The Autism Society of Canada says they are frustrated by the lack of urgency in last week's Senate committee recommendations for a "national plan" to deal with autism.
"Our immediate response is that we're glad it's there but we are disappointed that it hasn't made anything tangible," Christine Dade, president of the Autism Society of Canada, told CTV's Canada AM Tuesday morning.
"It's a recommendation. The Senate's report does not come into law, it doesn't force the government to do anything," she said. "So in that instance, we're very disappointed."
Three years have passed since the ASC, a federation of Canada-wide provincial and territorial autism societies representing individuals with autism and their families, began asking the federal government for a national autism strategy.
The national strategy looks to take care of some of the financial burden families dealing with autism face with costly therapies.
Depending on the type of autism therapy, some families pay as much as $60,000 per year for care. The societal cost for each autistic child is about US$3.2 million.
"We hope there is tangible action," said Dade. "Without such action, there will continue to be enormous human, social and financial costs for people of all ages with autism spectrum disorders, their families and Canadian society."
The report recommends that autism be classified as a disability in order to qualify for tax breaks.
The report also suggests the creation of an Autism Research Network with funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
The ASC would ultimately like the government to provide creative interim solutions to give appropriate support, treatment and care for all those affected by autism from all parts of the spectrum.
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology issued their report on the 2006 Enquiry on the Funding for the Treatment of Autism entitled, "Pay Now or Pay Later: Autism Families In Crisis" on March 29.
The Senate's plan would see families begin to receive help by the end of 2007.
In Canada, approximately 50,000 children and 150,000 adults live with autism.
