next year. Five of the 10 kids will be aging out in 2010 and five more spots will become available. It's not always the same 70 children."

While Thompson was not in his office at the time of the protest, Watson says members of the group have met with the MLA.

She says they have met with Thompson, MLA Norm Letnick, as well Minister of Children and Family Development Mary Polak.

"They are listening. They are taking in the information," says Watson.

"I think they are hoping we are going to go away. But, we're not going away."