Does my child need a formal diagnosis before we can get autism funding in BC?

For the BC Autism Funding Program, a diagnosis through the BC Autism Assessment Network or a qualified private assessor is required. Variety BC’s mental wellness grant of up to $2,500 does not require a diagnosis, so counselling support can begin while you wait for an assessment.

Can BC autism funding pay for neurofeedback?

Often, yes. Neurofeedback is not on the Autism Funding Unit’s standard list, but families can request services beyond the list by explaining how they support the child’s skill development goals, particularly emotional regulation and concentration, and many Sojourn families have received funding for neurofeedback through MCFD this way. Extended health plans and charitable grants are other options families use.

How much autism funding can BC families receive?

Up to $22,000 per year for children under age 6 and up to $6,000 per year for ages 6 to 18. Between 2026 and 2027 this program is transitioning to the new BC Children and Youth Disability Benefit, with a base tier of about $6,500 and a higher tier of up to $17,000 per year.

How do parents apply for autism funding in BC?

After receiving a diagnosis, families apply online with a Basic BCeID through the BC government website or by emailing the PDF application to the Autism Funding Unit intake address. Once approved, families sign a funding agreement and manage providers through the My Family Services portal. The Autism Funding Unit can be reached at 1-877-777-3530.

Autism Funding for Your Child in BC

Name: Sojourn Counselling and Neurofeedback
Price range: $$

A plain language guide for parents: what funding exists, what it can pay for, and exactly how to apply.

Not sure who to book with? Answer 5 questions and we will suggest counsellors who fit.

Raising an autistic child comes with many decisions, and paying for support should not be the hardest one. In British Columbia, several funding programs can help cover counselling and other services for autistic children and teens, but the application processes are not always easy to navigate. This guide walks you through each option in plain language, explains what the funding can pay for at Sojourn, and gives you the steps, links, and phone numbers you need to apply.

Mother and young son reviewing autism funding paperwork together at their kitchen table, with a laptop and learning cubes

Funding at a Glance

BC Autism Funding Program — up to $22,000 per year for children under 6, and up to $6,000 per year for ages 6 to 18
BC Children and Youth Disability Benefit — the new program replacing autism funding, rolling out between April 2026 and April 2027, with support of roughly $6,500 to $17,000 per year
Variety BC Mental Wellness Grant — up to $2,500 toward clinical counselling, no diagnosis required
Jordan’s Principle — funding for First Nations children, including mental health services
Other supports — extended health plans, CKNW Kids’ Fund, and low cost counselling at Sojourn

BC Autism Funding Program

The provincial Autism Funding Program is the main source of support for BC families. Once your child has an autism diagnosis from the BC Autism Assessment Network (BCAAN) or a qualified private assessor, your family can receive:

Under age 6: up to $22,000 per year
Ages 6 to 18: up to $6,000 per year

Up to 20 percent of your allocation can also go toward travel, training, and equipment that supports your child’s development.

Can It Pay for Counselling at Sojourn?

Family counselling and therapy is a named eligible expense in both age groups. For children under 6, most services must come from providers on the Registry of Autism Service Providers (RASP), but family counselling is an exception: it can be provided by certified, registered professionals such as Registered Clinical Counsellors. For ages 6 to 18, the eligible list includes family counselling and therapy alongside behaviour consultants, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, life skills and social skills programming, and therapeutic activities. Sojourn’s child and youth therapists are Registered Clinical Counsellors, and we can provide the invoices, receipts, and session descriptions your funding plan requires.

Can It Pay for Neurofeedback?

In many cases, yes. Neurofeedback is not one of the standard categories on the Autism Funding Unit’s list, but the province allows families to request services beyond that list by explaining how they support their child’s skill development goals — and many of our families have successfully received funding for neurofeedback through MCFD this way. Requests focused on emotional regulation and concentration fit naturally within the program’s social emotional and academic skill categories. The section below walks you through making the case, including sample wording you can adapt. We are glad to provide a clear service description to support your request; you can also confirm the process with the Autism Funding Unit at 1-877-777-3530 before booking. Extended health benefits and the grants below are additional routes families use for neurofeedback and counselling.

