A group of Windsor parents will be rallying Thursday calling on the province to do better for children with autism.
The Ford government is changing the policy to allow families to choose the services from providers of their choice on a fee-for-service basis.
For a child diagnosed at two years of age, they would get $140,000 up to the age of 18.
But member of the group 'Autism Parents United' Melissa Grass says that's not good enough.
"What they are saying is that a child five and under can get the maximum amount of $140,000 until they are 18, but when you break that down, you are looking at parents who have to pay up to $90,000 a year just in therapy costs," says Grass.
She has a nine-year-old daughter who has autism.
Grass wants the province to increase funding, not just take the same amount and spread it around, saying there is a cost to the change.
"They are clearing the wait lists yes, but they are doing at the expense of our children's education," she says.
Grass told AM800's 'The TKO Show' that the answer is more funding.
"What I want to see happen is I want to go back to the old Ontario Autism program and figure out a way how we can increase the funds instead of taking the same amount of funds and spreading it towards 35,000 kids with autism,' she says.
Grass added that she would rather be on a waiting list for her daughter to get meaningful therapy instead of having programs that are essentially 'respite.'
The rally takes place at 11am on Thursday, February 14th at the corner of Erie St. and McDougall St.