Jordan's Principle and Autism: What Ontario First Nations Families Need to Know
Direct answer
Jordan's Principle is a legal rule meant to make sure First Nations children do not face gaps or delays in getting government services. It can fund therapy, medical equipment and medical respite care, and each request is reviewed case by case. Ontario First Nations families apply through their First Nation or to Indigenous Services Canada.
Key facts
- Funding Source
- Indigenous Services Canada
- ISC Jordan's Principle
- Apply Through
- First Nation or ISC
- ISC Jordan's Principle
- Scope
- Eligible First Nations children living in Canada
- CHRT ruling, Nov. 25, 2020
- Ordered Timelines
- Urgent: 12 hrs, other: 48 hrs
- ISC (CHRT-ordered)
What this means for your family
Write down your child's specific need, the exact service or product you are requesting, and why it matters, before you make first contact, since a request needs to describe the need, the service or product, and why it is necessary. Reach out to your First Nation's health or social services department if you have one, or go straight to Indigenous Services Canada if that path is faster for your family. Jordan's Principle is a separate federal process. A request must explain how your child faced gaps or delays in getting government services, or was denied a government service because they are First Nations. Mark a request as urgent only when there is a genuine health or safety risk, since urgent and routine requests move through different timelines. Ask a local Jordan's Principle service coordinator (through your community or tribal council) or your regional focal point to help prepare the request.
The numbers behind this answer
Every answer on this site sits on the same verified counts. These are the current figures.
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 |
About This Article
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Last updated:
What Jordan's Principle Covers for Autistic Children
- Jordan's Principle can fund a wide range of supports for First Nations children with autism. ISC's examples include therapy services such as speech therapy and occupational therapy, professional mental health services, medical supplies and equipment, assistive technology for school needs, educational supports and medical respite care. Non-medical respite needs a letter of support from a medical professional. Requests are considered based on the child's individual needs - there is no fixed list of covered services.
- The principle applies to eligible First Nations children in Canada, on-reserve and off-reserve. The House of Commons passed a motion supporting it in 2007, and a landmark Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruling (2016) ordered Canada to apply its full meaning. The Tribunal has issued a number of follow-up orders since. First Nations families do not need to belong to a specific band or be on-reserve to access Jordan's Principle funding, though applications are often coordinated through the child's First Nation.
How to Apply for Jordan's Principle in Ontario
- Families can apply for Jordan's Principle by contacting Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) directly at 1-855-JP-CHILD (1-855-572-4453) or through their First Nation's health or social services department. Ontario-based families can also contact their regional ISC office. Requests must describe the child's need, the requested service or product, and why it is necessary. Urgent requests (where the child's health or safety is at risk) are ordered to be processed within 12 hours. All other requests for a child or family are ordered to be processed within 48 hours of receiving all needed information, although ISC says it is currently facing delays.
- Jordan's Principle is a separate federal process from the Ontario Autism Program. A request must explain how the child faced gaps or delays in getting government services, or was denied a government service because they are First Nations. Local service coordinators, reached through your community or tribal council, can help you prepare it.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. A First Nations child can be eligible whether they live on-reserve, off-reserve or in a city, as long as they permanently live in Canada, are under the age of majority, and meet one of four rules (for example, being registered or eligible to be registered under the Indian Act).
It can be. You can request Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) or other autism therapies, and each request is reviewed case by case. The request needs a letter of support showing how the therapy meets the child's unmet health, social or educational needs.
The OAP is a provincial program available to all Ontario children with autism. Jordan's Principle is a legal rule, largely defined by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, for First Nations children. It helps make sure they do not face gaps or delays in getting government services, and each request is reviewed case by case.
Sources
ISC
Indigenous Services Canada, Jordan's Principle - Products, Services and Supports (2024)
CHRT
Canadian Human Rights Tribunal, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada et al. v. Attorney General of Canada, 2016 CHRT 2
Next steps
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Ontario Autism Program waitlist in 2026: 91,974 children registered, 71,263 waiting for core services, with multi-year waits reported by an Ontario Autism Coalition community cohort in July 2026; this is not an official province-wide average. Get the latest verified data.
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