Autism Services

As announced in the 2020-21 Budget, $8,000 annually will be available for children under the age of six with an ASD diagnosis.

Individualized funding provides parents with funding to purchase services that best suit their child's individual needs. This will give parents the flexibility and freedom to choose from a range of therapeutic interventions and supports that will most benefit their child.

Only children under six years of age who have been diagnosed with ASD are eligible for funding. Out-of-province diagnoses will need to be reviewed and confirmed by a Saskatchewan Health Authority ASD diagnostic team. If you suspect your child has ASD, contact an ASD Consultant in the community closest to you.

How to apply or renew:

or download the PDF version of the application.

or download the PDF version of the renewal form.

Other forms you will require if you download the PDF application:

• ASD IF Diagnostic Form
• ASD IF Direct Deposit Payment Request Form
• ASD IF Expense Tracking Sheet

If your or your child's circumstances change, please download and fill out the ASD IF Change of Circumstance Form.

Eligible Services:

The Ministry of Health maintains the Registry of Autism Service Providers, which allows parents/caregivers of children with ASD to search for services available in their home community (or communities close to them).

Professionals providing services under the ASD IF program are required to be listed on the registry. If you do not see your preferred private service provider listed in the registry, or if you are a private service provider who would like to be listed, contact autismregistry@health.gov.sk.ca for more information. Private service providers can also submit an application to be listed in the registry.

Access the Registry of Autism Service Providers

Note: The private service providers listed on the registry operate as private businesses and their fees may vary. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to contact providers for their service rates.

For more information about what services are eligible under the ASD IF program, download the Eligible Services List.

Download the Alternative Funding list to learn about other funding that is available for services not eligible under the Individualized Funding Program.

More Information:

Families will receive their first benefit upon approval of their application and future benefits will be paid annually in the month of the anniversary of the original application date so long as the child is under the age of six.

For more information, download our FAQ document, or:

• For information related to eligible services and the service provider registry, contact the Ministry of Health at 1-800-667-7766 or info@health.gov.sk.ca.
• For information related to applications and payments, contact the Ministry of Social Services at 1‑833‑304‑1774 or autismif@gov.sk.ca.

Signs to look for

Early indicators include:

• No babbling (stringing sounds together to make sentences) by 12 months of age.
• No gestures (pointing, waving bye-bye, etc.) by 12 months of age.
• No response to their name by 12 months of age.
• No single words by 16 months of age.
• No two-word spontaneous phrases by 24 months of age.

Difficulties with social interaction:

• May withdraw from others.
• May not seek attention or actively engage with other people.
• May not follow or try pointing to show interest in something.
• May not turn to respond to their name.

Communication problems:

• Difficulties in verbal (spoken) and non-verbal (gestures, facial expression, body language) communication.  This may range from no speech at all to full sentences that are odd in the way they are spoken or their meaning.
• Speaking style may appear robotic or scripted from TV, repetitive or “echoing,” use of words with no obvious meaning, or use of “giant” words (multiple words used as a single word – “whatisthis”).
• May not start talking until much later than their peers.

Unusual behaviours, interest and activities:

• May have highly specific and focused interests (e.g., obsessions with trains or maps) to the exclusion of other things.
• May be very rigid in routines (taking the same route to school every day, playing with a toy in only one way, resisting schedule changes).
• May show repetitive actions such as hand-flapping, rocking, etc.

If you suspect your child has ASD, contact an ASD Consultant in your area.

An ASD Consultant will complete a screening to determine your child's level of risk for an ASD and link you to services and supports that best meet the needs of your child.

Should your child's level of risk be high for an ASD, the ASD Consultant will make a referral for an assessment and begin development of an individual program plan for your child and family.

A diagnosis is often a multi-step process which may include a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, neurologist, developmental pediatrician, speech/language pathologist, occupational therapist, teacher and other health professionals.

A variety of ASD services and supports are available to individuals throughout the province.

The Ministry of Education provides support to all children and youth, including children with special needs, through Early Childhood Intervention Programs and/or Boards of Education.

The Ministry of Social Services provides flexible funding to people through Communities Working Together: Saskatchewan’s Action Plan for Citizens with Cognitive Disabilities, and programs offered within the Community Living Service Delivery.

The Ministry of Health provides global funding to the Saskatchewan Health Authority for the delivery of health programs and services, including services to the ASD population. In addition, the Ministry of Health offers the Framework and Action Plan for Autism Spectrum Disorders Services in Saskatchewan in communities across the province. This action plan provides evidence-supported intervention options, including behavioural, visual or social strategies through individual programming developed by the client’s service team and family. The action plan builds on and joins with other services available in the community to meet the needs of the clients it services.

Respite/seasonal programming is also available to support children and youth with ASD.

Adults

Adult autism diagnosis and assessment services include:

• psychological assessment and diagnosis of adult ASD
• related services including screening, treatment plans, and consultation

Services Available:

Children and Youth

ASD consultants can screen for the possibility of ASD, refer for diagnosis and assessment, and facilitate the development and implementation of a support and/or treatment plan for individuals up to 19 years old.

ASD support workers can implement specific ASD therapy plans under the supervision of an ASD consultant for children who have not yet successfully transitioned to school.

To find an ASD consultant in your area, you can download the ASD Service Directory.