Education Series
The children in these classrooms
Educational Assistant support is documented in the IEP, but getting it requires knowing your rights.
Registered
88,175Children registered
Total in the Ontario Autism Program queue
CBC FOI Jan 2026
Funded
20,666Have active funding
Just 23.4% of registered children
CBC FOI Jan 2026
Waiting
67,509Still waiting
Registered. Diagnosed. Un-funded.
CBC FOI Jan 2026
Verified , CBC FOI Jan 2026
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Children registered | 88,175 |
| Have active funding | 20,666 |
| Still waiting | 67,509 |
“1-to-1 Support” is almost never written in an IEP anymore.
School boards assign EAs to the school, not the student. The principal then decides where the EAs go based on safety needs first, then learning needs. Most support is “Shared Support” (e.g., 1 EA for 3 students).
While you can't always demand a dedicated person, you CAN demand that your child's needs are met. If the need involves safety, the legal duty to accommodate kicks in.
If a student is a flight risk (elopement) or has severe aggression/self-injury, constant supervision is a safety requirement.
Focus your advocacy here: “My child is unsafe without supervision.”
Toileting, feeding (g-tubes), and mobility usually require dedicated support times.
This is often non-negotiable for human rights reasons (dignity).
Need for prompting or staying on task is usually met with “Shared Support”.
Boards will rarely provide a 1:1 EA just for academic focus.
Support during recess to help with social skills.
Often overlooked, but can be argued if safety/bullying is a risk.
A strong EA support request is specific, documented, and ties directly to your child's safety and learning needs. Here is what to include.
EA Support Request Template
"Dear [Principal],
I am writing to request increased Educational Assistant support for [Child's Name]. [Child] has documented needs that require dedicated supervision:
- Safety: [e.g., elopement risk, has left the classroom/building X times]
- Personal care: [e.g., requires toileting support, assistance with feeding]
- Learning access: [e.g., cannot access curriculum without 1:1 prompting]
Under the Ontario Human Rights Code, the school has a duty to accommodate these disability-related needs to the point of undue hardship. Please confirm:
1. How these needs will be met in the school day
2. Whether a SIP (Special Incidence Portion) claim has been submitted
3. What level of EA support will be provided and for which hours
If you are unable to provide the requested support, please provide a written explanation of the rationale.
Sincerely, [Your Name]"
The Special Incidence Portion (SIP) claim is extra money the board applies for from the Ministry for students with extraordinarily high needs (usually safety/medical).
“Schools have a duty to accommodate students with disabilities to the point of undue hardship. Where EA support is necessary for meaningful access to education, it is part of the accommodation obligation.”
Based on Ontario Human Rights Commission policy guidance
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.
Related Resources
Verified Facts
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)
88,175, children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
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
23.4%, Only 20,666 children have active funding agreements () — less than one in four
WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism — timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement