91,974
children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
Direct answer
91,974 children and youth are registered with OAP as of May 13, 2026 (MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026). 20,711 (22.5%) have active Core Funding Agreements. 71,263 (77.5%) did not have an active agreement on the reporting date; this does not establish whether they receive another support or privately paid care.
MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures, May 13, 2026, obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition under Freedom of Information · Verified 2026-08-10
In brief
Quick Summary
- 91,974 children and youth registered with OAP (May 13, 2026). 20,711 had active Core Funding Agreements; 71,263 did not.
Last updated:
How the registered group is divided
The scale of the crisis
More than 3 in 4 registered children and youth did not have an active Core Funding Agreement on the reporting date.
Ontario's figures, as of May 2026 (MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026).
Registered
91,974Children registered
Total registered in the Ontario Autism Program
Funded
20,711Have active funding
22.5% of registered children
Without active agreement
71,263Without an active funding agreement
An administrative status; it does not confirm current service delivery.
Show as table
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Children registered | 91,974 |
| Have active funding | 20,711 |
| Without an active funding agreement | 71,263 |
Source: MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures, May 13, 2026, obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition under Freedom of Information. Reporting date: May 13, 2026. Verified 2026-08-10.
How Many Children Are Waiting? (May 2026)
91,974 children and youth are registered with the Ontario Autism Program (OAP). Of these, 24,417 children (27%) are enrolled in Core Clinical Services, a status that means they accepted an invitation and have not exited the program, but does not mean they have an active funding agreement or are receiving services. Of the registered children, 20,711 (22.5%) have active Core Funding Agreements, leaving 71,263 children (77.5%) without an active agreement on the reporting date. The progress report does not establish whether they receive therapy or another support. See the waitlist data and its source.
This administrative gap should not be read as a measure of therapy attendance or of all support a family may receive outside an active Core Funding Agreement.
The Ontario Autism Program (OAP) progress report records 71,263 registered children and youth without an active Core Funding Agreement on the reporting date. As of May 13, 2026, 91,974 were registered, while 20,711 (22.5%) had active agreements. The report was obtained through a Freedom of Information request and does not establish therapy attendance, other OAP supports, privately paid care, or services outside the program. Ontario does not publish a province-wide average wait in this source. Families can contact AccessOAP (1-833-425-2445), ask their school about supports based on educational need, and review the linked primary sources for current options.
91,974
Total Registered
22.5%
Active agreement
77.5%
No active agreement
Multi-year
Wait
Why Does the Ontario Autism Waitlist Number Matter?
The administrative gap matters because families need timely, clearly explained paths to assessment, school support, and program information. An active Core Funding Agreement is not a proxy for therapy attendance or outcome.
With Early Intervention (0-6 years)
- Significant improvements in language skills
- Better adaptive behaviour outcomes
- Enhanced cognitive development
- Improved social skills and peer relationships
- Greater independence in adulthood
With Multi-Year Delays
- Missed critical developmental window
- Persistent skill gaps
- Increased behavioural challenges
- Higher support costs throughout life
- Greater family stress and caregiver burnout
WHO Guidance: The World Health Organization emphasizes timely access to early evidence-based psychosocial interventions. Clinical research supports beginning therapy as soon as possible after diagnosis. The available sources do not provide a standardized international wait-time comparison. Review the research citations and FAO evidence.
How Has the Ontario Autism Waitlist Changed Since 2018?
Scroll horizontally to compare the recorded program counts and their sources.
| Year | Registered | Enrolled / active agreement | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 70,176 | 19,966 | Financial Accountability Office |
| 2026 | 91,974 | 20,711 | MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures, May 13, 2026, obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition under Freedom of Information |
Source: The 2024 figures are from the Financial Accountability Office and describe enrollment in Core Clinical Services. The 2026 figures are active Core Funding Agreements. These measures describe different program statuses. See the full cost analysis of clearing the waitlist.
How Does Ontario Compare to Other Provinces on Autism Waitlists?
MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures, May 13, 2026, obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition under Freedom of Information documents 91,974 children registered and only 22.5% of them (funded ÷ registered) holding a Core Funding Agreement. Other provinces define programs, queues, eligibility, and reporting differently. Their program pages establish mechanics, but no standardized independent national dataset supports a comparable wait-time or outcome ranking.
Scroll horizontally to compare provincial reporting and sources.
| Province | Avg Wait | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ontario | Not published | MCCSS records released under freedom of information to the Ontario Autism Coalition |
| British Columbia | Not comparable | Provincial program pages |
| Alberta | Not comparable | Provincial program pages |
| Quebec | Not comparable | Provincial program pages |
Source: MCCSS records released under freedom of information to the Ontario Autism Coalition for the Ontario figure. Provincial program pages are used only for program mechanics, not comparable performance. See full provincial comparison.
