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"We were told that there was an 18â€" month wait, and were basically told to sit and wait," said Naney. "That, to us as parâ€" ents, was simply unacceptable." "Everything we learned at the time was that carly intervention was key," said Bryon. "The earlier you can get them going the better. "We just weren‘t content to wait for close to two years." Plus, a recent Ontario Appeals Court judgment has ruled in the provincial govâ€" ernment‘s favour saying that public fundâ€" ing for autism treatment would continue to be cut off when the child turns six. So even if Liam got into the program, and made progress, he would be tossed out of it when he reached that arbitrary cutoff. Dad Bryon tries to balance a business while paying for his son‘s special treatâ€" ment, worrying all the time about whether they will have to sell their home to keep up with all the bills. But they wouldn‘t have it any other way, they said. Their fourâ€"yearâ€"old would still be on a waiting list for treatment after being diagnosed with autism 2 1/2 years ago if they hadn‘t acted sooner. He wouldâ€" n‘t have made the incredible strides he‘s made in such a short time, including sayâ€" ing "Mommy" for the first time. The Bruces said they are tired of the provincial government forcing families to the point of bankruptcy to get the help they need. Worse yet. some families are leaving the province for places like Alberta to get into programs that should be the standard in Ontario. That‘s why Nancy and Bryon joined more than 100 other people touched by Continued on page 5 r I The Bruce family of Waterloo can‘t count all the sacrifices they‘ve had to make to ensure lh(*r son Liam has had the best treatment possible for his qautism. They live in a modest home and haven‘t bought a new car in years. Liem‘s mom. Nancy, is a fullâ€"time caregiver for her son, in what she calls a fullâ€"time job and a half for the boy who has the cogniâ€" tive skills of a sixâ€"yearâ€"old but the social acumen of a toddler. Local parents rally for more funding for autistic children By Bos VrBanac Chromucle Staff Avery Nyguen, 6, demonstrates an interesting way to keep cool with his family at the Lion‘s Lagoon at Waterloo Park Serving your community since 1856 Keeping your cool IC LIBRARY Sharing the same air as Michael Jordan Page 19 PUNCHER Passing the time at Colonial Times/Page 16 ARTS FOCUS COvir¢1} 20 REGINA S. AT ERB The new Waterloo Band Festival is back/Page 8 SPORTS