B.C. families with adult special needs children say they have no support from government

Families pinch special needs children who person aged retired of precocious schoolhouse opportunity they person been near successful nan lurch pinch nary support because of backing shortages from nan NDP government.

Thomas Jung’s 20-year-old boy Christopher is connected nan autism spectrum and vanished schoolhouse successful June 2023.

Jung’s woman and Christopher’s mother died of crab 2 years ago.

Jung told Global News that on pinch his son’s disorder astir wherever his mother is, he fundamentally has not near nan location since he near precocious schoolhouse because location is nary backing for a spot successful a time program.

“I’m getting aged and I’m trying to beryllium independent and get my life back,” Jung said.

“They conscionable don’t person immoderate program. So I really don’t cognize what to do here. I’m having a difficult clip here, he’s having a difficult time,” referring to his son.

Karin Kirkpatrick, nan protector curate for Housing, Childcare, Autism & Accessibility, told Global News that what nan Jungs are going done is not acceptable.

“It’s a interest moreover for young group earlier graduating precocious school,” she said.

“For younger children, it is specified a difficult clip pinch nan backing now that immoderate parents will really springiness up their kid to nan Ministry of Children and Families because they simply can’t get support for them.”

Kirkpatrick said nan authorities needs to put much successful respite for parents truthful if location isn’t a time program, location has to beryllium immoderate opportunity for a genitor to fulfil that domiciled and not beryllium a caregiver for their typical needs kid astir nan clock.

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B.C.’s Social Development and Poverty Reduction Minister, Sheila Malcolmson, told Global News successful a connection that nan authorities is taking families’ concerns earnestly and is moving pinch Community Living BC to find a solution.

“I thought I’m very beardown too… but this benignant of situation… it’s a lot, yeah,” Jung said.

He dreams of 1 time opening a java shop.

“Then I tin prosecute my ain son, past I tin springiness him (a) elemental job.”