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end|thewaitontario

End The Wait Ontario is a parent-led source for Ontario Autism Program (OAP) statistics and advocacy. Serving families, researchers, and journalists across Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, London, and all regions of Ontario.

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Tools

  • Parent Navigator
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  • Wait Estimator
  • Funding Estimator
  • Therapy Budget
  • Waitlist Tracker

Providers

  • Provider Directory
  • Choosing a Provider
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Funding & Support

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Evidence & Data

  • Evidence Library
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About

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end|thewaitontario

End The Wait Ontario is a parent-led source for Ontario Autism Program (OAP) statistics and advocacy. Serving families, researchers, and journalists across Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, London, and all regions of Ontario.

Getting Started

  • Browse All Pages
  • Search
  • Diagnosis Guide
  • While You Wait
  • Facts (Citation Ready)

Common Questions

  • All Questions
  • How Long Is the Wait?
  • What Is the OAP?
  • How Many Are Waiting?
  • Options While Waiting
  • Funding Amounts

Tools

  • Parent Navigator
  • Next Steps Tool
  • Wait Estimator
  • Funding Estimator
  • Therapy Budget
  • Waitlist Tracker

Providers

  • Provider Directory
  • Choosing a Provider
  • Submit a Provider

Funding & Support

  • OAP Overview
  • Funding Guide
  • Eligibility
  • How to Register
  • DTC & RDSP

Your Region

  • Toronto
  • Ottawa
  • Hamilton
  • London
  • Mississauga
  • All Regions

Evidence & Data

  • Evidence Library
  • Data Hub
  • Waitlist Data
  • Cost Calculator
  • Data Stories
  • Where Does the Money Go?

Take Action

  • Action Hub
  • Write Your MPP
  • File Complaint
  • Advocacy Toolkit

About

  • Our Story
  • Transparency
  • Media References
  • Founder
  • Press
  • Contact
end|thewaitontario

End The Wait Ontario is a parent-led source for Ontario Autism Program (OAP) statistics and advocacy. Serving families, researchers, and journalists across Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, London, and all regions of Ontario.

  • Browse All Pages
  • Search
  • Diagnosis Guide
  • While You Wait
  • Facts (Citation Ready)
  • All Questions
  • How Long Is the Wait?
  • What Is the OAP?
  • How Many Are Waiting?
  • Options While Waiting
  • Funding Amounts
  • Parent Navigator
  • Next Steps Tool
  • Wait Estimator
  • Funding Estimator
  • Therapy Budget
  • Waitlist Tracker
  • Provider Directory
  • Choosing a Provider
  • Submit a Provider
  • OAP Overview
  • Funding Guide
  • Eligibility
  • How to Register
  • DTC & RDSP
  • Toronto
  • Ottawa
  • Hamilton
  • London
  • Mississauga
  • All Regions
  • Evidence Library
  • Data Hub
  • Waitlist Data
  • Cost Calculator
  • Data Stories
  • Where Does the Money Go?
  • Action Hub
  • Write Your MPP
  • File Complaint
  • Advocacy Toolkit
  • Our Story
  • Transparency
  • Media References
  • Founder
  • Press
  • Contact

Legal Disclaimer: This website presents advocacy arguments based on publicly available data and legal frameworks. While we strive for accuracy, this content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Nothing on this website should be construed as a guarantee of any specific legal outcome.

Independence: End The Wait Ontario is a parent-led advocacy group. We are not affiliated with the Ontario government, the Ontario Autism Coalition, Autism Ontario, or the World Health Organization. We cite FOI data obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition as a matter of public record. This does not constitute affiliation. References to these organizations are for informational purposes; no endorsement is implied.

Non-partisan policy advocacy: We advocate on policy outcomes for children and families and do not endorse any political party or candidate.

Statistics are current as of the dates cited and may change. For specific legal guidance, consult a licensed attorney. For medical advice, consult qualified healthcare professionals. Last updated: 2026.

Legal|Privacy|Terms|Cookies|Accessibility|Corrections|Authority

Speak softly and carry a big stick. — Theodore Roosevelt

Carroll v. Ontario · HRTO 2025-62264-I · our own pending, unadjudicated application

© 2026 End The Wait Ontario. All rights reserved. · Parent-led advocacy · Not a government agency

Can autistic students get an educational assistant (EA)?

Schools may assign EAs based on IEP needs, but **47% of families** report insufficient supports. [OAC] EA availability varies by board and often fails to match clinical needs, leaving many autistic students without necessary classroom support.

Source: Ontario Education Act & OAC

What rights do autistic students have in Ontario schools?

In Ontario, students with autism have the right to an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and reasonable accommodations without a formal diagnosis, based on need. Parents can request an IPRC meeting to identify their child as 'exceptional', guaranteeing specific rights to support services.

Source: Ontario Education Act

Can my child get an IEP without an autism diagnosis?

