Autism funding

Job Action is impacting services across government - including staff at the Autism Funding Program and Autism Information Services: What Families Need to Know

Autism Funding continues to be available. 

• Processing times will be longer than usual as we adjust to reduced staffing. 
• To support families, the Ministry of Children and Family Development will ensure that a period of grace is provided where processing delays have impacted access to services. The grace period will depend on the length of job action and will ensure that families are not disadvantaged by circumstances outside their control.  For example, if a family’s renewal, new authorization or receipt of new agreement was delayed during job action, staff will work with them to adjust timelines.
• To help us with efficient processing, we ask that families do not submit duplicate requests or send multiple emails about the same request marked “urgent.” Duplicate submissions slow down response times.
• Service components delivered by mail, including reimbursement cheques and authorization or confirmation letters, continue to experience delays due to the Canada Post service disruption and ongoing BCGEU job action

If you are already accessing Autism Funding:

• Your current authorizations are still valid.
• Service providers using the electronic service provider portal and receiving direct deposits will continue to see payments processed. 
• Providers who send invoices by fax or email or who receive payments by cheque will experience delays.

For families applying to access Autism Funding:

• Please make sure your application is complete before submitting.
• New Autism Funding applications continue to be accepted and will be honoured based on the date they were received. Processing times are longer than usual.

Autism Information and Orientation Sessions:

• Sessions offered through AISBC are temporarily paused. The AISBC website will have updates on the addition of new spaces when available.

We understand delays are stressful.
The Ministry recognizes that ongoing job action and reduced staffing levels are causing delays in processing requests which can be challenging for families. Ministry staff are working hard to keep services running and minimize delays during labour action. In addition to Ministry supports, families can also connect with community programs and resources.