Caregivers, Professionals
Supporting Families with Clarity During the BCGEU Strike
October 3, 2025
At AutismBC, we stand in solidarity with the BCGEU strike for fair wages and sustainable working conditions for public sector workers, while holding space for families navigating autism funding. Our initial statement was based on the information available at the time, citing a lack of clear, supportive guidance in MCFD’s phone lines, website, emails, and portals about next steps during the strike. We’re deeply grateful for our growing partnership with the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD), which has clarified that the Autism Funding Unit and At Home Program remain open, supported by non-unionized staff, despite a staff shortage, and will be updating communication as they are able.
Key updates for families:
- Autism Funding Unit is operational: All work continues. Existing plans and pre-authorized payments via the electronic service provider portal are unaffected, ensuring seamless billing for families already set up.
- New families: Onboarding is moving forward but may face delays due to reduced staffing. For urgent needs, like equipment needs, email MCFD with “urgent” in the subject line to prioritize support.
- Manual submissions for Service Providers: Providers using fax, mail, or email for invoices may experience delays due to manual processing, unlike automated portal submissions.
- At Home Program: Critical medical supplies and services for coexisting conditions are prioritized and distributed with urgency, with pre-authorized plans continuing uninterrupted.
At AutismBC we’re committed to supporting our 11,000+ members to be empowered, supported and connected. We are collaborating with MCFD to provide clear, accessible communication that helps families navigate funding processes with confidence during the BCGEU strike. Our shared goal is to offer supportive guidance, address previous gaps in our messaging, and ensure families feel held, supported, and heard.
