OAP registrations jumped 21% since mid-2024, with the number of funded children dipping in some periods despite hundreds more registering
Public information
How much has the Ontario autism waitlist grown since 2019?
Direct answer
Ontario Autism Program registrations have grown about ~300% since the program was redesigned in 2019. Registrations went from an estimated 23,000 children at the time of the redesign to 91,974 as of May 13, 2026. The 2019 figure is approximate, so the growth percentage is rounded.
Financial Accountability Office of Ontario, MCCSS Spending Plan Review (June 2024) · CBC News, Ontario autism services FOI investigation (2026-03-30) · Verified 2026-08-10
In brief
In short
- An estimated 23,000 children were registered around the 2019 redesign (approximate)
- As of May 13, 2026, 91,974 children were registered
- That is growth of about ~300% in registrations
- Funded enrollment has not kept pace: only 22.5% have an active funding agreement (not proof of service receipt)
The growth at a glance
Registration comparison and source.
| Reporting point | Registered | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | ~23,000 | Registered, 2019 (est.) | FAO context; Ontario Autism Coalition historical tracking |
| 2023-24 | 70,176 | Financial Accountability Office comparison | Financial Accountability Office of Ontario, MCCSS Spending Plan Review (June 2024) |
| May 2026 | 91,974 | Latest registration count | MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures, May 13, 2026, obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition under Freedom of Information |
The growth figure is approximately ~300%. Source: FAO context and Ontario Autism Coalition historical tracking for the baseline; latest count from MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures, May 13, 2026, obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition under Freedom of Information. Verified 2026-08-10.
The 2019 baseline of about 23,000 is approximate. The government did not publish exact real-time registration counts at the time of the April 2019 redesign. Because the baseline is approximate, the growth figure is rounded and shown with a qualifier.
The trend in detail
Around the April 2019 Ontario Autism Program redesign, an estimated 23,000 children were registered. By 2023-24, the Financial Accountability Office (FAO) reported 70,176 registered children, with 19,966 enrolled in Core Clinical Services (14,290 had received a payment). As of May 13, 2026, the MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures, May 13, 2026, obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition under Freedom of Information column shows 91,974 registered.
That is an overall increase of about ~300% in registrations since 2019. Between the last FAO report and the latest FOI column alone, registrations rose by 21,798 children, about 31%. CBC News reported registrations jumped about 21% since mid-2024.
Funded enrollment has not kept pace. As of May 13, 2026, only 20,711 of 91,974 registered children (22.5%) had active funding agreements. That leaves 71,263 children waiting without an active Core Funding Agreement.
Why the 2019 figure is approximate
- 2019 baseline
- The 2019 baseline of about 23,000 children is not an exact government count. The province did not publish exact real-time registration figures at the time of the redesign. The estimate comes from Financial Accountability Office context and Ontario Autism Coalition historical tracking. Because the starting number is approximate, we round the growth figure and label it with a qualifier rather than stating it to the decimal.
- Who is counted
- These figures count only children registered in the Ontario Autism Program. They do not include children who are still awaiting an autism diagnosis and cannot yet register. The true number of children needing services is larger than the registered count.
Related answers
- How many children are on the Ontario autism waitlist?
The current total behind this trend.
- How fast is the Ontario autism waitlist growing?
The monthly rate driving the growth.
- How big will the Ontario autism waitlist be in 2027?
Where the trend points next.
Sources
CBC News, Ontario autism services FOI investigation (2026-03-30)
CBC News reported a 21% registration increase since mid-2024. The current figures are from MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures, May 13, 2026, obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition under Freedom of Information.
Financial Accountability Office of Ontario, MCCSS Spending Plan Review (June 2024)
Source for the 2023-24 comparison point of 70,176 registered, 19,966 enrolled in Core Clinical Services, and 14,290 who had received a payment, and for the context behind the approximate 2019 baseline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Registrations in the Ontario Autism Program have grown about ~300% since the program was redesigned in 2019. Registrations went from an estimated 23,000 children at the time of the redesign to 91,974 as of May 13, 2026. The 2019 figure is approximate because the government did not publish exact real-time registration counts at the time, so the growth percentage is rounded.
An estimated 23,000 children were registered around the time of the April 2019 Ontario Autism Program redesign. This figure is approximate. The government did not publish exact real-time registration counts in 2019. It is drawn from Financial Accountability Office (FAO) context and Ontario Autism Coalition historical tracking. As of May 13, 2026, 91,974 children were registered.
The Financial Accountability Office reported 70,176 children registered in 2023-24, with 19,966 enrolled in Core Clinical Services (14,290 had received a payment). As of May 13, 2026, MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures, May 13, 2026, obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition under Freedom of Information shows 91,974 registered and 20,711 with active funding agreements. That is growth of 21,798 registered children, about 31%, between those two points.
No. Registrations grew about ~300% since 2019, but funded enrollment has not kept pace. As of May 13, 2026, only 20,711 of 91,974 registered children (22.5%) had an active funding agreement (not proof of service receipt), leaving 71,263 waiting without a funding agreement. CBC News reported the funded share has stayed under 25% across 18 months of progress reports.
Tell your MPP the waitlist keeps growing
Registrations are up about ~300% since 2019, but only 22.5% of registered children have an active funding agreement (not proof of service receipt).
- 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)
- CBC News freedom-of-information investigation into Ontario Autism Program bi-weekly progress reports. CBC News (January 7, 2026)
- Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services: Spending Plan Review (2024). Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (2024)
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Facts5
Sources4
91,974
children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
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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