Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) — Toronto
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) — Ottawa
Both SickKids and CHEO are excellent assessment centres. Geographic proximity should be the primary factor for most families — if you are in Toronto or the GTA, pursue SickKids; if you are in Ottawa or Eastern Ontario, pursue CHEO. Both have similar wait times and accept OHIP-covered referrals from paediatricians. If wait times are unacceptable, pursue a private assessment from a registered psychologist in parallel — both OAP and school boards accept private diagnoses.
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
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
WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism — timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement
88,175, 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