Hundreds of families and advocates of children with autism protested on the lawn of Ontario's legislature today urging the government to reverse changes to the autism funding program.
St.Catharines resident Rob Gill was there and joined CKTB saying the atmosphere was fantastic and supportive.
He calls the new program "cruel and aggressive" saying it's strange that Children, Community and Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod chose to put the program into effect on April Fools Day just as Autism Awareness Month gets underway.
The PC government announced last month that in order to clear a waiting list of 23,000 children, kids with autism would receive direct funding to pay for treatment.
Families will get up to $20,000 per year for treatment for children under six and $5,000 a year for children six to 18, but intensive therapy can cost up to $80,000 a year.
Parents are calling for the funding to be based on children's individual needs, instead of just their age.