As a Canadian, it is my birthright to complain about our health care system, and the ridiculous waiting lists. The adage goes: our health care is great if you're about to die. It's not so great if you can wait a couple of years.
But I have to give kudos where kudos are due, and I am extremely fortunate to be living in the province of British Columbia. The health care system here has a no questions asked policy when it comes to early intervention for autism.
In B.C., if your child gets any diagnosis on the autism spectrum, he or she is eligible for up to $20,000 per year in funding for therapy. No questions asked. Regardless of the level of autism. Whether she is high functioning (Natalie is) or not, the funding applies automatically.
This funding is early intervention only: after she turns 6 (which was yesterday), the funding formula changes to $6,000 per year until she turns 18. The theory is that the public school system will pick up the slack. Like most things, the theory is far better than the application.
Still, I have it far better than most places, including other provinces in Canada. It was just my good luck of geography to be here in B.C. If I was somewhere in the States, I shudder to think what I would do.
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