Our daughter has waited long enough

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This letter to the editor was in today’s The Guardian. I hope the public will understand the challenges that families face on Prince Edward Island.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Editor:

There are more kids being diagnosed with autism and it should become a priority.

Our three-year-old daughter was diagnosed with autism in November 2008. We were put on a waiting list for her to start intensive behaviour intervention (IBI) therapy in September 2009. With autism, the younger they are to start therapy, the better. We have spent the last year working with our daughter in all the areas that she has needed help in but the work was worth it as she has made incredible progress.

We looked forward to the help from the pre-school autism team when she started her IBI. When September 2009 came, we were contacted and a tutor was hired and myself and the tutor went to courses that were provided for the therapy. We had appointments booked to start the paperwork but something unfortunate happened and the pre-school autism staff member became ill. We received a call around the end of September telling us that she was still ill and would be out another month (which is now the end of October). I questioned about the return and if she was delayed longer, what would be done. I was told that someone else would be out to observe my daughter. If the team member doesn’t return, someone will have to be hired.

This is outrageous that the wait is so long. Our daughter has been waiting a year and now may have to wait longer. This is the time that the therapy should be happening.

I always wondered why people went off-Island for help and I can see why now. This is a hard enough time for families, to have a child with a condition like this and you can’t do anything about it. The P.E.I. government really has to take a look at this.

Darlene Ellis,

Charlottetown

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Tags: Autism, Darlene Ellis, letter to the editor, PEI, The Guardian