The children these therapies serve
Behind every AAC device is a child who deserves a voice, and a family navigating a system that moves too slowly.
Registered
88,175Children registered
Total in the Ontario Autism Program queue
CBC FOI Jan 2026
Funded
20,666Have active funding
Only 23.4% of registered children
CBC FOI Jan 2026
Waiting
67,509Still waiting
Registered. Diagnosed. Un-funded.
CBC FOI Jan 2026
Verified , CBC FOI Jan 2026
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Children registered | 88,175 |
| Have active funding | 20,666 |
| Still waiting | 67,509 |
Understanding the scope of communication needs and the supports available to Ontario families.
25-50%
of autistic children are minimally speaking or non-speaking
75%
of approved SGD device cost covered by Ontario's ADP program
$200–$8,000+
typical device cost range before ADP or OAP funding
4–12 wks
typical ADP application processing time after submission
89%
of studies show AAC users gained natural speech, not less
$7,770
maximum ADP contribution toward an approved speech-generating device
AAC refers to all communication methods used to supplement or replace spoken language. The word “augmentative” means adding to existing speech. The word “alternative” means providing a different means of communication. Most AAC users use a combination of methods at the same time.
AAC is not a last resort for children who fail to speak. It is a communication right. Ontario's Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) supports the provision of AAC tools in educational and public settings. The OAP Clinical Framework 2024 explicitly names AAC as a core service for minimally speaking autistic children.
Key Research Finding
A systematic review published in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology found that 89% of participants showed increases in natural speech production after introducing AAC. Robust AAC use is now considered a best practice for minimally speaking autistic children by ASHA, ISAAC, and Ontario's OAP Clinical Framework.
AAC exists on a spectrum. Most children benefit from a “total communication” approach using multiple types at the same time. Research supports introducing robust high-tech AAC early, there is no need to “earn” a device by mastering low-tech first.
Gestures, sign language, body language, and facial expressions. Always available, never runs out of battery. Foundational for all communicators.
Picture boards, communication books, PECS cards, and alphabet boards. Durable, portable, inexpensive, and effective.
Simple battery-powered devices with pre-recorded messages. Good for specific routines or high-use environments.
Robust speech-generating devices with dynamic display screens, text-to-speech synthesis, and extensive vocabulary systems. Most powerful option.
PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) is one of the most researched low-tech AAC approaches for autism. Developed by Andy Bondy and Lori Frost, it teaches children to communicate by exchanging picture cards with a partner. PECS has over 30 years of research supporting its use and is implemented in Ontario schools across the province.
Sign language, particularly Makaton (simplified signs paired with speech and picture symbols), is widely used in Ontario schools and early years programs. Many Ontario school boards train Educational Assistants in basic Makaton signs as part of standard special education practice.
PECS Phase 1 can begin at any age
Including toddlers under 18 months. Early communication training reduces challenging behaviours linked to communication frustration before they become entrenched.
No device, no battery, no cost
Low-tech AAC works everywhere, in the grocery store, at the park, during power outages. It is always the backup when high-tech devices fail.
Free PECS resources through OAP
Ontario's Foundational Family Services program offers free workshops on PECS and low-tech AAC implementation. No waitlist required, available immediately.
High-tech speech-generating devices (SGDs) produce spoken output and can contain thousands of vocabulary items. Ontario's ADP program was specifically designed to fund these devices for individuals who need them.
iPad with Proloquo2Go or TouchChat
Most common high-tech option in Ontario. Apps cost $200-$300. ADP may fund the iPad as a dedicated communication device when supported by a robust SLP assessment. Proloquo2Go is the most widely used AAC app in Ontario schools.
Dedicated SGDs (Tobii Dynavox, PRC-Saltillo)
Purpose-built devices ($3,000-$12,000+) with durable casings, loud speakers, and mounting systems. ADP directly covers approved dedicated SGDs up to the program maximum. Preferred by SLPs for children with complex or long-term communication needs.
Eye-Tracking Devices
For individuals with limited motor control who cannot reliably use touch screens. Eye-gaze technology allows communication by looking at symbols on the screen. Tobii Dynavox manufactures the most widely used eye-gaze systems available in Ontario.
Multiple funding sources are available to Ontario families. Many access more than one simultaneously. An SLP experienced with Ontario funding programs is your best guide through this process.
Ontario Ministry of Health
75% of approved device cost (up to ~$7,770)
Steps
Ontario Autism Program
$6,600-$65,000/year for therapy including AAC
Steps
Ontario Ministry of Education
Full device cost for educational use
Steps
A Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) is the primary professional for AAC assessment and implementation in Ontario. SLP involvement is required for ADP funding and is strongly recommended by the OAP Clinical Framework 2024.
Important: AAC Training Is Ongoing
Getting a device is only the first step. Research shows that without adequate training for both the child and their communication partners (parents, teachers, EAs), AAC devices are often abandoned within the first year. Plan for ongoing SLP support and ensure your child's school team is trained on any device before it arrives in the classroom.
The most common parental concern, that AAC will prevent their child from speaking , is not supported by any credible research.
No studies show that AAC reduces or eliminates natural speech development in autistic children. The evidence runs in the opposite direction.
Source: ASHA Position Statement on AAC, 2022
Robust high-tech AAC introduced early (before age 3) is associated with greater gains in both AAC use and natural speech than delayed introduction.
Source: ISAAC Evidence Summary, 2023
Aided language stimulation, where communication partners model on the AAC device, is the most effective teaching strategy for new AAC users.
Source: Ontario OAP Clinical Framework, 2024
AAC reduces frustration-based challenging behaviours in the majority of minimally speaking autistic children when implemented with adequate communication partner training.
Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 2021
Tools and organizations supporting AAC for autism families across Ontario.
Most widely used symbol-based AAC app in Ontario schools. iOS only. Comprehensive vocabulary, research-backed, ADP-eligible when prescribed by an SLP.
iOS and Android. Popular with older children and adults. Multiple vocabulary systems including core word approaches.
Windows and iOS. Often paired with Tobii Dynavox dedicated devices. Strong core vocabulary focus and school integration tools.
Free open-source AAC app. A solid starting point for families exploring AAC before committing to a paid system.
Browser-based AAC board accessible on any device. Supported by UNICEF. Suitable for travel or as a backup when primary devices are unavailable.
International Society for AAC Canadian chapter. Annual conferences, evidence summaries, and family resources for AAC users.
College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario. The public register to find a regulated SLP anywhere in the province.
Chapters across Ontario offer AAC workshops, device lending libraries, and SLP referrals. Free to access.
Apply for 75% device funding through the Ontario Ministry of Health. Your SLP initiates the application process.
Ontario's leading pediatric rehab hospital with a specialized AAC clinic and device demonstration centre.
The right Speech-Language Pathologist will guide your family through AAC assessment, device selection, ADP funding, and ongoing training.
Commitment to Accuracy: Our data is verified against official government reports (FAO, MCCSS), peer-reviewed scientific literature, and accessible public records. Last updated: March 24, 2026.
Verified Facts
88,175, children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
1 in 50, According to the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, about children and youth aged 1 to 17 in Canada had an autism diagnosis
23.4%, Only 20,666 children have active funding agreements () — less than one in four
WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism — timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement