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Comparison Guide
Ontario has two major pediatric autism diagnostic centres serving different regions. This guide compares CHEO (Ottawa) and Holland Bloorview (Toronto) to help families understand their options.
| Category | CHEO (Ottawa) | Holland Bloorview (Toronto) |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Ottawa (401 Smyth Road) | Toronto (150 Kilgour Road) |
| Region served | Ottawa, eastern Ontario, western Quebec | Toronto, GTA, central Ontario |
| Assessment model | Team-based DSM-5 ASD assessment | Team-based DSM-5 ASD assessment |
| OHIP coverage | Yes, no cost to family | Yes, no cost to family |
| Referral required | Yes, GP or paediatrician | Yes, GP or paediatrician |
| Reported wait time | Publicly reported as 12–24 months | Publicly reported as 12–24 months |
| OAP-accepted diagnosis | Yes, AccessOAP accepts | Yes, AccessOAP accepts |
| French-language services | Yes, deep francophone integration | Limited |
| Post-diagnostic support | CHEO Research Institute family resources | ASDO (Autism Spectrum Disorder Support Organization) |
| Adult ASD diagnostics | Limited | Limited |
Wait times change frequently, confirm directly with each centre before making decisions.
The Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), located at 401 Smyth Road in Ottawa, is eastern Ontario's primary pediatric hospital and ASD diagnostic centre. Its ASD diagnostic program is offered through the CHEO Research Institute and serves Ottawa, the surrounding eastern Ontario region, and western Quebec families who access Ontario services.
CHEO has deep integration with Ottawa's francophone community and offers services in both English and French, a meaningful difference for French-speaking families in eastern Ontario and western Quebec.
CHEO connects to Ontario's regional ASD hub network alongside Holland Bloorview, McMaster Children's Hospital, Surrey Place, SickKids, and ErinoakKids.
Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, located at 150 Kilgour Road in Toronto, is Canada's largest children's rehabilitation hospital and the ASD diagnostic hub for Toronto, the GTA, and central Ontario. It offers a comprehensive team-based ASD assessment and operates the Autism Spectrum Disorder Support Organization (ASDO) for families after diagnosis.
Holland Bloorview is OHIP-covered, referral-required (GP or paediatrician), and produces DSM-5 ASD reports accepted by AccessOAP.
Key takeaway
If you live in Ottawa or eastern Ontario, apply to CHEO. If you live in Toronto or the GTA, apply to Holland Bloorview. Both centres deliver equivalent-quality, OHIP-covered, AccessOAP-accepted ASD assessments. If the wait at either centre exceeds 12 months, pursue a private psychologist assessment simultaneously ($2,500–$4,000) to reach diagnosis, and OAP registration, sooner.
The primary consideration is geography. CHEO serves Ottawa, eastern Ontario, and western Quebec. Holland Bloorview serves Toronto, the GTA, and central Ontario. Choose based on where you live, travelling from Ottawa to Toronto (or vice versa) for a diagnostic service that has an equivalent centre in your region is generally not recommended. Both centres produce DSM-5 ASD assessments accepted by AccessOAP.
Both are major Ontario teaching hospitals conducting team-based ASD assessments following DSM-5 criteria. Both are publicly funded, OHIP-covered, and produce reports accepted for OAP registration with AccessOAP. Neither centre is "better", both are leading diagnostic institutions serving their respective geographic regions.
Families publicly report wait times of approximately 12–24 months at both centres. Wait times fluctuate based on referral volume and staffing. Because both centres serve different geographic regions, there is no practical scenario in which an Ottawa family would travel to Holland Bloorview to get a faster appointment (or vice versa). Confirm current wait times directly with each centre.
Yes. Both centres produce ASD assessments that AccessOAP accepts for OAP registration. With 71,263 children waiting for Core Clinical Services, families are advised to register with AccessOAP immediately upon receiving a diagnosis from either centre. The OAP waitlist clock starts at registration, not at diagnosis.
Yes. There is no prohibition on being on multiple diagnostic waitlists simultaneously, though families in Ottawa region would typically apply to CHEO and families in Toronto/GTA region to Holland Bloorview based on the geographic catchment of each centre. Some families also pursue private psychologist assessments (4–8 weeks, $2,500–$4,000) in parallel to reach diagnosis, and OAP registration, sooner.
Next Steps
The OAP waitlist clock starts at registration. With 71,263 children already waiting, starting the clock sooner matters.
Related Resources
How long does autism diagnosis take in Ontario?
VerifiedBefore joining the OAP waitlist, Ontario diagnostic waitlists average 12–24 months at public hospitals. This pre-waitlist delay means total time from first concern to therapy often exceeds 5–7 years, an invisible bottleneck in official statistics.
Source: Ontario Autism Program [OAP] · Verify Link
Is private autism assessment faster in Ontario?
VerifiedPrivate autism assessments cost $2,500–$4,000 but reduce wait times from years to weeks. Many families face the choice of paying out-of-pocket to access the OAP sooner or waiting while their child misses the critical early intervention window.
Source: Ontario Autism Program [OAP] · Verify Link
Evidence on this page
Key claims are paired with their source, evidence tier, and verification date so readers can inspect the public record directly.
91,974
children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
According to the FAO (2020 report), OAP funding covers less than one-third of estimated need at 2018-19 service levels
WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism. Timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement