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Two major GTA autism diagnostic centres serve different regional catchments. This guide compares Surrey Place (Toronto) and ErinoakKids (Peel/Halton) to help families choose the right centre for their area.
Surrey Place · ErinoakKids · Verified 2026-08-10
In brief
Scroll horizontally to compare the service details and their sources.
| Category | Surrey Place (Toronto) | ErinoakKids (Peel/Halton) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | Toronto (2 Surrey Place) | Multiple locations in Peel and Halton | Surrey Place; ErinoakKids |
| Region served | Toronto (City of Toronto catchment) | Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon, Burlington, Oakville, Milton, Halton Hills | Surrey Place; ErinoakKids |
| Assessment model | Team-based DSM-5 ASD assessment | Team-based DSM-5 ASD assessment | Surrey Place; ErinoakKids |
| OHIP coverage | Yes, no cost to family | Yes, no cost to family | Surrey Place; ErinoakKids |
| Referral required | Yes, GP or paediatrician | Yes, GP or paediatrician | Surrey Place; ErinoakKids |
| Reported wait time | Not published; confirm directly with Surrey Place | Not published; confirm directly with ErinoakKids | Surrey Place; ErinoakKids |
| OAP registration needs a written diagnosis | Confirm with AccessOAP before relying on it | Confirm with AccessOAP before relying on it | Surrey Place; ErinoakKids |
| Adult ASD diagnostics | Yes, rare in Ontario (one of few) | Limited to pediatric | Surrey Place; ErinoakKids |
| Intellectual disability services | Yes, full lifespan DD services | Pediatric focus | Surrey Place; ErinoakKids |
| School board integration | Toronto DSB connections | Strong integration with Peel DSB and Halton DSB | Surrey Place; ErinoakKids |
| Therapy services | Assessment + some therapy | Assessment + therapy services offered alongside diagnostics | Surrey Place; ErinoakKids |
Wait times change frequently, confirm directly with surreyplace.ca and erinoakkids.ca.
Source: Surrey Place and ErinoakKids service information. · Updated
How long does autism diagnosis take in Ontario?
Ontario does not publish one province-wide wait for a public autism diagnosis. Waits are not published centre by centre either, so ask the assessment centre for its current wait when you are referred. The diagnosis wait comes before OAP registration, so it is not counted in OAP waitlist figures.
Source: Ontario Autism Program · Open source record
Is private autism assessment faster in Ontario?
Fees and appointment availability vary by provider. Ask the assessment provider for a written fee quote and current wait before booking. Ontario does not publish a province-wide wait time for autism assessments.
Source: Ontario Autism Program; contact assessment providers for current fees and waits · Open source record
Choose based on where you live. Surrey Place serves the City of Toronto catchment. ErinoakKids serves Peel Region (Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon) and Halton Region (Burlington, Oakville, Milton, Halton Hills). Families should apply to the centre that serves their municipality. Travelling across regional boundaries for a diagnostic service that has an equivalent centre nearby is generally unnecessary.
Surrey Place Centre (2 Surrey Place, Toronto) is for Toronto residents. ErinoakKids has multiple locations in Peel and Halton regions. If you are unsure which centre covers your address, contact each centre directly, both have intake teams that can confirm catchment area eligibility.
Neither centre publishes a current wait estimate in the sources reviewed here. Ask the centre that serves your region about current availability. You can contact private providers directly about their process, availability, and fees.
Yes. Both Surrey Place and ErinoakKids produce DSM-5 ASD assessments accepted by AccessOAP for Ontario Autism Program (OAP) registration. With 71,263 children currently waiting for Core Clinical Services, families are advised to register with AccessOAP immediately upon receiving a diagnosis. The OAP waitlist clock starts at registration, not at diagnosis.
Surrey Place additionally offers adult ASD diagnostic services (rare in Ontario), intellectual disability services across the lifespan, and a range of developmental disability supports. ErinoakKids has strong integration with Peel and Halton school boards and offers therapy services alongside diagnostics, which can reduce the gap between diagnosis and initial treatment. Both organizations have their own internal waitlists for post-diagnostic services.
Source: MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026; for Ontario Autism Program figures as of May 2026. · Updated
The OAP waitlist clock starts at registration. With 71,263 children already waiting, starting the clock sooner matters. Source: MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026; as of May 2026; verified 2026-08-10.
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