The BC government has announced a massive investment to support families of children and youth with disabilities.
In total, the Province is providing $475 million in funding over three years, which will support thousands of families throughout the province.
The BC government has put in two years of engagement and consultation with families, service providers and experts regarding how a new benefit for youth with disabilities could best support families.
The result of this engagement is a new BC Children and Youth Disability Benefit program and BC Children and Youth Disability Supplement.
These initiatives will replace the existing autism funding program, and will reportedly reach more children across a broader group of diagnosis and needs.
The newly invested $475 million will be in addition to redirecting $289 million in existing funding for the current autism funding program over three years.
“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.”
How much will these initiatives provide families?
The new benefit and supplement will provide many families with children who have disabilities access to direct funding for the first time.
Throughout 2026 and 2027, the BC Children and Youth Disability Benefit will launch, providing between $6,500 and $17,000 per year to families of children with significant disabilities, based on their individual needs.
This benefit is for children and youth with significant needs across all diagnoses.
Then, beginning in July 2027, the new income-tested BC Children and Youth Disability Supplement will become available.
Families with any child under 18-years-old will be eligible. Eligibility for the Supplement will be the same criteria as the federal Disability Tax Credit.
Those who are eligible will receive up to $6,000 per year based on the level of family net income. According to the Province, this supplement was designed for families with middle and low incomes.
“Down syndrome BC has long advocated for timely, meaningful supports for children with Down syndrome,” said Tamara Taggart, parent advocate and volunteer president, Down syndrome BC.
“Expanded funding is welcome and long overdue, and it has the potential to make a real difference for children and families across the province.”
The Province noted that there will be a transition period before the autism funding program terminates on March 31st, 2027.
Impacted families will reportedly be supported through the transition.
Other improvements for youth with disabilities
The Province is also providing an $80 million investment in the expansion of community-based services for families of children and youth with disabilities.
This investment will be disbursed over the next three years with the goal of growing these services by over 40%.
The funding will help bolster services such as clinical therapies, behavioural and mental-health supports, navigation and programming throughout the province.
“As an advocate for autistic children and youth, I welcome these investments and the expanded individualized funding for additional disability groups,” said Jennifer Newby, parent advocate and member of the Parents and Professionals Plan working group.
“After years of meaningful consultation and a difficult wait, I see thoughtful, targeted investment in those with the most complex needs — finally choosing a ‘pay now or pay later’ path. This new approach will make a real difference in the lives of families.”
According to the BC government, part of the service improvements is to explore ways to bring services to where kids are. This includes providing these services on school grounds, at child care centres, and at community and recreational facilities.
According to the Province, there are an estimated 107,000 children and youth in BC who have support needs, not including those with more mild learning disabilities.
