File photo. (Image Credit: Global BC)

By Jodie Wickens, Minister of Children and Family Development

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: More services, funding for all children with disabilities

Mar 19, 2026 | 10:30 AM

FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, the well-being of children and youth has been more than a priority; it has been my purpose. 

As a parent and aunt to children with diverse support needs, I spent years advocating within systems before entering politics. My path to becoming Minister of Children and Family Development was shaped not only by personal experience, but also by hands-on work as a service provider, coordinating and delivering many of the same supports for children and youth that my ministry oversees. 

There’s a saying I carry with me from the autism community: “when you’ve met one child with autism, you’ve met one child with autism.” No two children are the same. I’ve had the privilege of seeing children and youth with disabilities truly flourish when they’re given the support they need. But I’ve also witnessed the frustration of families navigating a system that has left too many behind. That stays with me too. 

In 2021, our government tried to fix that, but after listening to parents and service providers it became clear we didn’t get it right, and plans for change were paused. What followed was years of extensive engagement with thousands of families, service providers, and experts. I became the Minister at the end of that engagement, where we then spent over a year developing a new system that increases support for thousands of families in a fairer, more tailored way. 

All of this came together to deliver something I’m proud to be part of: the largest investment in children with disabilities in a generation. The $475 million in new funding means real, tangible change: two new direct funding streams for families through the Disability Benefit and the Disability Supplement, a 40 per cent increase in free community services, and finally, an end to the one-size-fits-all approach that for too long ignored a fundamental truth: every child and family is unique, and support should reflect that. 

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: More services, funding for all children with disabilities

3h ago

The Creative Edge

PEARCE: When fear hits our schools

Mar 17, 2026

Transgender Rights

Demonstration planned to support Kamloops transgender community

Mar 16, 2026

Thousands of families who currently don’t receive direct funding will now be eligible to receive up to $23,000/year to support their child with a disability. For families already in the system, particularly those caring for children with profound needs, this means more support, sustained across their child’s entire childhood. 

About 33,000 families will benefit from the new funding programs, which are designed to be flexible to family needs. For example, a family receiving the benefit, which is based on their child’s needs, can manage the funds themselves, or choose an authorized agency to coordinate and deliver the services they need. That same family can also access the supplement, which goes directly into their bank account to help cover the added costs of therapies and other expenses that come with raising a child with a disability. 

In addition, our $80 million, three-year investment in community-based services will dramatically improve access to publicly funded therapies. Families have waited too long for essential supports like speech language and occupational therapy. This investment changes that, expanding capacity, reducing waitlists, and making sure more children get the help they need. 

I understand the stress and uncertainty families experience when facing change, and that many parents have questions about what this means for them. 

I want to reassure families. Funding for children with autism is expanding from $190 million a year to about $230 million a year, and the vast majority of families currently receiving autism funding will continue to receive direct financial support. What is changing is how the money is distributed, moving from a one-size-fits-all approach, to a more tailored, informed model of support. 

At the heart of everything I do is a belief that every child deserves support, and that fairness and equity must guide how that support is delivered. This belief brought me into public life and continues to drive me every day as Minister of Children and Family Development. The opportunity to work toward a more equitable system for children and families is a privilege and responsibility I do not take lightly. 

From the beginning, our goal has been to provide better support to the children and families that need it most. And in a time of immense economic difficulty, I’m proud that we’re choosing to invest in children and families.  

I truly believe these changes create a system that will be better, fairer, and that recognizes individual needs and ensures the most vulnerable children and youth get the support they deserve.

——

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.