Thread by @ScottCorb

Thread
1/ As 2019 ends, it’s time to reflect on the decisions being made to the Ontario Autism Program.

@ToddSmithPC @JR_Ottawa have lost sight of the highest and most urgent priority

#AutismDoesntEndAtFord #onpoli

2/ By prioritizing system design of the new OAP and delaying services until 2021, @ToddSmithPC has chosen process over people, a terrible decision given the dire straits the @fordnation has put the autism community thru
#AutismDoesntEndAtFord #onpoli

3/ Let’s rewind to the beginning of 2019, the problem was the preposterously long wait times to receive autism services.

Instead of solving the problem @ToddSmithPC is chasing rabbits down holes
#AutismDoesntEndAtFord #onpoli

4/ The #1 reason for long wait times was the underfunded OAP @fordnation inherited from the @OntLiberal. To move the waitlists along faster and service more children, a significant increase in the OAP was needed.
#AutismDoesntEndAtFord #onpoli

5/ Kudos @fordnation for increasing the OAP budget 87%. Now the simple part is directing that $ to the program helping 1000s of children right now, not sometime in 2021. Why make something so simple so complex?
#AutismDoesntEndAtFord #onpoli

6/ @fordnation could have avoided this mess within the first 2 months by simply increasing the OAP budget and tweaking the program to include additional services over time.
#AutismDoesntEndAtFord #onpoli

7/ @MacLeodLisa froze the autism wait list in the Fall of 2018. @ToddSmithPC 2021 program delays means kids will wait at least 2.25 years in addition to time already on wait list. This is absurd!
#AutismDoesntEndAtFord #onpoli

8/ @ToddSmithPC deviated from the core problem. Not a single advocate was protesting for you to put together an autism advisory panel. Now you’re all swept up in it and have lost the sense of urgency.
#AutismDoesntEndAtFord #onpoli

9/ As @ToddSmithPC & @JR_Ottawa move farther away from the core problem, they’re bound to go down many rabbit holes, making something simple overly complex. That’s exactly where we are today.
#AutismDoesntEndAtFord #onpoli

10/ The immediate and urgent priority is reinstating the OAP and getting kids on the waitlist into services. Everything else can be implemented over time.
#AutismDoesntEndAtFord #onpoli

11/ See the forest through the trees @ToddSmithPC, if not expect more visits to Belleville and to the front lawn of Queen’s Park in 2020.
#AutismDoesntEndAtFord #onpoli

12/ For more details, read my article “The Ford government needs to rethink its autism strategy and make good on its commitment to deliver services by April 2020”
#AutismDoesntEndAtFord #onpoli

link.medium.com/aDJBYVCFO2