Skip to main contentSkip to search
end|thewaitontario
Start HereOAP & FundingSchool & RightsSee the DataTake ActionExplore

New here? Start with our 2-minute guide to OAP registration , no sign-up required.

Monthly digest

Get the next FOI drop in your inbox before the news cycle picks it up.

End the Wait Ontario · We use double opt-in: you’ll get a confirmation email after submitting. Sourced from CBC, the Trillium, the Auditor General. ~1 email/month. Unsubscribe in one click. Privacy policy.

end|thewaitontario

End The Wait Ontario is a parent-led advocacy organization. We publish FOI-verified data on the Ontario Autism Program waitlist and push for evidence-based reform. Built for Ontario families, researchers, and journalists.

Email Your MPP (2 min)

Getting Started

  • All Pages (Full Index)
  • Search
  • Diagnosis Guide
  • While You Wait
  • Facts (Citation Ready)

Take Action

  • Action Hub
  • Write Your MPP
  • MPP Scorecard
  • File Complaint
  • Advocacy Toolkit

Providers

  • Provider Directory
  • Choosing a Provider
  • Submit a Provider

Common Questions

  • All Questions
  • How Long Is the Wait?
  • What Is the OAP?
  • How Many Are Waiting?
  • Options While Waiting
  • Funding Amounts

Tools

  • All Tools
  • Parent Navigator
  • Next Steps Tool
  • Wait Estimator
  • Funding Estimator
  • Therapy Budget

Your Region

  • Toronto
  • Ottawa
  • Hamilton
  • London
  • Mississauga
  • All Regions

Funding & Support

  • OAP Overview
  • Funding Guide
  • Eligibility
  • How to Register
  • DTC & RDSP
  • Autism Services Across Canada

Evidence & Data

  • Evidence Library
  • Data Hub
  • Waitlist Data
  • Cost Calculator
  • Data Stories
  • Where Does the Money Go?

About

  • Our Story
  • Transparency
  • Media References
  • Founder
  • Press
  • Contact

Legal Disclaimer: This website presents advocacy arguments based on publicly available data and legal frameworks. While we strive for accuracy, this content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Nothing on this website should be construed as a guarantee of any specific legal outcome.

Independence: End The Wait Ontario is a parent-led advocacy group. We are not affiliated with the Ontario government, the Ontario Autism Coalition, Autism Ontario, or the World Health Organization. We cite FOI data obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition as a matter of public record. This does not constitute affiliation. References to these organizations are for informational purposes; no endorsement is implied.

Non-partisan policy advocacy: We advocate on policy outcomes for children and families and do not endorse any political party or candidate.

Statistics are current as of the dates cited and may change. For specific legal guidance, consult a licensed attorney. For medical advice, consult qualified healthcare professionals. Last updated: 2026.

Legal|Privacy|Terms|Cookies|Accessibility|Corrections|Authority

Speak softly and carry a big stick.·The data is the stick.·Follow the data. Demand the standard.

Founded by the family behind Carroll v. Ontario, a human-rights case about autism wait times (HRTO 2025-62264-I, not yet decided).

© 2026 End The Wait Ontario. All rights reserved. · Parent-led advocacy · Not a government agency

Preparing age group page
Age Groups

Autism Services for Teens (12-18 Years) in Ontario: Transition & Support

For teens, start transition planning early. Ask the school to add adult-life goals to the Individual Education Plan. Begin collecting reports for adult supports.

  1. Home
  2. ›Age Groups
  3. ›Teens (12-18 Years)
  1. 0-3 years
  2. All Ages
  3. 3-6 years
  4. 6-12 years
  5. 12-18 years
  6. 18+ years

Quick Summary

  • Teens (12-18 Years): age range 12-18 years in the Ontario Autism Program.
  • Key services include Mental Health Services, Social Skills Groups, Life Skills Training.
  • Province-wide, 77.5% of registered children are still waiting for core clinical services.
12-18 years
Age Range
Ontario Autism Program
77.5%
Province-wide waitlist
MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures as of May 13, 2026, released in response to an Ontario Autism Coalition Freedom of Information request and published by the OAC in July 2026; part of the same bi-weekly OAP Core Clinical Services progress-report series as FOI release CSS2026-0749 (to Mar 4, 2026) and the CBC News FOI investigation (Jun 2024 – Jan 2026).
5+ years
Average OAP wait time
OAC Community Survey 2025
91,974
Registered province-wide
MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures as of May 13, 2026, released in response to an Ontario Autism Coalition Freedom of Information request and published by the OAC in July 2026; part of the same bi-weekly OAP Core Clinical Services progress-report series as FOI release CSS2026-0749 (to Mar 4, 2026) and the CBC News FOI investigation (Jun 2024 – Jan 2026).

