MCFD Announces Individualized Funding for Children and Youth with Down Syndrome

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Burnaby, BC, February 10, 2026 — Today, the Province of British Columbia’s Ministry of Children and Family Development announced sweeping changes to the provincial system for providing essential supports to children and youth with developmental disabilities, including Down syndrome.

The new system includes the creation of two new funding streams that will replace current supports including the At Home Program and Autism Funding Unit. Critically, all children and youth with Down syndrome will automatically qualify for both funding streams.

The new BC Children and Youth Disability Benefit will provide $6,500 per year (and up to $17,000 per year for those with exceptional support needs). This funding can be used for a wide array of services including speech therapy, occupational therapy, positive behaviour support, and mental health services including family counselling. The benefit will be phased in beginning in April 2026.

In addition, the new BC Children and Youth Disability Supplement is a direct monthly payment to families that helps middle-and low-income families with the cost of raising a child with support needs. The amount of the payment depends on family income and the number of eligible children, and can be as high as $500/month per eligible child. This funding is unrestricted and can be used however the family deems most helpful. The supplement will begin in July 2027.

Today’s announcement is the culmination of three decades of advocacy by BC’s Down syndrome community. Throughout the Down Syndrome Resource Foundation’s 30 years as an organization, children and youth with Down syndrome in BC have faced inequities in funding that saw 60% of families receive no assistance with the cost of indispensable services including speech therapy, occupational therapy, positive behaviour support, mental wellness support, and more.

To ensure that families could access these services, DSRF has consistently priced our programs and services at well-below market rate for all clients who did not have external funding, relying on fundraising to fill the gap. However, this model had become increasingly untenable.

In the difficult economic climate of the past few years, expenses have risen significantly, while the fundraising landscape has become progressively more challenging – culminating in the organization posting its largest-ever deficit in 2025. Today’s announcement is extremely hopeful and allows DSRF to plan for a sustainable future.

The announcement comes 3.5 years after the Province committed to collaboratively engage with families and disability organizations on the development of a new service model that would address existing inequities and ensure that all children and youth with developmental disabilities receive the therapeutic and educational supports they need to thrive.

To this end, DSRF joined other disability organizations in the BC Disability Collaborative, working together to advance solutions. We also engaged with MCFD to test a new individualized funding model, through which we provided speech therapy, occupational therapy, and family support services to 43 Down syndrome families who were ineligible for funding under the current system.

All this work paid off in today’s commitment from the Province, which completely changes the landscape for BC’s Down syndrome families, and for the Down Syndrome Resource Foundation as an organization. Going forward, all families will be able to avail themselves of world-class, Down syndrome-specialized therapy services and educational programs to help their child step into success, whatever that means for them. This gives DSRF a sturdy foundation on which to build and grow so we can continue to meet the needs of our community.

The Province and the Ministry of Children and Family Development demonstrated today that listening and engaging with disability communities leads to more equitable systems and better outcomes for children and families. We extend our appreciation to our many partners who have tirelessly advocated to bring this to fruition, including Down Syndrome BC, Tamara Taggart, Pat Mirenda, members of the BC Disability Collaborative, the families who participated in our MCFD engagement project, and the countless supporters who have added their voice. We truly believe today marks the beginning of a brighter future for people with Down syndrome in British Columbia.

“Over the last 30 years, I have witnessed the families in our community commit an enormous amount of time, energy, and financial resources to ensuring their child with Down syndrome receives the supports they need. My hope is that this announcement will lighten the load that families have carried for far too long. The Province has just taken an important step towards a more equitable and inclusive system that supports all children with disabilities.” – Eleanor Stewart, CEO, Down Syndrome Resource Foundation

“I am a sole guardian to my son. Financially we are in poverty. Without this funding I am unable to pay for speech therapy. I honestly didn’t think my son would ever be verbal. Now I see that he likely will.” – DSRF Parent

The Down Syndrome Resource Foundation provides comprehensive support, rich social connections, and the best resources available to the Down syndrome community so each person can thrive.