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Registered children waiting
77.5%
71,263 children
Letters to start
1
personal and riding-specific
Verified talking points
FOI
backed by released records
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Start with the action that fits your situation. Emailing your MPP is the fastest route; the other paths help you document, escalate, or share what happened.
To email your MPP about autism: (1) Find your MPP at ola.org/members. (2) Use the subject line ‘OAP Wait Times, Please Act.’ (3) State your child's waitlist position and how long you have been waiting. (4) Ask specifically for a plan to clear the backlog. (5) CC your local school board trustee and media if you consent to public sharing.
Public record
71,263 children are still waiting for funded services. Constituent letters put measurable pressure on riding offices.
Registered
91,974
91,974Children registered
Total registered in the Ontario Autism Program
Funded
20,711
20,711Have active funding
Only 22.5% of registered children
Without active agreement
71,263
71,263Without an active funding agreement
An administrative status; it does not confirm current service delivery.
Verified · MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Children registered | 91,974 |
| Have active funding | 20,711 |
| Without an active funding agreement | 71,263 |
Contacting your local MPP is one of the most effective advocacy actions. End The Wait Ontario recommends sharing your personal waitlist story with specific dates and impacts, requesting a meeting, and following up in writing. [ETWO] Elected officials respond to constituent pressure, especially stories that humanize the 91,974 children behind the statistics.
Source checked 2026-08-10
Yes, Ontario's Ombudsman can investigate complaints about provincial government services including OAP. [Ombudsman] Families should document every contact with MCCSS, collect written explanations for delays, and file complaints when waits exceed reasonable timeframes. The Ombudsman has previously investigated autism services and issued critical reports.
Source checked 2026-01-20
Key organizations include the Ontario Autism Coalition (OAC), which conducts annual surveys and lobbies for policy change, and Autism Ontario, which provides family support services. [OAC] End The Wait Ontario focuses specifically on data-driven advocacy using FAO and WHO evidence to hold government accountable for waitlist outcomes.
Source checked 2026-01-20
Media attention has historically pressured governments to act on autism waitlists. [OAC] Families willing to share their stories with journalists help maintain public awareness of the crisis. End The Wait Ontario provides media briefing resources and can connect families with reporters covering disability policy and healthcare access.
Source checked 2026-01-20
End The Wait Ontario is a grassroots advocacy initiative founded by Spencer Carroll to demand evidence-based autism services for all Ontario children, consistent with WHO recommendations on early intervention. [ETWO] The platform tracks FOI data, documents family experiences, and holds policymakers accountable through transparent reporting on the 71,263 children waiting without active Core Funding Agreements.
Source checked 2026-08-10
Common questions
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Evidence first
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Public record reviewed and updated routinely.
How many children are on the Ontario autism waitlist in 2026?
VerifiedAs of May 13, 2026, 91,974 children are registered with the Ontario Autism Program. However, only 20,711 (22.5%) have an active Core Funding Agreement. This represents ~300% growth in registrations since 2019, with 71,263 children still waiting for essential funding.
Source: MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026 · Open source record
Has the government cleared the autism backlog?
VerifiedNo. Government claims of "clearing the backlog" refer only to administrative invitations, not actual service delivery. While 91,974 children are registered, 71,263 still lack an active funding agreement. May 2026 data confirms that only 22.5% have that administrative status; it does not establish service receipt.
Source: MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026 · Open source record
Can autistic students get an educational assistant (EA)?
VerifiedSchools may assign EAs based on IEP needs, but 47% of families report insufficient supports. EA availability varies by board and often fails to match clinical needs, leaving many autistic students without necessary classroom support.
Source: Ontario Education Act & OAC · Open source record
Do autism waitlists violate the Canadian Charter of Rights?
VerifiedThe Supreme Court (Auton, 2004) ruled there is no automatic right to specific funding. However, the Ontario Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination in service delivery based on disability. Multi-year delays for approved OAP services may constitute systemic discrimination. The OHRC has issued policy statements on the rights of people with disabilities to equitable service access.
Source: Ontario Human Rights Code, OHRC Policy Statements
Does Ontario publish transparent autism waitlist data?
VerifiedOntario does not publish transparent, real-time waitlist data for the Ontario Autism Program. Families do not know their position in the queue or when services will begin. The Financial Accountability Office provides periodic reports, but detailed enrollment timelines are not publicly available.
Source: FAO Report 2023-24; MCCSS OAP Program Data
Are OAP wait times legal in Ontario?
VerifiedWhile no court has yet ruled specifically on the OAP, the Ontario Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination in service delivery. Advocates and legal experts have argued that the 'failure to provide' timely services due to administrative backlogs may constitute discrimination under the Human Rights Code. Some families affected by lengthy wait times have pursued Human Rights Tribunal (HRTO) applications. Consult a lawyer for advice about your specific situation.
Source: Ontario Human Rights Code, HRTO Precedents