MPP Stephen Lecce Delivers Critical Investments in Autism Services to Serve Children and Families in Vaughan

VAUGHAN — Today, Stephen Lecce, MPP for King—Vaughan, was joined by the board of directors of Waves of Changes for Autism to announce an investment of nearly $1.2 million over the next two years in three service providers in Vaughan to help more children and families access clinical services through the Ontario Autism Program. As part of the Ontario government’s $37 million investment in over 100 public and private service providers, Boomerang Health powered by SickKids, The Village, and Two Can Talk will receive funding to support net-new diagnostic and therapy services for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in our community. 

“Parents of children with autism in our community know that accessible autism care services are crucial to support the developmental success and emotional well-being of their children,” said Stephen Lecce, MPP for King—Vaughan. “Having spoken with many families over the years that support a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder, I am proud to deliver over a million dollars to local clinics right here in Vaughan to support the essential work they do to make a difference in the lives of these kids. I remain committed to ensuring all parents and children have access to world-class services — and thank Waves of Changes for Autism for gifting hope and relief to families in King and Vaughan raising children with autism." 

Service providers are receiving funding through the Ontario Autism Program’s workforce capacity fund. This fund provides two-year grants ranging from $50,000 to $400,000 in value to help providers to hire new staff, increase staff hours, train employees, invest in technology, and reach rural and remote communities. 

“Protecting Ontario starts by safeguarding the province’s most vulnerable and ensuring that all children are provided with opportunities to achieve lifelong success,” said Michael Parsa, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. “Autism service providers do an incredible job of helping children and youth reach their full potential. Our government is proud to work with them to make it easier for more families to access timely, local supports tailored to their needs.” 

This announcement builds on the integrated health services network that MPP Lecce is delivering to support families and youth in King and Vaughan. This past January, MPP Lecce announced that the Ontario government is making it faster and easier for young people to connect to mental health and substance use services by launching a net-new Youth Wellness Hub to serve youth in the City of Vaughan and surrounding areas.  

Funding for local service providers through the workforce capacity fund is part of the province’s total investment in the Ontario Autism Program. Since 2019, Ontario has more than doubled the program’s annual budget, bringing it to a total of $779 million with the addition of a $175 million investment through Budget 2025. This new investment will continue to support the enrolment of children and youth in core clinical services. 

The workforce capacity fund is one initiative under the OAP capacity action plan. The province prioritizes applications that support families and service providers in northern, rural and remote communities, as well as francophone and Indigenous families recognizing the unique challenges these groups face.   

QUOTES 

"The Village is grateful to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services for their support and recognition of the essential care and programming for children and families provided by the private sector. This investment from the government directly supports the growth of our workforce, increases access to programs, and allows us to meet the growing needs of children and families impacted by autism spectrum disorders. This partnership between the public and private sector is essential, ensuring that all voices, especially those of the families and professionals working directly with children and youth are heard and valued." 

- Michelle Burke, Executive Director, The Village 

“We are incredibly honoured and grateful to receive this funding through the Ontario Autism Program Workforce Capacity Fund. This initiative will allow Two Can Talk to expand access to high-quality, evidence-based speech and occupational therapy services for more children and families in Vaughan and across Ontario, including direct treatment, parent coaching, group therapy, and early intervention programming. With this support, we can grow our team, enhance our clinical capacity, and help reduce wait times, ensuring families are not left waiting for the essential care their children need. We commend the Ontario government for their ongoing commitment to building a more inclusive, accessible, and responsive autism service system for communities across the province.” 

- Erin & Eve, Owners & Clinical Directors, Two Can Talk Therapy Services 

“Thanks to past funding, Boomerang Health has extended the SickKids standard of excellence into Vaughan and surrounding areas - expanding autism services for children, building a highly skilled team, and improving access for families, including Francophone communities. This investment has had a meaningful and measurable impact. With continued support, we are ready to scale further and deliver timely, specialized care to more children and families across the region.” 

- Lara Pietrolungo, Executive Director, Boomerang Health. 

“Waves of Changes for Autism is a grassroots, volunteer-run non-profit organization committed to lowering barriers and increasing support for children on the spectrum in the Vaughan community. Today’s announcement represents a meaningful advance by the Province in investing in local autism service providers that deliver essential services to some of the families we support. We sincerely thank Minister Stephen Lecce and the Government of Ontario for supporting the Ontario Autism Program’s Workforce Capacity Fund. We share their mission to bring greater access, compassion, and hope for families impacted by autism.”  

- Ellen Contardi, President, Waves of Changes for Autism 

“I’m proud to support this important investment that will expand autism services in our community and provide families with the care and resources they need.” 

- Michael Tibollo, MPP for Vaughan—Woodbridge  

“Every child deserves the opportunity to be supported to reach their full potential. This investment in accessible autism care services is more than just a financial commitment; it reflects our shared responsibility to ensure that no family feels alone on their journey. It's about ensuring our children and families have the tools and support they need from the very start. I will continue to champion initiatives that are forward-thinking, family-centered, and rooted in care that makes a lasting difference." 

- Laura Smith, MPP for Thornhill 

QUICK FACTS 

• Workforce capacity fund grants awarded in 2022 and 2023 supported providers to: serve an additional 6,000 children and youth on the autism spectrum, boost training for more than 2,000 staff and fund more than 500 clinician positions.   

• The Ontario Autism Program has served tens of thousands of children and youth with autism aged 0-17 through multiple streams in the program, including caregiver-mediated early years programs, the entry to school program, foundational family services, core clinical services and urgent response services. 

• Since the workforce capacity fund was created in 2021, Ontario has awarded more than 350 grants in total to autism service providers across the province. 

MEDIA CONTACT                                                                                               

Stephen Lecce, MPP for King—Vaughan 

Constituency Office 

Tel.: 647-560-9700         

Email: Stephen.Lecce@pc.ola.org