Father Launches Petition to Secure Education Rights for Disabled Son

A father from London, Ontario, is advocating for the recognition of equitable healthcare and education as fundamental rights in Canada. Richard Hackett, 41, initiated a petition on December 4, 2024, after a prolonged struggle to secure necessary support for his son, Austin, who faces learning challenges. The petition has attracted nearly 5,000 signatures in just three weeks, underscoring the urgent need for change in the current system.

Hackett’s son, who is 8 years old, has been diagnosed with a learning disability and ADHD. Since he was 4 years old, Austin has been waiting for publicly funded occupational therapy. Hackett expressed frustration over the long wait times, stating, “We shouldn’t be in this mess. Everyone should have access to these services if they need it right away. There should be no lists.”

In Ontario, families can access occupational therapy through various channels, including children’s treatment centres and schools. However, Hackett noted that while his son was evaluated at school, there has been no follow-up or information on the assessment’s outcome. This experience aligns with broader concerns highlighted by the Ontario Autism Coalition, which recently revealed that core service wait times for children with autism average five years.

The coalition’s findings included a freedom-of-information request indicating that fewer than 1 in 4 children registered with the Ontario Autism Program receive the funding necessary for core services. Peter Fragiskatos, Liberal MP for London Centre, described the current situation as “not good enough.” He acknowledged the challenges posed by the jurisdictional divide between provincial and federal responsibilities for healthcare and education.

As support for Hackett’s petition grows, he reached out to Fragiskatos to discuss the realistic implications of his initiative. The MP expressed his commitment to bringing Hackett’s concerns to the House of Commons, noting the complexity of enforcing such changes at a legal level. “They’re not in the business of setting budgets,” Fragiskatos said regarding the courts, emphasizing the need for a thoughtful approach to social policy.

Despite these challenges, Fragiskatos believes the petition deserves attention and dialogue at the federal level. He remarked, “I think that his concern comes from an extremely good place, the love of a father for their child, and how can anyone in my position ignore that? We should have systems in place in Canada where those fundamental needs are addressed.”

The petition will remain open for signatures until April 3, 2026. As Hackett continues to advocate for his son and others in similar situations, he remains hopeful that timely support will become a reality. “Without the proper support, he’ll fall behind in society. Without the proper education on top of it, he’ll struggle throughout the rest of his life,” Hackett said. “I don’t want that to happen for my kid or anyone else’s kid.”