"Families with children with autism in Ontario can either watch themselves go bankrupt or they can sit back and watch their child deteriorate," said the mother of three-year old Mitchell, diagnosed with autism at one.

"Few people understand that with present government polices, approximately 700 children in this province are being sacrificed. There are no services for them."

Newmarket resident Kim Crowder's son, Ben, will be six in October and was diagnosed at two, but had to wait three years to enter an intensive behavioral intervention program.

"Before he was accepted, we got some funding from the Lions Club, but we couldn't keep up. It's far too expensive," Ms Crowder said.

"The government says the earlier the intervention, the better."

That same government has assessed Ben as being at the developmental level of a one-year-old, she said.

Cindi Buick's 11-year old son was two when he was diagnosed.

"We funded his treatment ourselves," the Richmond Hill resident said. "My parents had to help because we couldn't do it ourselves. Would we have loved to have government funding? Yes. What we'd like for our kids is the range of supports they need from birth right through. Families shouldn't be waiting for what their children need, all the while sacrificing their future."

Dan and Susan Fentie of Sarnia have five children, two of whom have autism.

"The McGuinty government promised to support children with autism during the election," Mr. Fentie said. "He put it in writing. They have done nothing. (Premier Dalton) McGuinty wants us parents to sit down, shut up and go away. We will not. It's McGuinty who should sit down, shut up and go away."

Conservative Oak Ridges MPP Frank Klees lashed out at the Liberal government.

"Here we are in one of the wealthiest jurisdictions in Ontario and it's shameful what the government is doing to you. They have turned their backs on you and your children. It's unconscionable," Mr. Klees said.

"What they're betting on is that families with children with autism will get tired and go away."

But Liberal Thornhill MPP Mario Racco said in an interview Mr. Klees' remarks were "laughable", considering his government has done more for children with autism than when Mr. Klees was a cabinet minister.

"To undermine us when we've done so much more than they did is unfair. Frank should know better than that. When he had the opportunity to write the cheques, he chose not to," Mr. Racco said.

The government's autism strategy has added 160 new therapists to the public school system and has reduced wait lists for assessments by 79 per cent, from more than 1,000 children in April 2004 to 215 children in June 2005, he said.

The province invested $10 million to hire 110 pre-school IBI therapists and increased the number of children receiving IBI by 39 per cent, he added.

Mr. Klees said he will continue to press the province to accelerate funding for autism programs.

Meanwhile, autism is reaching epidemic levels, Ms DeCarlo said. Ten years ago, one in 10,000 children were diagnosed. Today the ratio is one in 165.

The rally called on the province to eliminate wait lists, stop appealing the court ruling that it's d discriminatory to cut off treatment for children at age six, register applied behaviour analysis therapists and support ABA in schools.