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Only 23.4% of registered children have active Core Funding Agreements. This is down from 72% in 2018. The remaining 76.6% (67,509 children) face multi-year waits without funded services during the critical 0-6 intervention window when outcomes are best.
The numbers behind the answer
Every question on this page traces back to one of these three numbers.
Registered
88,175Children registered
Total in the Ontario Autism Program queue
CBC FOI Jan 2026
Funded
20,666Have active funding
Just 23.4% of registered children
CBC FOI Jan 2026
Waiting
67,509Still waiting
Registered. Diagnosed. Un-funded.
CBC FOI Jan 2026
Verified , CBC FOI Jan 2026
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Children registered | 88,175 |
| Have active funding | 20,666 |
| Still waiting | 67,509 |
As of December 10, 2025 (CBC FOI Jan 2026), 20,666 of 88,175 children ($23.4%) are enrolled in Core Clinical Services and 20,666 (23.4%) have active Core Funding Agreements.
The remaining 76.6% (67,509 children) wait an estimated several years for services, missing the critical 0-6 developmental window when early intervention is most effective.
| Year | Registered | Active Funding | % Funded |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | ~25,000 | ~18,000 | 72% |
| 2022 | ~50,000 | ~15,000 | 30% |
| 2024 | 70,176 | ~17,500 | 25% |
| 2025 | 88,175 | 20,666 | 23.4% |
Ontario autism service access has fallen from 72% in 2018 to 23.4% in 2025, a 68 percentage point decline. Despite the number of children receiving services remaining relatively stable (~18,000 to 20,666), the waitlist has grown from 7,000 to 67,509 as registrations outpaced capacity growth by nearly 2:1.
Note: The 2018 and 2025 programs are structurally different (IBI/IAP vs. OAP Core Clinical). This comparison illustrates the trend but the programs are not directly comparable.
Primary Source
Freedom of Information Request MCSS-2025-12-10, Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. Received January 2026.
Supporting Analysis
Financial Accountability Office of Ontario, MCCSS Spending Plan Review (March 2024).
Methodology
Full methodology at /sources/methodology.
Current waitlist numbers, registration statistics
Ontario lags behind most provinces on autism service access. British Columbia eliminated its autism waitlist in 2021. Alberta's FSCD program has no age cap and no formal waitlist. Quebec provides direct funding without a multi-year queue. Ontario's 5+ year wait and 76.6% unfunded rate are the worst of any major province for families seeking timely services.
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 CBC FOI Jan 2026 (December 10, 2025), $20,666 of $88,175 children (23.4%) are enrolled in Core Clinical Services and 20,666 (23.4%) have active Core Funding Agreements. 67,509 children (76.6%) are waiting for a funding agreement. Does not include children awaiting an autism diagnosis."
3 out of 4 autistic children in Ontario are waiting for services.
Help End the WaitCommitment 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.
Related Resources
Verified Facts
88,175, children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
1 in 50, According to the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, about children and youth aged 1 to 17 in Canada had an autism diagnosis
23.4%, Only 20,666 children have active funding agreements () — less than one in four
WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism — timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement