Mothers defend decisions to give over care of autistic kids

Two women who took drastic actions to get their developmentally disabled children into group homes say they have no regrets about jumping the queue.

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Linda Murphy took her daughter Ashley Corbett, 21, to Toronto on Tuesday with the intention of leaving her at Queen's Park.

Corbett was diagnosed with autism when she was two years old. She is non-verbal, not fully toilet trained and has the cognitive abilities of a two yearold.

Murphy said Ashley needs to live in a group home, but she said her many requests to local and provincial agencies over the years have gone unanswered.

But Ministry of Community and Social Services who met with her found a spot in a group home for Corbett in Sharbot Lake, Ont.

"Just as simple as this, they found the funding," she said. "I feel so thoroughly relieved."

Murphy drove to Sharbot Lake Tuesday with her daughter.

It was this time last year when Amanda Telford dropped off her severely autistic son Philippoff at a provincial agency in Ottawa.

Telford said just last week, Philippwas permanently placed in a group home.

"There's a tremendous difference in our lives and that of Philipp. He's happier and we have strong relationship with him and our new caregivers ... we work well together as a care giving team," said Telford.

Thousands of people remain on waiting lists in Ontario.

But neither Telford nor Murphy saidthey feel bad about taking steps to jump the queue. They said families need more help so they don't have to take such drastic measures.