There’s an intersection between science and government that needs to happen, she added.

Thomson added that the average cost for treatment can cost up to $80,000 per person each year, depending on the child's needs – something Jamie said he won’t be able to afford in January 2020 because of the overhaul of the Ontario Autism Program, by the provincial government.

Instead, Jamie said he will be given $5,000 each year by the province to put toward any form of treatment needed by his son.

In February this year, to address the waiting list of 23,000 children, the Ontario government eliminated funding to regional providers, like ErinoakKids, resulting in the staffing cuts at the treatment centre.

According to the Children, Community and Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod, this was done to give funding directly to families, instead of regional providers.

For children under six-years-old, families will receive $20,000 per year for treatment and for children over six, like Jacob, they will receive $5,000 – which, Jamie said, won’t cover costs for his son’s treatment and will severely damage his long-term health and life.

“We don’t want the $5,000,” Jamie said. “It costs $3000 per month to get Jacob 12 hours of treatment a week at ErinoakKids, which is already inadequate. In January, I will have to pay over $55,000 dollars out-of-pocket.”

In Jacob’s case, Jamie added, at least 30 hours of therapy per week is needed for adequate treatment.

According to Jamie, funding for treating autism needs to be a “needs-based approach,” tailored to each individual’s treatment needs.

While autism is a brain neurodevelopmental disorder and ABA is a medically necessary treatment, Jamie said, it doesn’t fall under the Canadian Health Act and is not funded in any part by the federal government.

“Medicare should cover autism treatment or should be covered by insurance in Canada, but it isn’t,” Jamie said.

According to Thomson, this is a good time to have that conversation on the federal level.

“I think all of the federal parties need to have a platform on how intervention for autism can be handled,” she said. “Whether that’s supporting the provinces or developing a federal strategy, and right now is the ideal time because of what’s happened in Ontario.”

In the U.S., for example, ABA is considered medically necessary, but the system in Canada does not, she added.

Editor's Note - this story was edited on Monday, July 15, at 4.19 p.m. to clarify the following: children with autism can need up to $80,000 a year in treatment, IBI is a form of ABA - not two different types of treatment, and Jacob is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.