Thousands more families will qualify for direct funding support to help meet the needs of children, youth across a wider range of disabilities. The Province is investing $475 million to significantly increase financial supports, expand access to more free community services

Thousands more families of children and youth with disabilities will have access to direct funding for support services and more service providers in their communities.

After two years of engagement and careful consultation with families, service providers and experts, government is making an investment of $475 million over three years to create a new benefit and supplement program and invest in expansion of support services in B.C. communities. 

A new B.C. Children and Youth Disability Benefit program and B.C. Children and Youth Disability Supplement will be phased in, replacing the existing autism funding program to reach more children across a broader group of diagnosis and needs.

“From extensive engagement with families with lived experience and leaders in the sector, we heard clearly there are too many children with diverse needs who are not well served by the current system,” said Jodie Wickens, Minister of Children and Family Development. “This investment is about significantly expanding both financial supports and services for children and youth with a range of disabilities, through a new approach that is fair and that provides the greatest support to the most vulnerable," she added.