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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, November 1, 2012 · 10 Cost of autism treatment sends families into debt Continued from page 1 verbal until two years ago, his achievements are worthy of a gold star. "I call him the hardest working kid in autism," said his mom, Katrina Carefoot. Max was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) when he was two and a half years old. When his family's suspicions were confirmed, the Carefoots immediately sought early intervention. Max attends blueballoon in Burlington, where he receives speech, music, behaviour and occupational therapies as well as enjoys social groups for four hours every day of the week -- a schedule he has maintained for the past three years. The Fairview Street facility, which prides itself on its ability to offer a comprehensive approach to healthcare, provides access to a variety of therapies all under one roof. "We integrate our programs," explained Natalie Elms, blueballoon's manager of business, development and community relations. "We are working together on the same plan." Those programs, however, come at a cost. To cultivate the special person who is Dorian Poe, his parents have spent their entire life's savings and then some. To put it in relative terms, Christine Poe and her husband, Brett, could have paid for their single-family dwelling in central Burlington a few times over. Nine-year-old Dorian was diagnosed with ASD when he was in Grade 1. The Burlington boy is bright, funny, loving and super sensitive. He can, however, suffer meltdowns that see him scream, kick, hit and become destructive, showing absolutely no remorse. With wait lists restricting access to "We have gone into major debt because of this. We are very blessed that we are middle class enough that the bank will give us enough rope to hang ourselves." Katrina Carefoot, Max's mom early intervention, the Carefoots and the Poes opted to privately fund their sons' therapies. While they receive some financial support from the government, the bulk of the costs associated with treatment has come out of the family's pocket. `Major debt' "We have gone into major debt because of this," said Carefoot. "We are very blessed that we are middle class enough that the bank will give us enough rope to hang ourselves." When the family first purchased their Oakville home a decade ago, they carried a $215,000 mortgage. Today, that debt hovers around $300,000. "You do what you have to do for your kid," she stated. It's a sentiment that eerily resonates with Poe. She wouldn't hesitate to spend every penny she has to ensure Dorian, a student at Burlington's Missing Links, is in a safe, educational environment so he can grow up to meet his full potential. Poe said their family was forced to sell their "dream home" in Millcroft to move to a more affordable one in central Burlington. Still, they carry a hefty mortgage and financial hardship is a day-to-day struggle. The puppet shows and small-scale fundERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVER / @halton_photog emptying the family's pockets for autism treatment: The Poe family of Burlington has spent more than the cost of a house on education and therapy for their son Dorian, right, who has autism. Pictured with Dorian are his parents, Christine and Bret, and brother Bryce. raisers Poe holds don't come close to supporting the true costs of Dorian's therapies. The investments into intensive interventions, however, have not been in vain. Prior to undergoing therapy, Max never made eye contact, would run into walls and suffered meltdowns. The toddler would also have episodes where he'd become so upset not even his mother could soothe him. "It's heartbreaking as a parent," said Carefoot. "You feel like a failure." As for Dorian, he can't function in the public school system. When he attended Grade 1 at Ryerson Elementary School, Poe recalls being called to pick him up on numerous occasions when he was throwing things or having a tantrum. iour -- was beginning to go without a hitch. Then, in August 2010, Max started to talk. "When you inch along and you inch along, you can't even see the inches," said Carefoot of her son's progress. "But when they all come together and you are able to see a huge jump like that... it's remarkable." The milestone was an emotional moment for Carefoot and her husband, Scott. "I wanted to jump over the moon, I was so excited," she recalled. Since then, the family celebrates the breakthrough annually, as if it were Max's birthday. At Woodview: Mental Health and See Early page 11 `It's remarkable' He struggled with academics, behaviour and the ability to socialize appropriately. "I'd be called in to pick him up because nobody could settle him," she said. "I was always crying and blaming myself, wondering if it was something I did." Within months of working with the professionals at blueballoon, Max's behaviour started to change. Transitioning from the facility's foyer to a therapy room -- a changeover that used to elicit tantrum-like behav- The numbers tell a story Since 2003, Ontario's Ministry of Children and Youth Services has invested: · $186 million for all autism services · $25 million to expand Applied Behaviour Analysisbased services and supports As of July 2012: As of October 2012: · 1,417 children receiving Intensive Behavioural Intervention services · 675 children benefited from the Connections to Students program, which helps youth on the spectrum transition to a traditional school setting · 1,026 children received in-home respite services · 1,702 children are waiting to access interventions SOURCE: MINISTRY OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES · 2,772 children received out-of-home respite care · 164 children attended seasonal camps This year: · 8,000 children will benefit from Applied Behaviour Analysis-based services and supports MEET THE EDITORIAL TEAM: Metroland Media Group's Halton Division editorial staffers, from left, Catherine O'Hara, Eric Riehl and Julie Slack, are the talent behind the four-part series Navigating Through the Fog.