JENNA MANN

Local puzzle night dedicated to raising funds and awareness for autism.

Every year Saskatchewan families with autistic children are displaced because their province does not offer adequate support for autism services. Parent Advocates for Autism Treatment in Saskatchewan is hosting a fundraiser to meet their goal of hiring a lobbyist to confront the provincial government with their requests.

Local families of autistic children have tough decisions to make concerning staying in Saskatchewan or relocating to provinces that provide more affordable care. Compared to Saskatchewan, Alberta is sometimes considered a mecca for autistic children and is where a great number of families choose to relocate.

“The funding allocated for each autistic individual in Alberta doubles that offered in Saskatchewan,” said Rachel Thera, behavior interventionist at Shannon Hill Behavior Consultant. “Virtually no government funded services are offered in Saskatchewan for autistic individuals over the age of six.”

Alberta has set up private classes for its autistic children so that students are better able to learn at an individual speed rather than being dragged along at the pace of other children, as they are in Saskatchewan.

“In British Columbia, parents lobbied to be rid of the government controlled system in place in order to gain control of where the money was being allocated for autism services. Currently children with autism under age six in B.C. have access to $22,000 per year to spend on services of their choice. Additionally, seven to 18-year-olds are allocated $6,000 a year for therapy,” Thera said.

While Manitoba provides autism services totalling in $37.5 million per year, Saskatchewan’s contributions fall around the $7.5 million dollar mark.

Where the Saskatchewan government seems to be falling short, its locals have sprung up several services for autism advocacy. PAATS hopes to push the government to adopt a similar system to that in place in B.C by hiring a lobbyist.

PAATS would like to extend an open invite for their Let’s Put A Face on Autism Puzzle-A-Thon fundraiser on Oct. 3 at St. Joseph’s Hall. The event runs from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and aims to raise money for autism services in Saskatchewan. The event will feature a team sliding puzzle challenge, Sudoku challenge, word jumble, jigsaw puzzle challenge and a 50/50 raffle. The entry fee for the event is $10 for competitors and $5 for spectators and includes one free raffle ticket. Individuals wishing to help this cause can do so by coming to the puzzle-a-thon or by making a donation.

Many families are uprooted because Saskatchewan doesn’t offer the resources necessary to properly support their needs.

With the community’s help, PAATS hopes to make government funded services in Saskatchewan a reality.

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Graphic: Stephanie Mah/Graphics Editor