For teens, start transition planning early. Ask the school to add adult-life goals to the Individual Education Plan. Begin collecting reports for adult supports.

The Teens (12-18 Years) Roadmap: Priorities, Programs & Watch-Outs

Developmental focus

  • Social relationships and dating
  • Identity and self-advocacy
  • Mental health and wellbeing
  • Executive functioning for independence
  • Transition to adulthood planning

OAP programs for Teens (12-18 Years)

  • Legacy Interim One-Time Funding ($5,500/year; only for registrations before April 1, 2021)
  • Core Clinical Services (when invited)
  • Urgent Response Services (if in crisis)

Critical considerations & deadlines

  • Transition planning should begin at age 14
  • Ask about mental health support if stress, anxiety, or safety changes
  • Children's services may end at 18
  • Developmental Services Ontario may be part of adult planning

Next transition

Teens (12-18 Years) → Adults (18+ Years)

Planning ahead matters: adults (18+ years) covers 18+ years, with its own programs and deadlines. Review it before your child ages out of 12-18 years.

See the Adults (18+ Years) roadmap

Next Steps

Where the waitlist stands

Families navigating autism services in Ontario face a documented multi-year wait. Here is the Ontario data — and a two-minute way to push back, when you are ready.

See where the waitlist standsEmail Your MPP

Frequently Asked Questions, Teens (12-18 Years)

Frequently Asked Questions

Transition planning should begin by age 14. Work with the school to add transition goals to the Individual Education Plan. Connect with Developmental Services Ontario by age 16.

OAP services end at age 18. Before then, ask about Developmental Services Ontario, the Ontario Disability Support Program, and school transition planning.

Contact your regional Developmental Services Ontario office by age 16-17. Ask what documents they need. DSO determines eligibility for adult developmental services.

Verified References & Sources

Updated: Mar 2026

Government Reports & Data

  • [2023]
    Exclusion of Students With Disabilities — 2023 SurveyVerified FAO Data
    Community Living Ontario • Report • 2023-10-01
    View
  • [2024]
    Inclusion Without Proper Support Is AbandonmentVerified FAO Data
    Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario • Report • 2024-06-01
    View
  • [2020]
    Autism ServicesVerified FAO Data
    Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) • Report • 2020-07-21
    View
  • [2024]
    Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services: Spending Plan ReviewVerified FAO Data
    Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) • Report • 2024-06-05
    View
  • [2026]
    Ontario Autism Program figures as of May 13, 2026 (MCCSS, released under Freedom of Information to the Ontario Autism Coalition; published in the OAC "OAP At A Glance" update, July 2026)Verified FAO Data
    Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (Ontario), obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition • Report • 2026-05-13
    View

Explore Related Resources

Related Resources

  • School-Age Children (6-12 Years)

    Autism services and supports for 6-12 years

  • Adults (18+ Years)

    Autism services and supports for 18+ years

  • ABA Therapy Ontario

    Costs, coverage & access

  • OAP Waitlist Tracker

    Province-wide numbers

  • What To Do While Waiting

    Resources & interim supports

  • Diagnosis Guide

    How to get an autism diagnosis in Ontario

Related Resources

  • Transition Planning
  • Services by Age
  • Education Hub
Citable source facts(2)Question-and-answer pairs with their source and verification link.

How many children are on the Ontario autism waitlist in 2026?

Verified

As 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 · Mar 2026, FAO Report 2024 · Verify Link

Is the Ontario Autism Program underfunded?

Verified

Yes. The Financial Accountability Office (FAO) determined that $1.35 billion annually is needed to serve all registered children at 2018-19 service levels. The 2026-27 Ontario Budget allocated $965 million, leaving an estimated $385M+ annual shortfall. This gap is the primary driver of the perpetual 91,974+ child waitlist.

Source: Financial Accountability Office of Ontario [FAO] · Verify Link

About This Article

Written by Spencer Carroll

Founder & Autism Advocate

Parent of autistic child navigating OAP system