Our Statement on BCGEU Strike and Autism Funding Disruption

A follow-up clarifying statement on this topic can be found here.

AutismBC Statement on BCGEU Strike and Autism Funding Disruption

Oct 2, 2025

AutismBC acknowledges the BCGEU strike as a pivotal moment in the pursuit of fair wages and sustainable working conditions for public sector workers across British Columbia. We recognize the importance of collective bargaining and the right to strike, particularly as rising costs of living that affect all members of our communities, including those who serve them. 

At the same time, families across the province are experiencing significant disruptions due to the closure of the Autism Funding Unit office. Many of these families, often led by neurodivergent, intersectional caregivers, who are frequently women, navigate multiple systemic barriers and rely on timely access to funding to maintain essential supports for their children and youth. Service providers and support workers are deeply impacted, either carrying services and extending invoicing approaches or experiencing loss of work. 

We hold space for the complexity of this moment. The absence of contingency planning has left many families in uncertainty, and for some, in crisis. We believe that compassionate leadership can hold both truths: the need for meaningful change in working conditions, and the need to ensure continuity of care for vulnerable communities. This is a time to come together and create a path forward for workers and families. 

AutismBC encourages a collaborative approach to resolving this disruption, one that centres empathy, equity, and lived experience. We invite the Ministry to explore interim solutions that allow funding processes to continue without undermining the integrity of the strike, supporting fair negotiations. This could include temporary staffing, cross-ministry partnerships, or other creative pathways that support workers, service providers and families. 

As a neurodivergent-led, province-wide organization with over 11,000 members, AutismBC operates without direct government funding. We achieve this by sharing our lived experiences, offering low-barrier services, and fostering inclusive environments where autistic individuals can thrive and live their best lives. 
 
Let us move forward together, not in opposition but in partnership. With empathy. With equity. With care to empower, support and connect British Columbia.