You do NOT need a formal medical diagnosis to get an IEP (Individual Education Plan) in Ontario schools. Write to your principal requesting an IPRC meeting, state you have a 'medical referral in progress,' and focus on identifying your child's needs rather than diagnostic labels.

Source: Ontario Education Act

Free, private support for Ontario school families

Turn a school problem into a clear next step

Tell us what's happening at school. Get matched guidance, a started incident log, and a letter you can use — or browse verified guides for IEPs, EA support, exclusions, and appeals.

Build my school action planFind a specific guide

Your private plan3 clear steps

From “what do I do?” to ready to act.

School action worksheetETW / 0101Your school issue is matched02Your incident record is started03Your letter is preparedPrepared privately in your browser. No account required.

  1. Home
  2. ›Education

Choose your route

Get to useful help faster

Start the guided action plan if you are unsure, or choose the school issue that matches what's happening today.

Recommended if you are unsure

Build my private school action plan

Answer a few questions about what is happening. The Navigator matches your issue to guidance, starts the record you may need, and prepares a letter you can use.

  • Matched guidance
  • A started incident log
  • The letter to send
Start my action planNo account. No free-text family details uploaded.

My child is being sent home

Exclusions, shortened days, and what to request in writing.

Open exclusion guidance

Fix or strengthen an IEP

Make accommodations, goals, strategies, and responsibilities specific.

Open the IEP guide

EA support is missing or reduced

Understand assignment, shared support, hours, and next requests.

Open the EA guide

Prepare for an IPRC decision

Understand identification, placement, review, and appeal steps.

Open the IPRC guide

Why this resource exists

The children in these classrooms

Ontario schools serve thousands of autistic students, most without adequate support.

Registered

89,79989,799

Children registered

Total in the Ontario Autism Program queue

MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026

Funded

20,63320,633

Have active funding

Only 23% of registered children

MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026

Waiting

69,16669,166

Still waiting

Registered. Diagnosed. Un-funded.

MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026

Verified June 13, 2026 , MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026

Share these numbers
Ontario Autism Program key statistics (MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026, verified 2026-06-13)
MetricValue
Children registered89,799
Have active funding20,633
Still waiting69,166
FOI & Government Data
Last verified: March 4, 2026Sources: 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)

Education TL;DR

  • Schools must accommodate disability-related needs, supports are based on needs, not labels
  • PPM 140 requires ABA in all Ontario schools for autistic students (since 2007)
Show all 5 factsShow fewer facts
  • PPM 156 requires transition planning by age 14, if your child has no plan, request one now
  • IEPs should be specific: measurable accommodations, named strategies, clear responsibilities
  • If supports fail, escalate: principal → superintendent → SEAC → OSET → HRTO
Verified: 2026-06-13
Scope: Ontario, Canada

Education guide library

Browse by topic

Jump to the part of the school journey you are working through, or scan every guide below.

Getting startedCore rights and processesGetting supportEscalation and appealsWhen things go wrongPost-secondary and transitionsSchool choicesBy school board
01

Education guides

Getting started

School Journey Map

NewEvery step from diagnosis to post-secondary, mapped and linked.Open guide

Kindergarten Transition

How to prepare your autistic child for their first day of school.Open guide

Entry to School Program

NewFree 6-month OAP program preparing autistic children for kindergarten.Open guide
02

Education guides

Core rights and processes

IEP Guide

What an IEP is, what it should include, and how to make it measurable.Open guide

IPRC Process

How identification and placement decisions work and how to respond.Open guide

Special Education Rights

Your core rights under the Education Act and Human Rights Code.Open guide

PPM 140: ABA in Schools

NewWhat schools MUST provide for ABA support, and how to advocate for your child.Open guide

PPM 156: Transition Planning

NewTransition plans are required by age 14. Here is what they must include.Open guide
03

Education guides

Getting support

EA Support Guide

How EAs are assigned, shared vs dedicated, and SIP funding explained.Open guide

Assistive Technology

Technology and equipment supports available for autistic students.Open guide

Behaviour Plans

How positive behaviour support plans work in Ontario schools.Open guide

EA Funding Formula

NewHow schools are funded for EAs, SEPPA, SIP, and SEA grants explained.Open guide

School Rehab Services (SBRS)

NewFree OT, speech, and physio funded by MCCSS, not your school board.Open guide
04

Education guides

Escalation and appeals

SEAC Advisory Committee

NewHow to attend and depute at your board's Special Education Advisory Committee.Open guide

OSET Tribunal Appeals

NewHow to appeal IPRC decisions to the Ontario Special Education Tribunal.Open guide
05

Education guides

When things go wrong

School Support Navigator

NewNeed to act today? Match your problem to guidance, start an incident log, and generate a letter — exclusion, suspension, missing EA, IEP or IPRC dispute.Open guide

Schools Investigation

New$6.35B funding gap, 8 board takeovers, new property rules, and children's rights, full public-record investigation.Open guide

