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Autism & pediatric support

BC Autism Funding: What Families Need to Know

BC Autism Funding is money the Ministry of Children and Family Development provides to families of a child with an eligible autism diagnosis, to buy supports outside the school day. This page covers what it pays for, the rule that catches most families out, and the change coming in 2027.

Figures and dates confirmed 2026-08-19 against official gov.bc.ca sources. Autism Funding amounts and the 2027 transition are provincial policy and can change — for your own file, the Autism Funding Unit is 1-877-777-3530.

How much is available

Funding is split into two age bands, and the difference between them is large.

Under 6 — up to $22,000 per year.

Ages 6 to 18 — up to $6,000 per year.

The drop at a child's sixth birthday is the single biggest financial cliff in the program, and it is worth planning for well before it arrives rather than discovering it in the month it happens.

Funding is not a payment to you. It is held and disbursed against invoices from approved providers, so what you can actually spend it on matters as much as the amount.

The RASP rule — the part that catches families out

The **Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP)** is the provincial list of professionals whose services under-6 autism funding can be spent on.

For the **under-6** program, funding can be used for:

  • professionals listed on the RASP, and
  • **behaviour interventionists supervised by a RASP-registered professional**, and
  • related administrative and employment costs of engaging those providers.

    • That second line is the one families miss. A behaviour interventionist does not have to be on the registry themselves — but the person supervising them does. If they are not, the invoice is not fundable, and families usually find that out after the fact.

    For **ages 6 to 18** the rules are broader: the funding covers a wider range of supports including out-of-school tutoring and learning support, behaviour consultants, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and life- and social-skills programs. The RASP restriction that governs the under-6 band does not apply in the same way.

    So the practical question to ask any provider is not "do you accept autism funding" — most will say yes. It is:

    "Is the person supervising my child's interventionist registered on the RASP?"

    What funding can and cannot be used for

    Autism funding covers services and resources **outside your child's school day**. It does not pay for anything the school system is already responsible for providing during school hours.

    Commonly funded: behaviour intervention, speech-language support, occupational therapy support, and — in the 6–18 band — tutoring and learning support outside school hours, social and life-skills programs, and specialised therapeutic activities.

    Not funded: services delivered during the school day, and anything from a provider who does not meet the requirements for your child's age band.

    What changes in 2027

    This is the part worth acting on rather than reading.

    **Autism Funding ends April 1, 2027.** It is being replaced by two new provincial programs:

  • the **BC Children and Youth Disability Benefit** — reported as $6,500 or $17,000 per year depending on assessed need, starting April 1, 2027
  • the **BC Children and Youth Disability Supplement** — an income-tested monthly payment of up to $6,000 per year for families of a child eligible for the federal Disability Tax Credit, starting July 2027

    • **The application form for the transition is open until March 31, 2027.** Families currently receiving Autism Funding are to be contacted about eligibility to transfer, and the province's guidance is to gather documentation and apply as early as possible so eligibility is determined well before the changeover rather than during it.

    Two things follow from this that are worth being blunt about:

    **Do not wait for the deadline.** An application decided in the final weeks leaves no room to query an outcome before the old program ends.

    **The new benefit is not a like-for-like replacement of the under-6 amount.** $22,000 and $17,000 are different numbers. If your child is under six and currently at or near the funding ceiling, model what the change means for your existing service hours before April 2027, not after.

    For questions about your own file, the Autism Funding Unit is **1-877-777-3530** or **MCF.AutismFundingUnit@gov.bc.ca**. They are the only ones who can answer for your specific circumstances — this page cannot.

    Where Puffin Services fits

    Directly, and with one important caveat: **Puffin's pediatric support is not bookable yet.** It is in development with an interest list, so everything here is what it is being built to be rather than what you can book today.

    **Puffin's BI, SLPA and OTA staff are supervised by a therapist registered on the Registry of Autism Service Providers.** That is the condition the under-6 program attaches to behaviour interventionist hours, and it is the question most worth asking a provider before you commit funded hours to them.

    Alongside that:

  • **In-home only.** Puffin has no clinic — not as positioning, as a fact about the business. There is no centre to travel to and no waiting list for a room.
  • **Designed to work alongside your child's existing team**, not to replace it. You should not have to leave a therapist who is working in order to change where sessions happen.
  • **Continuity by default** — the same specialist stays with your child rather than being rotated.
  • **CRRP vulnerable-sector cleared**, every caregiver, before any placement.
  • **In-home respite for autistic children is $42/hr**, arranged directly rather than booked online. If you need respite before online booking opens, email hello@puffinservices.com or call (604) 283-2829 and a person will tell you honestly what can be arranged.

    • Whether your funding can be applied to any specific service depends on your child's plan and the funding rules in force at the time, so confirm with your funding contact rather than assuming either way.

    RASP-supervised

    Puffin’s BI, SLPA and OTA staff are supervised by a therapist registered on BC’s Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP).

    Supervisors qualify for the registry by different routes depending on the role — BCBA certification for behaviour intervention, and College of Health and Care Professionals of BC registration for speech-language pathology and occupational therapy. Puffin's pediatric support is in development and not bookable yet.

    Register Your InterestRespite Care →

    Common questions

    How much is BC autism funding per year?
    Up to $22,000 per year for a child under 6, and up to $6,000 per year for ages 6 to 18. The funding is not paid to families directly — it is disbursed against invoices from providers who meet the requirements for your child’s age band.
    What is the RASP and why does it matter for autism funding?
    The Registry of Autism Service Providers is the provincial list of professionals that under-6 autism funding can be spent on. Under-6 funding covers RASP-listed professionals and behaviour interventionists supervised by a RASP-registered professional. The rules for ages 6 to 18 are broader and this restriction does not apply in the same way. The practical question to ask a provider is whether the person supervising your child’s interventionist is registered on the RASP.
    Are Puffin Services’ pediatric staff RASP-supervised?
    Yes — Puffin Services’ BI, SLPA and OTA staff are supervised by a therapist registered on the Registry of Autism Service Providers, which is the supervision condition the under-6 autism funding program attaches to behaviour interventionist hours. Puffin’s pediatric support is in development and not bookable yet; register your interest to be notified at launch.
    When does BC autism funding end?
    Autism Funding ends April 1, 2027 and is replaced by the BC Children and Youth Disability Benefit, with an income-tested Disability Supplement following in July 2027. The transition application form is open until March 31, 2027, and families are advised to apply early so eligibility is determined well ahead of the changeover. Confirm the current dates with the Autism Funding Unit at 1-877-777-3530 before relying on them.
    Will the new BC Children and Youth Disability Benefit replace my full autism funding?
    Not necessarily at the same amount. The new benefit is reported as $6,500 or $17,000 per year depending on assessed need, against the current under-6 autism funding ceiling of $22,000. If your child is under six and using close to the full amount, it is worth modelling what the change means for your service hours before April 2027 rather than after. The Autism Funding Unit (1-877-777-3530) can speak to your specific file.
    Can autism funding be used for in-home therapy?
    Funding follows the provider and the service rather than the location, so in-home delivery is not itself a barrier — what matters is whether the provider meets the requirements for your child’s age band. Puffin Services’ upcoming in-home BI, SLPA and OTA support is being designed to be eligible for MCFD Autism Funding and is supervised by a RASP-registered therapist. It is not bookable yet.

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