Making the Case for Neurofeedback in Your Funding Request

When the Autism Funding Unit considers a service outside the standard list, it wants to see how that service supports your child’s skill development, in line with the goals in their plan. Autism funding is intended to build communication, social emotional, academic, and life skills, and this is where neurofeedback can fit for some children. Points many families draw on in their request:

Emotional regulation. Neurofeedback is used to support self-regulation of the nervous system. For many autistic children, calmer regulation is the foundation for the social emotional goals already in their intervention plan, such as managing transitions, recovering from overwhelm, and reducing the intensity of meltdowns. Clinical reports and emerging research suggest some autistic children show improvements in emotional reactivity with neurofeedback, though results vary from child to child.
Concentration and attention. Attention is one of the most studied areas in neurofeedback research. Improvements in sustained attention and focus directly support academic and life skills goals, from classroom learning to completing everyday routines.
A good fit for many autistic children. Neurofeedback is non invasive and does not require conversation, sustained eye contact, or demanding tasks, which can make it accessible for children who find talk based approaches difficult. It complements counselling and behaviour intervention rather than replacing them.
Accountable, goal linked service. Sojourn can provide a written service description, a session plan tied to your child’s goals, and regular progress reviews you can share with the Autism Funding Unit.

Here is sample wording you are welcome to adapt for your request:

“We are requesting consideration of neurofeedback sessions at Sojourn Counselling and Neurofeedback to support our child’s skill development goals. Neurofeedback is a non invasive brain training approach used to support self-regulation. Our child’s plan includes goals for emotional regulation and attention, and gains in these areas would directly support their social emotional, academic, and life skills, including managing transitions, staying regulated in group settings, and sustaining focus for learning. Sessions would be provided under the clinic’s supervision, with progress reviewed regularly. A service description from the clinic is attached.”

Approval decisions always rest with the Autism Funding Unit, and neurofeedback is not presented as a treatment or cure for autism. That said, well explained, goal linked requests like this have worked for many of our families, and we are glad to prepare the supporting documents. Email info@sojourncounselling.com and we will put them together for you.

How to Apply, Step by Step

Parent completing the BC autism funding application on a laptop with assessment report, therapy plan, and funding plan folders while her child plays nearby

Get a diagnosis. Ask your family doctor for a referral to the BC Autism Assessment Network, or arrange a private assessment with a qualified professional.
Gather your documents. You will typically need proof of your child’s age and BC residency (such as a birth certificate and BC Services Card) and the diagnostic or clinical outcome report.
Submit the application. You can apply online through the BC government’s autism funding application page using a Basic BCeID, or download the PDF form and email it to mcf.autismfundingintake@gov.bc.ca.
Sign your funding agreement. Once approved, you will receive two copies by mail. Sign and return them within two weeks.
Set up your service providers. Use the My Family Services portal (linked from the BC government autism funding pages) to add providers, track your balance, and submit requests.

One important rule: autism funding cannot reimburse you for services you have already paid for out of pocket. Set up the provider through your funding plan before sessions begin. If you are unsure how, phone the Autism Funding Unit at 1-877-777-3530 or email MCF.AutismFundingUnit@gov.bc.ca — they are used to walking parents through it.

Start Your Autism Funding Application

The New Children and Youth Disability Benefit

BC is in the middle of a major change. The Children and Youth Disability Benefit will gradually replace the Autism Funding Program and the At Home Program with a single needs based benefit for children and youth with disabilities.

April 2026 to March 2027: families already receiving autism funding are transitioned over. New families still apply through the existing autism funding process, so it is worth applying now rather than waiting.
From April 2027: new families apply directly to the new benefit.
Amounts: a base tier of about $6,500 per year, and a higher tier of up to $17,000 per year set through support planning with a ministry worker.
What it covers: therapies, behaviour intervention, respite, assistive communication devices, and some assessments.

If your child already receives autism funding, you do not need to reapply; the ministry will contact you about the transition. If you have not applied yet, apply for autism funding now so your family is in the system before the change.

