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More than a year after a British Columbia mother ended her desperate struggle to care for her autistic son – killing him before taking her own life – a coroner’s jury has made 25 recommendations to prevent similar tragedies.
Days of testimony and deliberations heard details of suicide attempts made by Angie Robinson, and domestic abuse within the home.
The MCFD says workers knew of those details and discussed if Robinson should live in a women’s shelter that couldn’t provide care for her autistic son Robert.
Ultimately, it led to two people dying and ushering debate about the role of the MCFD with special needs children.
A list of ten recommendations were made to the MCFD by a jury, among them: Ensuring training between children and youth with special needs and child welfare workers, providing safety training to special needs social workers, and ensuring autism training in rural and remote communities.
It also called for a review of the autism funding cap of $6,000 per year for children over age 6 and consider increasing funding to ensure higher need children are being accommodated.
The jury also recommends the ministry ensure caregivers of special needs children are assessed to determine appropriate support requirements.
Agencies/Canadajournal
