Tuesday February 10, 2026 | VICTORIA, BC [Posted at 11:10 am | Updated 12:01 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Also see: BC Government News Release – Feb 10, 2026: Supporting children, youth with disabilities with new programs, more funding
Jodie Wickens, Minister of Children and Family Development made an announcement today about changes to the way children and youth with disabilities are supported in BC.
Wickens was joined by:
- Tamara Taggart, parent advocate and volunteer president, Down syndrome B.C.
- Jennifer Charlesworth, representative for children and youth in B.C.
- Chief Shana Thomas, political executive, First Nations Summit
- Glen Davies, director of ABLE Developmental Clinic Inc., and co-director of Autism Integrated Medical Services
- Jennifer Newby, parent advocate and member, Parents and Professionals Plan Working Group
Wickens today in a news conference said it is an honour of a lifetime to deliver a new approach for children and families in BC. She explained that it’s a targeted approach rather than a program around one condition (autism).
Better ways to deliver funding and services was the objective and the goal.
Charlesworth noted there were multiple reports leading up to today. Don’t Look Away was released 18 months ago, about a boy who died after a short life with disabilities and family difficulties.
Both Wickens and Charlesworth emphasized that parents want to spend time “loving, nurturing and enjoying their young ones” instead of dealing with complex support systems and paperwork.
Parent advocate Tamara Taggart said that when her son was born with Down Syndrome, she found that parents were “expected to become experts over night”. Children should be supported early and well, and that parents feel supported and confident about the future.
Dr Glen Davies pointed out that the new approach has the goal of matching funding to the level of need.
Parent advocate Jennifer Newby pointed out some of the improvements in processes, including that children currently receiving support won’t have to shift to new care providers.
Minister Wickens noted in Newby “the power of Mom”… parents who “stretch themselves to ensure that their kids have what they need and continue to fight for the right to support”.
Funding:
The new program budget includes:
- $439 million for the new disability benefit
- $245 million for the new disability supplement
- $80 million for community program expansion
A total of $475 million in new money is being invested over the next three years toward this new program, in addition to redirecting $289 million in existing funding over three years for the current autism funding program.
New BC Children & Youth Disability Benefit:
There will be a new BC Children & Youth Disability Benefit for children and youth up to age 19.
The benefit provides direct funding to support provision of therapies, interventions and key family supports like sibling counselling and respite.
About 12,000 to 15,000 children are expected to receive this benefit.
Direct-funding program:
The B.C. Children and Youth Disability Benefit is a direct-funding program for children and youth with the highest functional support needs, including but not limited to autism, up to age 19. For example, other conditions that may be eligible include [See full BC News Release – Feb 10, 2026]:
- moderate to severe intellectual disability
- children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
- some syndromes, such as Down syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Rett syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, and Prader Willi syndrome
- highly symptomatic autism, including:
autism with intellectual disability - autism scoring in the highest symptom range on Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule
- degenerative conditions with predictable decline (e.g., Duchenne muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy types 1 & 2)
- palliative conditions (life expectancy of less than six months)
- cerebral palsy (Gross Motor Function Classification System levels 3-5)
Children currently participating in the at-home program The disability benefit will provide families of children with significant disabilities with $6,500 or $17,000 per year based on their needs. Eligible families who are currently receiving services for children and youth with support needs from the ministry, including autism funding, will not need to apply.
Children with an existing eligible diagnosis will also automatically qualify, and eligible families will be supported through the transition period. For children without a diagnosis but with severe functional impacts, eligibility may be established through a cumulative needs assessment or review. This might include, for example, a professionally administered functional assessment or a health-care provider attestation. This ensures children with rare, complex or atypical conditions are not excluded.
Phasing out, introducing new:
The current direct funding program will be phased out. That program is currently supporting 27,080 children who get direct funding for diagnosed autism. There are also 2,782 children receiving At-Home Program support (school-aged extended therapies) that will see a phase-out.
The new scenario will see a new disability benefit provided to between 12,000 and 15,000 children in BC who have the most complex support needs based on functional impact rather than diagnosis alone.
A new disability supplement will be available to about 33,000 children. That for children that have support needs in lower- and middle-income households.
About 5,000 children may be getting less benefits but Wickens said the Ministry will work with those families to make sure that targeted supports are found.
$80 million cross-ministry:
A fund of $80 million will be used to expand programs and services so that the system is easier for parents to navigate.
Political framework:
Notably, this is three-year funding that will carry on past the next BC provincial election (set for 2028); that way, funding will be stable for the impacted families regardless of political stripe in government.
The work behind developing this new program has been extensive, following the political pushback against a community-level funding model that was introduced in 2021 but was then suspended by Premier Eby in 2023 so revisions could be made.
===== LINK:
BC Government News Release – Feb 10, 2026: Supporting children, youth with disabilities with new programs, more funding
===== RELATED:
- Ministry of Children & Family Development claims continued progress (July 18, 2023)
- More cohesive system of supports for youth in care (March 15, 2022)
- New BC support hub for neurodiverse children and their families (October 28, 2021)
- NEWS SECTIONS: FAMILY & SOCIETY | CHILDREN & CHILD CARE | 43rd PARLIAMENT of BC | GOVERNMENT of BC | MINISTRY of CHILDREN & FAMILY DEVELOPMENT