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The Registered Disability Savings Plan is a federal long-term savings plan. Current grant, bond, contribution, withdrawal, age, residency, and Disability Tax Credit rules must be confirmed with Canada.ca.
An RDSP is a federal long-term savings plan for an eligible beneficiary. Grants and bonds depend on current federal rules, income, contributions, and Disability Tax Credit eligibility. Confirm the current limits and eligibility criteria on Canada.ca before making a financial decision.
Check the federal government's own page before making any contribution or withdrawal decision, since matching rates, income thresholds, and lifetime caps are all set federally and can change from year to year. Use the online calculator there to see how a specific contribution amount might be matched, rather than relying on a rule of thumb from a few years ago. Ask your financial institution directly about the repayment rules before you withdraw anything, since taking money out too soon can trigger repayment of grants and bonds received in recent years. Talk to a planner about starting contributions early, even in small amounts, since time in the plan matters as much as the size of any single deposit for how much eventually grows inside it. Confirm with your institution which government forms they handle automatically and which ones your family needs to submit separately.
Every answer on this site sits on the same verified counts. These are the current figures.
Sources: FAO Report 2023-24 (Financial Accountability Office of Ontario) · 2026 Ontario Budget (tabled March 26, 2026) · CBC News FOI investigation — bi-weekly OAP progress reports, Jun 2024 – Jan 2026, published Mar 30, 2026 (Nicole Brockbank & Angelina King) · MCCSS bi-weekly OAP Core Clinical Services progress reports, Dec 10, 2025 – Mar 4, 2026, obtained under Freedom of Information (release CSS2026-0749) · MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures as of May 13, 2026, released under Freedom of Information to the Ontario Autism Coalition and published in the OAC "OAP At A Glance" update, July 2026 (ontarioautismcoalition.com)
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The Canada Disability Savings Grant may match personal contributions. Matching rates and limits depend on current federal rules and family income.
The Canada Disability Savings Bond may be available to eligible lower-income beneficiaries without a personal contribution. Confirm current income thresholds and limits.
Grant and bond limits can change. Use the federal RDSP calculator or current Canada.ca guidance before making contribution or withdrawal decisions.
RDSP eligibility depends on current federal residency, age, identification, and Disability Tax Credit rules. An autism diagnosis alone does not establish DTC eligibility.
The DTC application uses Form T2201 and requires certification by an authorized medical practitioner. CRA processing time varies. After approval, confirm participating institutions through current federal guidance.
A parent, legal guardian, or qualifying family member can be the plan holder for a child or adult who cannot manage the plan themselves.
Withdrawals can trigger repayment of recent government grants and bonds under the Assistance Holdback Amount rules. The repayment period and formula depend on current federal rules.
Payment timing and mandatory-payment rules depend on the beneficiary and current RDSP terms. Confirm them with the financial institution or Canada.ca before withdrawing.
Strategy: starting an RDSP early - even in childhood - maximizes the value of compounding and government contributions.
As of 2008, RDSP assets and income from an RDSP do not affect eligibility for the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP). This makes the RDSP one of the few savings vehicles that does not trigger ODSP asset clawbacks.
For autistic adults receiving ODSP, an RDSP can provide a meaningful future income supplement without reducing current ODSP benefits.
A Registered Disability Savings Plan is a federal long-term savings plan for an eligible beneficiary. Current grants, bonds, age rules, residency requirements, and Disability Tax Credit criteria should be confirmed on Canada.ca.
Eligibility depends on current federal residency, identification, age, and Disability Tax Credit rules. An autism diagnosis does not automatically establish DTC or RDSP eligibility.
Government contributions depend on current grant and bond rules, family income, beneficiary age, and personal contributions. Use the current Canada.ca RDSP guidance or calculator for the applicable limits.
Withdrawals are permitted, but they can trigger repayment of recent grants and bonds and may be subject to payment rules. Confirm the current Assistance Holdback Amount and withdrawal terms before taking money from the plan.
No. As of 2008, RDSP assets and income from an RDSP do not affect eligibility for ODSP. RDSP is one of the few savings vehicles that does not trigger ODSP asset clawbacks.
CRA
Canada Revenue Agency - RDSP Program guidelines and Form T2201 (Disability Tax Credit)
ESDC
Employment and Social Development Canada - RDSP grant and bond contribution rules
Assessment routes, local providers and school boards are tracked city by city. Pick the one closest to you.
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).
Autism qualifies for the federal Disability Tax Credit. Learn how to apply using CRA Form T2201, who must certify it, and how much families can receive.
Compare RDSP and RESP savings vehicles for families of autistic children. Learn about government matching grants, contribution limits, and withdrawal rules.
Commitment to Accuracy: Our data is verified against official government reports (FAO, MCCSS), peer-reviewed scientific literature, and accessible public records. Last updated: April 7, 2026.
Next Steps
The DTC is the gateway to RDSP. Once approved, contributions compound, and government grants/bonds can reach $90,000 in lifetime contributions.
How does the RDSP work for autism?
VerifiedThe Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) allows long-term saving with generous government matching (up to 300% grants). Low-income families can receive up to $1,000/year in bonds without contributing. Withdrawals effectively begin at age 60, making it a powerful retirement security tool.
Source: Government of Canada RDSP
What is the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) for autism?
VerifiedThe DTC (Form T2201) is a federal tax credit for severe and prolonged impairment. Approval reduces income tax ($10,341 disability amount, 2026 CRA rate) and qualifies you for other benefits like the Child Disability Benefit (up to $3,480/year, 2026–27) and the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP).
Source: CRA Disability Tax Credit
What disability programs exist in Ontario besides OAP?
VerifiedKey programs include: SSAH (respite for kids), ACSD (Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities - monthly income supplement), ADP (Assistive Devices Program), and Northern Health Travel Grants. Each has separate applications and criteria.
Source: MCCSS Service Directory
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Registered
91,974
91,974Children registered
Total registered in the Ontario Autism Program
Funded
20,711
20,711Have active funding
Only 22.5% of registered children
Without active agreement
71,263
71,263Without an active funding agreement
An administrative status; it does not confirm current service delivery.
Verified · MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Children registered | 91,974 |
| Have active funding | 20,711 |
| Without an active funding agreement | 71,263 |