Variety BC Mental Wellness Grant

Variety, the Children’s Charity of BC offers a mental wellness grant of up to $2,500 toward clinical counselling for children and youth. It is one of the most accessible options for families:

Your child must be 19 or younger and a BC or Yukon resident with a valid health card
Household income must be under $85,000 per year
No diagnosis or referral confirming a medical need is required for mental wellness requests, which makes this a strong option for families still on an assessment waitlist
Families can apply for up to two grants per fiscal year

Applications are made directly through Variety BC’s website with a cost confirmation from your service provider — we can prepare that document for you.

Jordan’s Principle for First Nations Children

Jordan’s Principle helps First Nations children in Canada access the health, social, and educational supports they need, including mental health services such as counselling. Requests can be made by a parent, guardian, or service provider through Indigenous Services Canada, and the call centre at 1-855-572-4453 is available 24 hours a day. In BC, the First Nations Health Authority can also help families navigate the process.

Other Supports Worth Knowing About

Extended health plans: many workplace benefit plans cover Registered Clinical Counsellors. Sojourn offers direct billing through TELUS eClaims for participating insurers (a $5 service fee applies), so you pay only the difference at your visit.
CKNW Kids’ Fund: a Burnaby based charity that funds therapies, tutoring, and specialized equipment for BC children. Contact them at 604-331-2781 or through cknwkidsfund.com.
At Home Program: for children with significant, complex care needs, this program provides respite and medical benefits. It is also transitioning into the new Children and Youth Disability Benefit.
Low cost counselling at Sojourn: our supervised intern therapists offer sessions at $60, and the first session is free. Learn more about low cost counselling.

How We Can Help at Sojourn

Therapist sitting on the floor beside a young boy playing with wooden toys during a child counselling session at Sojourn Counselling and Neurofeedback

Our Cloverdale, Surrey clinic works with autistic children and teens and their families every week. Loretta Thorgeirson specializes in supporting neurodivergent children, including Autism and ADHD, with anxiety, emotional regulation, and sensory overwhelm. Katherine Ouano brings over 25 years of experience supporting children and youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder and developmental disabilities in school and community settings and offers evening and weekend appointments, Tarnia Pickard also works with autistic children and teens, and several of our therapists offer play therapy and child and youth counselling. We also offer neurofeedback in office and at home, which some families use to support self-regulation.

To make funding as easy as possible, we can provide receipts and invoices formatted for your funding plan, cost confirmations for grant applications, and clear service descriptions for the Autism Funding Unit. If you are unsure where to start, email us and we will point you in the right direction.

View Therapist Profiles and Book Online Email Us About Funding

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my child need a formal diagnosis before we can get funding?

For the BC Autism Funding Program, yes — a diagnosis through BCAAN or a qualified private assessor is required. However, Variety BC’s mental wellness grant does not require a diagnosis, and counselling itself does not require one either, so support can begin while you wait for an assessment.

Can autism funding pay for counselling that involves parents?

The funding is intended to support your child’s development, and family counselling and therapy is an eligible category. Many families use it for sessions that involve parents and caregivers working on the family relationships around the child. The Autism Funding Unit can confirm how this applies to your plan.

Can we use autism funding for neurofeedback?

Often, yes. Neurofeedback is not on the Autism Funding Unit’s standard list, but families can request it by explaining how it supports their child’s skill development goals, and many of our families have received funding for neurofeedback through MCFD this way. The section above on making the case includes sample wording focused on emotional regulation and concentration that you can adapt, and we can provide a service description to support your request. Extended health plans and charitable grants are other routes families use.

What if my child turns 6 soon?

The funding level changes at age 6, so it is worth applying as early as possible to make use of the higher early intervention amount while your child is eligible for it.

We are still on the assessment waitlist. What can we do now?

You can start counselling right away using the Variety BC grant (no diagnosis required), extended health benefits, or our low cost intern program at $60 per session with the first session free.

Program details, amounts, and timelines change. The information on this page was checked in July 2026 against BC government and program sources. Please confirm current details with the Autism Funding Unit at 1-877-777-3530 or the individual programs before making decisions.