The Autism Society has released the responses of each of the provincial parties to a list of questions posed to them about issues of concern.

The CEO of the Autism Society, Paul Walsh, says supports in the education system, diagnostic wait times, and respite care were among the key issues raised.

He says they want to see respite care professionalized based on a similar model to the professionalization of early childhood educators, and they want to see lengthy diagnostic wait times reduced. “The last numbers I had (for the St. John’s urban area) for a child, the wait time from referral to a diagnosis is about 33 months. Which is quite a long time, and far exceeds the six months that was the target in the Autism Action Plan.”

The responses from each of the party leaders have been shared on the Autism Society’s Facebook page.