School Board Takeovers

NewWhat provincial supervision means for disability and autism families, 8 boards, over 700,000 students.Open guide

School Exclusion Rights

Formal exclusions, modified days, and your right to full-day school.Open guide

School Advocacy

How to prepare, document, and escalate concerns with boards.Open guide

School Board Complaint Process

Step-by-step guide to filing formal complaints with your school board.Open guide

Restraint & Seclusion Rights

NewYour rights when schools use physical restraint or seclusion on your child.Open guide
06

Education guides

Post-secondary and transitions

High School Planning

Course selection, pathways, and transition planning for autistic teens.Open guide

University Accommodations

How to access disability services at Ontario universities.Open guide

College Accommodations

Applied programs with accessibility services for autistic students.Open guide

Trades & Apprenticeships

OYAP and apprenticeship pathways for autistic students.Open guide
07

Education guides

School choices

Private Schools

Private school options for autistic students in Ontario.Open guide

Homeschooling

When and how to homeschool an autistic child in Ontario.Open guide

French Immersion

Accommodations for autistic students in French immersion programs.Open guide
08

Education guides

By school board

TDSB (Toronto)

Toronto District School Board autism supports and contacts.Open guide

Peel Region

Peel District School Board autism supports and contacts.Open guide

Ottawa-Carleton

OCDSB autism supports and contacts.Open guide

Waterloo Region

Waterloo Region autism supports and contacts.Open guide

York Region

York Region autism supports and contacts.Open guide

Durham (DDSB)

Durham District School Board autism supports and contacts.Open guide

Greater Essex (Windsor)

Greater Essex County District School Board autism supports and contacts.Open guide

Halton

Halton District School Board autism supports and contacts.Open guide

Hamilton-Wentworth (HWDSB)

Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board autism supports and contacts.Open guide

Simcoe County

Simcoe County District School Board autism supports and contacts.Open guide

Toronto Catholic (TCDSB)

Toronto Catholic District School Board autism supports and contacts.Open guide

Thames Valley (London)

Thames Valley District School Board autism supports and contacts.Open guide

Board Contacts Directory

NewSpecial education contacts for all 72 Ontario district school boards.Open guide

Your next move

Leave with a plan, not another tab to read

If the guides do not make your next step obvious, tell the School Support Navigator what's happening. It will match the issue, start your record, and prepare a letter you can use.

Build my school action plan

Free and private. No account. No free-text family details uploaded.

Related Resources

  • School Support Navigator
  • Autism Iep Ontario
  • Education / Schools Investigation
  • Education / Board Takeovers
  • Education / School Journey Map

Autism Services by Region

  • Toronto
  • Ottawa
  • Hamilton
  • London
  • Mississauga
  • Brampton
  • Kitchener
  • Windsor
  • Sudbury
  • Thunder Bay
View all regions →

Next Steps

Where the waitlist stands

Families navigating autism services in Ontario face the longest waitlist in the country. Here is the data — and a two-minute way to push back, when you are ready.

See where the waitlist standsEmail Your MPP

Verified References & Sources

Updated: Mar 2026

Government Reports & Data

  • [2023]
    Exclusion of Students With Disabilities — 2023 SurveyVerified FAO Data
    Community Living Ontario • Report • 2023-10-01
    View
  • [2024]
    Inclusion Without Proper Support Is AbandonmentVerified FAO Data
    Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario • Report • 2024-06-01
    View
  • [2020]
    Autism ServicesVerified FAO Data
    Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) • Report • 2020-07-21
    View
  • [2024]
    Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services: Spending Plan ReviewVerified FAO Data
    Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) • Report • 2024-06-05
    View
  • [2026]
    MCCSS bi-weekly OAP Core Clinical Services progress reports (FOI release CSS2026-0749)Verified FAO Data
    Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (Ontario) • Report • 2026-03-04
    View
About This Article

Written by Spencer Carroll

Founder & Autism Advocate

Parent of autistic child navigating OAP system

Evidence on this page

The source chain stays visible.

Key claims are paired with their source, evidence tier, and verification date so readers can inspect the public record directly.

Facts5
Sources4

Under the Ontario Education Act, every student with special needs is entitled to an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and access to an Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC)

Government / peer-reviewedGovernment of Ontario (2024)Verified 2024-01-01

89,799

children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program

Secondary sourceMCCSS FOI · Mar 2026Verified 2026-06-13

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

Government / peer-reviewedPublic Health Agency of Canada (2024)Verified 2024-03-26

23%

Only 20,633 children have active funding agreements — less than one in four

Secondary sourceMCCSS FOI · Mar 2026Verified 2026-06-13

WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism — timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement

Government / peer-reviewedWorld Health Organization (2023)Verified 2023-11-15
Last system verification: 2026-06-13. Next scheduled update: 2026-09-10.
View methodologyBrowse every source