Thread by @MrsMarambio

Today marks 900 days waiting for access to the Ontario Autism Program.
Please read this. Let me share with folks outside of the autism community the unbelievable systemic barriers that exist in this province. /1 #onpoli #CutsHurtsKids #AutismDoesntEndAtFord

Without divulging detailed private info, my child has a feeding issue related to his autism. Food = staying alive. Staying alive = healthcare. /2

With autism you are siloed. Pushed into the Ontario Autism Program because you have autism. If you don’t have buckets of money, good luck! Canada’s healthcare is not “universal” because it discriminates against kids, youth and adults w/ disabilities. /3

Here is where we have asked for help over the years:
-Developmental Pediatrician,Sick Kids
-Developmental Pediatrician, regional
-Developmental Consultant
-Feeding Therapist
-Behavioural Therapist
-Social worker, Sick Kids /4

-Family Doctor
-Pediatrician x 8
-Psychologist, Sick Kids
-Social worker, Sick Kids
-Sick Kids Hospital clinic
-McMaster University Hospital clinic
-Private occupational therapist (stopped due to cost) /5

-Dev Pediatrician, Sick Kids
-Psychologist, regional
-Pediatrician, Sick Kids
-St. Mike's Hospital
All refer use elsewhere. I won’t go into details but for 2 yrs just as my son was getting diagnosed I got sick. Near death sick. A family in survival cannot advocate for itself. /6

Our 👏 only 👏 option👏is 👏the👏 Autism program. That’s it. We don’t need intensive therapy. We don’t want a cheque. We want help. We want healthcare in whatever god damn portfolio it falls under. /7

Because we keep getting shuffled from healthcare to community services. We are horrifically, horrifically lost in the system. We are not the only family experiencing this./8

I don’t want to keep knocking on doors at Queen’s Park and beg for help. BEG. That’s what I do. I beg. The most humiliating experience was having to do it in a hallway to Minister Todd Smith. With people walking by. I have never felt as dehumanized as I did that day./9

No government can say “we’re doing our best, be patient” and continue to do what they are doing. The dehumanization. If this is your best, you are doing a horrible, horrible, horrible job. /10

The system is the burden. The begging is the burden. Asking for help w/healthcare issues &getting nowhere is the burden. Watching politicians in positions of power do nothing is abhorrent. Are you waiting until 2021 for yr healthcare? /Fin

*All refer us elsewhere.