"If a child in Ontario has a serious illness such as leukemia, they are treated right away," Ms Solomon said. "If the diagnosis is autism, the health sector provides little or no service. It's as if the government is saying. 'Too bad little kid. Nothing we can do.'"

Ms Solomon and other parents of autistic children will hold a rally Monday to shed light on what they contend is a flawed health system, creating unnecessary hardship.

A Thornhill resident, Ms Solomon said the 40 hours of weekly private applied behavioural analysis required by her son, Isaac, costs the young family $4,000 to $5,000 monthly.

"It's taken a huge toll financially and we're maxed out. We've received zero help. But we know, given the severity of my son's condition, early intervention is his best shot at a normal life," she said.

"Since his treatment began eight months ago, there's been an unbelievable improvement. Before, he could not communicate with us. Now, he communicates with pictures, is picking up some speech and understands simple commands."

Rally co-organizer Bruce McIntosh has a five-year-old son who waited 30 months before being accepted into a government-funded intensive behavioural intervention program administered by nine non-profit regional providers.

A major roadblock is the Liberal government's political and legal wrangling, he said. Citing budget and capacity constraints, the province decided to cut off autistic patients six and older to allow younger children to be admitted. In a 2004 class action suit, the Ontario Supreme Court ruled the government's policy was discriminatory.

New dollars and autism programs remain stalled as government lawyers appeal the ruling, leaving younger autistic children and their families without support or therapies.

The event begins at 10:30 a.m. at the Sheraton Parkway Hotel at Hwy. 7 and Leslie Street in Richmond Hill.

For information, contact Mr. McIntosh, 905-761-5226, or visit http://ca.geocities.com/bruce_mcintosh2003/rallies.html.