FOI Audit Trail and Calculations
These source-labelled observations separate reported counts from End The Wait Ontario calculations. Provincial pages are used for program mechanics only; the backlog findings below come from FOI records, CBC reporting, and FAO analysis.
- May 13, 2026: 91,974 children registered, 20,711 with active Core Funding Agreements, and 71,263 without an active agreement; 22.5% had an active agreement and 77.5% did not.
- January 7, 2026 CBC/FOI snapshot: 88,175 registered, 20,666 with active funding, and 67,509 without active funding.
- March 4, 2026 MCCSS snapshot: 89,799 registered, 20,633 with active funding, and 69,166 without active funding.
- From March 4 to May 13, 2026: registrations changed by +2,175 and active funding agreements changed by +78.
- February 29, 2024 FAO snapshot: 70,176 registered, 19,966 enrolled in Core Clinical Services, and 14,290 had received a payment, leaving a 5,676-child payment gap.
- The February 2024 FAO counts were 28.5% enrolled and 20.4% with a payment.
- Compared with the approximate 2019 baseline of 23,000 children, the May 13, 2026 total of 91,974 children is 68,974 children higher, an increase of about ~300% over 7 years.
- CBC News reviewed bi-weekly reports covering late June 2024 through early January 2026 and reported 21% registration growth; one two-week period recorded 456 new registrations while active funding fell by 151.
- The 2026-27 OAP allocation is $965 million; the FAO modelled $1.35B to sustain 2018–19 service levels, a $385M gap against that benchmark.
- AccessOAP operational spending was $57.9M in 2023–24, according to the MCCSS spending breakdown obtained by The Trillium (Village Media).
- From February 2024 to May 2026, registrations increased by 21,798 children (31.1%).
- The current waiting count is 91,974 registered minus 20,711 with active agreements: 71,263, or 77.5% of registrations.
Download the point-in-time figures from the verified OAP access snapshot (CSV) or review field definitions and limitations in the methodology.
Sources & Methodology
1
Primary Source
MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures, May 13, 2026, obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition under Freedom of Information.
2
Supporting Analysis
Financial Accountability Office of Ontario, MCCSS Spending Plan Review (June 2024). Provides program spending analysis.
3
Methodology
Full methodology explanation available at /sources/methodology. Includes data verification, estimation methodology, and limitations.
Frequently Asked Questions
20,711 (22.5%) have an active Core Funding Agreement — not proof of service receipt — while 24,417 (27%) are enrolled in Core Clinical Services, out of 91,974 children and youth registered with the Ontario Autism Program as of May 13, 2026 (MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026). 71,263 (77.5%) did not have an active agreement on the reporting date. These figures do not include children still awaiting an autism diagnosis.
As of May 13, 2026 (MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026), 24,417 children (27%) are enrolled in Core Clinical Services and 20,711 (22.5%) have active Core Funding Agreements — not proof of service receipt — out of 91,974 registered. 71,263 (77.5%) did not have an active agreement on the reporting date. The report does not establish whether a person receives therapy, another OAP support, or privately paid care.
The number registered with the Ontario Autism Program has grown since 2018. Historical reports use different definitions and program structures, so active agreements, enrollment, and service receipt should not be treated as interchangeable. By May 2026, 91,974 children and youth were registered and 20,711 had an active Core Funding Agreement.
The number matters because families need timely, clearly explained paths to assessment, school support, and program information. The WHO emphasizes timely access to evidence-based psychosocial interventions, but the OAP progress report does not establish an individual wait duration, therapy attendance, or outcome.
Related Questions
How long is the wait for autism services in Ontario?
Current wait times, factors affecting wait duration, regional variations
Why can't my child get autism therapy in Ontario?
Systemic constraints, funding gaps, policy barriers
What is the economic impact on families?
Lost income, caregiver burden, long-term costs
How does Ontario compare to other provinces?
Cross-province comparison, wait times, funding models
How to Cite This Information
APA Style:
End The Wait Ontario. (2026). How Many Children Are Waiting for Autism Services in Ontario? Retrieved February 3, 2026, from https://www.endthewaitontario.com/answers/how-many-children-waiting
Plain Language:
"Based on FAO and FOI data (MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026), 91,974 children and youth are registered with Ontario's Autism Program; 20,711 have an active Core Funding Agreement and 71,263 do not. The administrative figures do not establish therapy attendance or an individual wait duration."
Help end the wait
- MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures, May 13, 2026, obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition under Freedom of Information. Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (Ontario), obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition (May 13, 2026)
- Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services: Spending Plan Review (2024). Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (2024)
Related guides
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Sources on this page
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Facts4
Sources3
22.5%
Only 20,711 children have active funding agreements (22.5%), less than one in four
$965M
Ontario allocated $965M to the Ontario Autism Program in 2026-27
WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism. Timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement
Last system verification: 2026-08-10. Next scheduled update: 2026-11-05.
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