The province says it’s making progress in helping children living with autism, but a Halifax mother says the new Autism Action Plan has done nothing for her adult son.

The one-year progress report into the province’s new autism spectrum disorder action plan was released Wednesday and both the ministers of health and education said the support for children with autism is stronger today than it was a year ago.

The plan has doubled the capacity of the early intensive behavior intervention program, meaning most pre-school children are now being treated in an early intervention program providing one-on-one therapy.

Laura Fader’s little girl is enrolled in the early intervention program and she says the first year has made a world of difference.

“By the end of the school year last week, Kinsey had improved so much, she looked just like any other kid on the school playground,” said Fader. “It was exciting to see Kinsey develop a more of an awareness of people and an interest in socializing with people, more than just meeting her needs.”

But another parent says her 21-year-old son has been left behind by the program.

“There is nothing for any autistic adult to look forward to,” Gillis told News 95.7. “I’m shaking I’m so angry.”

Barbara Gillis’ son Paul was removed from her care and put in an institution three years ago. She says she’s happy to see the improved help for young children, but says the government can’t stop there.

“What about the adult autistic kids, the young adults that have already come up, that didn’t have these resources?” she said. “It’s not to take away from the kids that do have them now, it’s to tell you that there’s a whole population out there with nothing.”

Cynthia Carroll of Autism Nova Scotia says there’s currently no transition support for young adults leaving high school and there is a “crisis level” lack of residential support for adults as they get older.
    
Health Minister David Wilson says with current budget restraints the province feels it can do more by targeting autistic children at an earlier age, but acknowledged that more needs to be done to support adults living with autism.