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Education Rights
EA support documented in an IEP is still routinely reduced or absent across Ontario school boards. Here is what is happening, what the board owes your child, and what to do about it.
EA shortages leave autistic students without the support written into their IEPs.
Registered
91,97491,974Children registered
Total registered in the Ontario Autism Program
Funded
20,71120,711Have active funding
Only 22.5% of registered children
Without active agreement
71,26371,263Without an active funding agreement
An administrative status; it does not confirm current service delivery.
Verified , MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Children registered | 91,974 |
| Have active funding | 20,711 |
| Without an active funding agreement | 71,263 |
In brief
EA allocation is a school-level decision, but you are entitled to be part of the conversation about how it affects your child's IEP.
A written record is what turns “the EA wasn't there again” into evidence a board has to respond to.
Start at step one. Move to the next step only once you have given the current step a documented, written chance to respond.
Ask the teacher or EA directly, in writing
Email the classroom teacher (or the EA, if you have contact) the same day EA support is missing or reduced. Ask what happened and whether it is a one-time gap or ongoing.
Request an IEP amendment meeting
Write to the principal asking for a meeting to review the EA support written into the IEP against what is actually being provided. Ask for a written response within a set number of school days.
Escalate to the board's special education supervisor
If the principal does not resolve the gap, put the request in writing to the school board's special education department. Reference the dates you already documented and the IEP meeting outcome.
Contact the Ontario Human Rights Commission
If EA support remains inadequate despite the steps above and it is affecting your child's access to education, the OHRC can provide guidance on the duty to accommodate. This is informational, not a guarantee of a specific outcome.
SOURCE
Ontario Human Rights Commission • 2018
Multiple OHRC decisions have found boards accountable for failure to provide adequate EA support.
This page is educational information, not legal advice, and does not guarantee any specific outcome. School board obligations can vary by board; for guidance specific to your situation, consult a special education advocate or legal professional.
The IEP is a planning document, not a legally binding contract. Schools must make reasonable efforts to provide documented EA support, but availability depends on board-level allocation decisions. If your child's EA support is reduced or absent, document this and request an IEP amendment meeting to address the gap in writing.
Request an IEP amendment meeting in writing as soon as possible. Document all instances where EA support was absent or reduced, include dates, times, and the impact on your child. Escalate to the board's special education supervisor if the school principal does not resolve the issue within a reasonable timeframe.
Yes. Parents are entitled to participate in IEP development and review meetings, including any meeting where EA hours or allocation are discussed. You can bring an advocate or support person, ask for the discussion in writing beforehand, and request a copy of any decision made.
Next Steps
Now that you know how it works, use it for your child.
Can autistic students get an educational assistant (EA)?
VerifiedSchools may assign EAs based on IEP needs, but 47% of families report insufficient supports. 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 · Open source record
What rights do autistic students have in Ontario schools?
VerifiedIn 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 · Open source record
Can my child get an IEP without an autism diagnosis?
VerifiedYou 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
Sources on this page
Key claims are paired with their source, evidence tier, and verification date so readers can inspect the public record directly.
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)
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Founder & Autism Advocate