New here? Start with our 2-minute guide to OAP registration , no sign-up required.
Direct answer
The OAP care coordinator call is a 30 to 60 minute needs assessment conversation. The coordinator explains your funding options, reviews your child's diagnosis, and helps you select an OAP-approved provider. Bring your child's diagnosis report, any existing therapy records, your therapy goals, and a list of questions. The next step after the call is provider selection.
Every answer on this site sits on the same verified counts. These are the current figures.
Published:
After waiting years for this moment, parents describe being terrified of saying the wrong thing on the care coordinator call. Will you lose your spot if you answer a question incorrectly? Will they judge your parenting? The answer to both is no. The care coordinator call is not an evaluation of you - it is a collaborative conversation to understand your child's needs and match them with appropriate services.
The coordinator will review your child's diagnosis, ask about current therapies and challenges, explain the funding options available to your family, and walk you through the process of selecting an OAP-approved provider. Think of it as an intake meeting, not a test. The coordinator is there to help you navigate the system, not to gatekeep.
Have your child's diagnosis report handy - the coordinator will reference it. If your child has received any previous therapy (private ABA, speech, OT), bring those records too. Write down your top therapy priorities: What does your child need most? What are your biggest concerns? Having clear goals helps the coordinator match you with the right provider.
Prepare a list of questions. Good ones to ask: What is our annual budget amount? Can we split services between multiple providers? What happens if we want to change providers? How do we access foundational services in the meantime? What is the timeline for starting therapy after this call? Do not leave the call without understanding your next concrete steps.
No. The care coordinator call is a collaborative needs assessment, not a test. Your funding is determined by your child's age band and needs determination, not by your performance on the call. Be honest about your child's challenges and your family's priorities.
After the call, you select an OAP-approved provider from the provider list (oapproviderlist.ca). Your provider develops a service plan with therapy goals, and you begin receiving core clinical services. The timeline from call to first therapy session is typically 4-8 weeks.
Yes. You can have your partner, a family member, an advocate, or anyone else join the call. Many parents find it helpful to have a second person taking notes so you can focus on the conversation.
MCCSS
Ontario Autism Program - Care Coordination Process (2024)
MCCSS
OAP Core Clinical Services - Getting Started Guide (2024)
Local route
Assessment routes, local providers and school boards are tracked city by city. Pick the one closest to you.
The clock
A child's place in the Ontario Autism Program queue is set by the AccessOAP registration date. 71,263 children are registered and still waiting for core funding (MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026).
Ontario Autism Program core clinical funding ranges up to $6,600–$65,000/year. Amounts vary by age band and support level.
The OAP is not a lottery. Invitations are issued by registration date and needs determination. Learn how the opaque process actually works.
Practical strategies to get the most from your OAP core clinical childhood budget. Provider selection, therapy planning, and expense optimization tips.
OAP core clinical services provide childhood budgets up to $6,600–$65,000/year. Foundational-service details are under source review.
Commitment to Accuracy: Our data is verified against official government reports (FAO, MCCSS), peer-reviewed scientific literature, and accessible public records. Last updated: March 24, 2026.
Next Steps
These statistics represent real children missing their critical developmental windows.
Related Resources
How many children are on the Ontario autism waitlist in 2026?
VerifiedAs 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
How long do families wait for Ontario autism services?
VerifiedOntario autism wait times for core clinical services now exceed 5+ years (Ontario Autism Coalition, July 2026). Funding invitations are currently reaching families who registered in August 2021 (Ontario Autism Coalition, July 2026 (reported from community intake)). This delay far exceeds the sensitive early intervention window recommended by developmental specialists.
Source: MCCSS FOI via OAC · Mar 2026, FAO Report 2024 · Verify Link
Is the Ontario Autism Program underfunded?
VerifiedYes. 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
Next steps & sources
Direct action pathways, primary source data, and contextual verification.
Founder & Autism Advocate
Registered
91,97491,974Children registered
Total in the Ontario Autism Program queue
MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026
Funded
20,71120,711Have active funding
Only 22.5% of registered children
MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026
Waiting
71,26371,263Still waiting
Registered. Diagnosed. Un-funded.
MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026
Verified , MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Children registered | 91,974 |
| Have active funding | 20,711 |
| Still waiting | 71,263 |