April 2 is World Autism Awareness Day and this year the COVID-19 pandemic is creating additional challenges for people with autism and their families.
People with autism rely on in-person therapy and services from Ontario agencies that have been closed due to this crisis.
The state of emergency has also put a strain on the routine and consistency that children with autism need, placing families in crisis.
Even before the pandemic, families who have children with autism had seen the funding they receive greatly diminish. Now things are even worse, and there’s no relief in sight.
Our frontline autism service workers do amazing work, day in and day out, and continue to do so under the very difficult circumstances of this pandemic. OPSEU will continue the fight for public services to help Ontarians living with autism thrive. That’s what we do. It’s who we are.
Today, and everyday, count on OPSEU to stand with you, your families and the frontline workers who provide the autism services you need.
Together, we will overcome the COVID-19 pandemic, and together we will do everything we can to restore your access to, and the consistency of, good quality autism services for you and your families after this crisis is over.
In solidarity,
Warren (Smokey) Thomas
OPSEU President
Eduardo (Eddy) Almeida
OPSEU First Vice-President / Treasurer