Table Autism Spectrum Disorder Action Plan - Question Period

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Premier. In 2011, the then Minister of Health and Wellness launched Nova Scotia's first Autism Spectrum Disorder Plan. Our government committed to doubling the provincial investment in the EIBI Program as it stood then and adding new funding for those who needed to hire additional care for their children to keep them safe at home, among other commitments.

The action plan was about more than just early intervention, though. It sketched a roadmap for meeting the needs of people with ASD across the lifespan. However, in the eight years since that plan was released, there has been no updates on the status of the Autism Spectrum Disorder Action Plan.

Mr. Speaker, will the Premier commit to tabling an updated action plan for meeting the needs of people with ASD across the lifespan?

THE PREMIER « » : Mr. Speaker, I'll ask the Minister of Health and Wellness to respond.

HON. RANDY DELOREY « » : I thank the member for the question. As the member knows, we are in Autism Acceptance Month this month, so it's a very timely question to bring to the floor. We've certainly been listening and advancing improvements in supports for people living with Autism Spectrum Disorder, but also for their family members and loved ones.

We continue to advance in this area and support investments to provide new programs and services and supports, based upon feedback we continue to receive from organizations like Autism Nova Scotia.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, addressing the needs of autistic and neurodivergent individuals requires participation across departments and structures and systems. It needs a plan. Autism advocates need to know that the government has considered how different programs are set up to support or exclude autistic people. Too many people have had to make their stories public in order to get the support they need and deserve. We should be doing the work now to make sure the services are readily available when they are needed.

Mr. Speaker, will the Premier or the Minister of Health and Wellness agree to conduct an audit of services across all departments, through an autism lens?

RANDY DELOREY « » : We have been working certainly the three departments most engaged with programs and support in this area include the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, the Department of Community Services, and the Department of Health and Wellness.

Mr. Speaker, we have engaged and have our staff working, I believe, closer together than they have in the past to do just that, to look at the programs and supports when community members or family members are in period of concern or crisis, to ensure we say what is the suite of programs and supports within all of our departments to come in behind and support them.

In addition to that we are investing in new programs, like the recently announced brief, intensive outreach service program, Mr. Speaker, which again brings a multi-disciplinary group of people to go out into the community or homes to support families and individuals so they don't reach a point of crisis and they get the supports they need in the area that makes the most sense for them.