More information is being reveled about two tragic deaths that took place in Prince Rupert earlier this month and it’s prompting a “wake up call” to the provincial government.
On April 3rd RCMP in Prince Rupert responded to a call requesting police check on the wellbeing of two residents. Upon arrival police discovered the bodies of a teenaged boy and an adult female. After an investigation RCMP determined the woman had killed her son and then herself.
Angie Robinson (Photo Credit: Facebook)
Angie, a single mother, was reportedly having a difficult time raising her 16 year old autistic son Robert Robertson. According to various media reports Angie left a suicide note with her last post on Facebook saying she could no longer manage to take care of Robert and that Family Services could not provide adequate support.
On April 2 Angie wrote her last Facebook post: “More, more, more needs to be done for our teens with special needs, they are neglected. Canada needs more residential and respite care for families hoping to keep their children at home.”
Inclusion B.C., a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the participation of people with developmental disabilities, is speaking out about the deaths. Executive director Faith Bodnar says families often cannot get enough funding or any funding when they need it.
“I think this is one of the most horrific examples of a family who fell through the cracks, and brought their needs forward repeatedly and were left hanging without what they needed. I cannot say enough how preventable and tragic this was,” says Bodnar. “I have expressed my personal and Inclusion B.C.’s condolences to the family and we are fully committed to ensuring there is a thorough and comprehensive review of what led to this tragedy that was completely preventable.”
Robert and Angie Robinson (Photo Credit: Facebook)
Bodner says currently she has been connecting with representatives with children and youth to get an independent inquiry done. She adds that Inclusion BC will ensure that the full story of the deaths of Angie and her son Robert is told, and that action is taken so that this preventable tragedy is not repeated.
The Ministry of Children and Family Development provides $22,000 for “out of school intervention services” for autistic children up to six years of age and $6,000 for those over the age of six up to 18.
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