Budget 2026 – No New Funding for Adults
March 2026
The BC Government Budget 2026 was announced February 17, 2026. Adults who are neurodiverse in B.C. see almost no direct, new investment in the Budget; most major changes are confined to children and youth with some.
- Thousands of children who previously received no direct funding because they did not have an autism diagnosis are expected to qualify, with estimates of the system growing from roughly 30,000 to about 48,000 children over time.
- Some families currently receiving autism funding—especially those whose children are assessed as having lower support needs—may see reduced direct funding and be steered more toward community‑based services.
- Government and advocates acknowledge that around 5,000 children could receive less direct cash support, with the promise that they will be prioritized for expanded local services instead
No new adult neurodiversity funding
For adults, the new disability funding model ends at age 18, so the B.C. Children and Youth Disability Benefit and Disability Supplement do not carry forward into adulthood. The large new envelope touted for disability services is explicitly targeted to children and youth, meaning autistic and otherwise neurodiverse adults are effectively excluded from these new individualized supports.
Reliance on existing PWD and CLBC systems
Neurodivergent adults must continue to rely on existing systems: Persons with Disabilities (PWD) income assistance and Community Living BC (CLBC) for residential supports, day programs, and community inclusion. Budget 2026 does not introduce a significant increase to PWD rates or a major redesign of adult disability supports, so income levels remain low and many individuals still face wait‑lists or limited program options through CLBC. In practical terms, adults on the spectrum or with other neurodivergent profiles remain in the same under‑resourced framework that predates this budget.
Mental health and complex‑needs services
The one notable adult‑oriented area is additional funding for intensive mental‑health and substance‑use services, targeted at people with complex conditions and high needs. Some neurodiverse adults who also live with serious mental‑health or addictions issues may see indirect benefit from expanded clinical services and beds. However, this is not a neurodiversity‑specific strategy, and some of the dollars are linked to more coercive or involuntary treatment options that disability advocates view with concern.
Overall outlook for neurodiverse adults
Overall, adults who are autistic, ADHD, or otherwise neurodivergent should expect the status quo rather than meaningful new supports from Budget 2026. The focus of new disability funding is squarely on children and youth, while adult neurodiversity remains addressed only through long‑standing, often inadequate income assistance and community‑living programs.
For more information, visit: https://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2026