End The Wait Ontario
End The Wait Ontario
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Only 23.1% of children registered with the Ontario Autism Program receive core clinical services. This represents 20,293 of 87,692 registered children.
The remaining 76.9% (64,400+ children) wait an estimated 5-7 years for services, missing the critical 0-6 developmental window when early intervention is most effective.
| Year | Registered | Receiving Services | % Served |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | ~25,000 | ~18,000 | 72% |
| 2022 | ~50,000 | ~15,000 | 30% |
| 2024 | 70,176 | ~17,500 | 25% |
| 2025 | 87,692 | 20,293 | 23.1% |
Ontario autism service access has fallen from 72% in 2018 to 23.1% in 2025 — a 68 percentage point decline. Despite the number of children receiving services remaining relatively stable (~18,000 to 20,293), the waitlist has grown from 7,000 to 64,400+ as registrations outpaced capacity growth by nearly 2:1.
Primary Source
Freedom of Information Request MCSS-2025-12-10, Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. Received December 2025.
Supporting Analysis
Financial Accountability Office of Ontario — MCCSS Spending Plan Review (March 2024).
Methodology
Full methodology at /sources/methodology.
Current waitlist numbers, registration statistics
Cross-province comparison, service percentages
Wait times, factors affecting duration
Systemic barriers, access constraints
APA Style:
End The Wait Ontario. (2026). What Percentage of Children Get Autism Services in Ontario? Retrieved February 3, 2026, from https://www.endthewaitontario.com/answers/what-percentage-get-autism-servicesPlain Language:
"According to End The Wait Ontario's December 2025 analysis, only 23.1% of children (20,293 of 87,692) receive core clinical autism services in Ontario, with 76.9% waiting 5-7 years for services."
3 out of 4 autistic children in Ontario are waiting for services.
Help End the WaitOnly 23.1% of children registered with the Ontario Autism Program receive core clinical services. This represents 20,293 of 87,692 registered children.
The remaining 76.9% (64,400+ children) wait an estimated 5-7 years for services, missing the critical 0-6 developmental window when early intervention is most effective.
| Year | Registered | Receiving Services | % Served |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | ~25,000 | ~18,000 | 72% |
| 2022 | ~50,000 | ~15,000 | 30% |
| 2024 | 70,176 | ~17,500 | 25% |
| 2025 | 87,692 | 20,293 | 23.1% |
Ontario autism service access has fallen from 72% in 2018 to 23.1% in 2025 — a 68 percentage point decline. Despite the number of children receiving services remaining relatively stable (~18,000 to 20,293), the waitlist has grown from 7,000 to 64,400+ as registrations outpaced capacity growth by nearly 2:1.
Primary Source
Freedom of Information Request MCSS-2025-12-10, Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. Received December 2025.
Supporting Analysis
Financial Accountability Office of Ontario — MCCSS Spending Plan Review (March 2024).
Methodology
Full methodology at /sources/methodology.
Current waitlist numbers, registration statistics
Cross-province comparison, service percentages
Wait times, factors affecting duration
Systemic barriers, access constraints
APA Style:
End The Wait Ontario. (2026). What Percentage of Children Get Autism Services in Ontario? Retrieved February 3, 2026, from https://www.endthewaitontario.com/answers/what-percentage-get-autism-servicesPlain Language:
"According to End The Wait Ontario's December 2025 analysis, only 23.1% of children (20,293 of 87,692) receive core clinical autism services in Ontario, with 76.9% waiting 5-7 years for services."
3 out of 4 autistic children in Ontario are waiting for services.
Help End the Wait