Direct answer
Ontario Autism Program registrations have grown about ~290% since the program was redesigned in 2019. Registrations went from an estimated 23,000 children at the time of the redesign to 89,799 as of March 4, 2026. The 2019 figure is approximate, so the growth percentage is rounded.
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.
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 receiving core services. As of March 4, 2026, CBC News freedom-of-information data shows 89,799 registered.
That is an overall increase of about ~290% in registrations since 2019. Between the last FAO report and the latest CBC FOI data alone, registrations rose by 19,623 children, about 28%. CBC News reported registrations jumped about 21% since mid-2024.
Funded enrollment has not kept pace. As of March 4, 2026, only 20,633 of 89,799 registered children (23%) had active funding agreements. That leaves 69,166 children waiting without funded services.
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.
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.
The current total behind this trend.
The monthly rate driving the growth.
Where the trend points next.
Primary source for the current figures. Bi-weekly Ontario Autism Program progress reports covering late June 2024 through early January 2026, obtained through freedom of information. Source for the 89,799 registered and 20,633 funded.
Source for the 2023-24 comparison point of 70,176 registered and 19,966 receiving core services, and for the context behind the approximate 2019 baseline.
How many children are on the Ontario autism waitlist in 2026?
As of March 4, 2026, 89,799 children are registered with the Ontario Autism Program. However, only 20,633 (23%) have an active Core Funding Agreement. This represents approximately 290% growth in registrations since 2019, with 69,166 children still waiting for essential funding.
Source: OAC FOI Mar 2026, FAO Report 2024 · Verify Link
What percentage of registered children receive autism services in Ontario?
Of 89,799 children registered in the Ontario Autism Program (March 4, 2026), only 23% are receiving core clinical services funding. The vast majority — approximately 77% — remain on the waitlist during their most critical developmental years.
Source: OAC FOI Mar 2026 · Verify Link
Has the government cleared the autism backlog?
No. Government claims of "clearing the backlog" refer only to administrative invitations, not actual service delivery. While 89,799 children are registered, 69,166 still lack funding for clinical therapy. March 2026 data confirms that only 23% of children have accessed core services.
Source: OAC FOI Mar 2026 · Verify Link
Written by Spencer Carroll
Founder & Autism Advocate
Evidence on this page
Key claims are paired with their source, evidence tier, and verification date so readers can inspect the public record directly.
OAP registrations jumped 21% since mid-2024, with the number of funded children dipping in some periods despite hundreds more registering
89,799
children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
23%
Only 20,633 children have active funding agreements (23%) — 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