Montrealer seeks funding for service dogs to help those with autism

Montrealer Sylvain Bernier is collecting signatures for his petition, as he says people living within the autism spectrum are being discriminated against by the Quebec government, since they receive no funding help for service dogs.

As of January 2020, Quebecers with a visual or physical handicap receive government aid of up to $2,240 a year, but those living with autism do not qualify. Bernier is asking the province to change the policy and include people within the spectrum.

“When the government decides to help one type of person with dogs they have to help everyone,” says Bernier, president of the non-profit Aspis Rencontres.

“When MIRA is training a dog and it’s given for a blind person, this person will receive, under a specific program, $2,240 from the government. The same dog trained by MIRA, when it’s given to an autistic person, receives no help because the government says there’s no valid data, which is not true,” he told CityNews. 

In a 2013 study by the MIRA Foundation, which trains and assigns assistance dogs, the hormone levels of 42 children along the autism spectrum were measured before, during and after service dogs were introduced into their families. The study found children’s stress levels declined significantly as a result. 

Bernier says he sees the urgent need right within his organization. 

“I have two members with assisting dogs and one of them was crying because she didn’t have enough to pay for the veterinary and to eat, so she was eating less to be able to pay for the expenses with the dog. 

“We started a crowdfunding and we just got $2,500 for her. So right now when she’s having a little problem we’re giving her a little money so she can eat properly and treat properly the dog,” the Aspis Rencontres president said. 

According to Autism Canada, 1 in 50 Canadians fall on the autism spectrum. Having been diagnosed with autism spectrum condition at age 52 himself, Bernier is glad to see the support.

“We created the petition and now we are up to 8,000 signatures so far. I hope to get somewhere between 12,000 to 15,000 which is really exceptional for this kind of petition,” he said.

The plan is to deliver the petition to the National Assembly when the fall session begins.