Public / OHIP-Covered Assessment
Private Psychological Assessment
Private assessment costs $2,500-$5,000 but provides diagnosis 1-2 years sooner, enabling earlier OAP registration and interim funding access. For a child under 3, the earlier OAP registration alone can recover the assessment cost through interim funding. Families who can afford it should consider private assessment while keeping the public referral active.
Commitment 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.
Verified Facts
$965M, Ontario allocated to the Ontario Autism Program in 2026-27
According to the FAO (2020 report), OAP funding covers less than one-third of estimated need at 2018-19 service levels
88,175, children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
Evidence supports autism screening and intervention commencing in the first 2 years of life — earlier identification directly enables earlier intervention during the highest neural plasticity window
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