Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) delivered to children aged 18–30 months produced significant gains in IQ, adaptive behaviour, and autism severity — some children no longer met diagnostic criteria at follow-up
Education Series
PPM 140: ABA in Ontario Schools
The evidence for intervention
PPM 140 requires ABA methods in every Ontario school, most families never know they can demand compliance.
Registered
89,799Children registered
Total in the Ontario Autism Program queue
MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026
Funded
20,633Have active funding
Only 23% of registered children
MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026
Waiting
69,166Still waiting
Registered. Diagnosed. Un-funded.
MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026
Verified , MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Children registered | 89,799 |
| Have active funding | 20,633 |
| Still waiting | 69,166 |
PPM 140 at a Glance
- PPM 140 (2007) requires ALL Ontario school boards to use ABA methods for autistic students
- ABA strategies must be written into the IEP, not as vague references, but as named techniques
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- Schools must collaborate with external ABA providers during the transition to school
- If your school says "we don't do ABA," this may conflict with provincial policy (PPM 140)
- Escalation path: principal → superintendent → SEAC → Ministry of Education → HRTO
Verified: 2026-06-13
Scope: Ontario, Canada
What PPM 140 Actually Requires
Policy/Program Memorandum 140, issued by the Minister of Education in 2007, is a directive to all Ontario school boards. It is not a suggestion. Here is what it mandates:
ABA as Instructional Approach
School boards must offer ABA methods as an instructional approach for students with ASD. This means embedding ABA strategies into classroom instruction, not just in a separate therapy room.
Staff Training
Boards must ensure that school staff are trained in ABA. This includes classroom teachers, EAs, and special education resource teachers (SERTs) who work with autistic students.
Transition Planning
Schools must work with families and external ABA providers to plan the transition from private or OAP-funded ABA therapy into the school setting. ABA strategies should carry over, not stop at the school door.
IEP Integration
ABA-based strategies must be incorporated into the student's Individual Education Plan. The IEP should name specific techniques, not just say "behaviour support."
ABA in Schools vs. ABA in Clinics
School-based ABA looks different from clinic-based ABA. Understanding the difference helps you advocate for the right level of support.
School-Based ABA
- Naturalistic strategies embedded in the school day
- Visual schedules and token economies
- Discrete trial teaching during small group time
- Behaviour support plans for challenging moments
- Social skills groups and structured transitions
- Typically less intensive than clinic ABA
Clinic-Based ABA
- 20-40 hours per week of structured therapy
- 1:1 therapist-to-child ratio
- Intensive discrete trial training
- Controlled environment with fewer distractions
- Data collection on every trial
- Supervised by a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst)
The Gap Parents Must Know
Many children transition from intensive 1:1 ABA therapy (20+ hours/week) to school where they receive zero ABA support. PPM 140 was designed to prevent this cliff, but enforcement is weak and many boards claim they lack trained staff. This is not your problem. It is the board's obligation.
How to Request PPM 140 ABA Support
Follow these steps to ensure your child receives ABA-based support as required by provincial policy.
1
Know What PPM 140 Requires
Read the policy. PPM 140 requires ABA as an instructional approach for all students with ASD. It is not a request, it is provincial policy from 2007. When you cite it by name, schools take notice.
2
Document Current ABA Supports
Gather records of any ABA therapy your child receives privately or through OAP. Document specific strategies, behaviour plans, and goals that should carry into the classroom.
3
Write to the School (Reference PPM 140)
Send a written request to the principal and special education coordinator specifically requesting ABA-based instructional strategies under PPM 140. Reference the policy by name and number.
4
Involve Your ABA Provider
Ask your child's ABA therapist or BCBA to provide a transition plan or attend the school meeting. PPM 140 expects schools to collaborate with external providers.
5
Get ABA Strategies Written Into the IEP
Ensure specificABA strategies appear in the IEP: visual schedules, discrete trial teaching, naturalistic strategies, token economies, behaviour support plans. Reject vague language like "behaviour support."
6
Escalate If Denied
If the school refuses, request the refusal in writing. Escalate: superintendent → school board trustee → SEAC → Ministry of Education. Consider contacting ARCH Disability Law Centre or filing a human rights complaint.
Template: PPM 140 Compliance Request Letter
Dear [Principal Name] and [Special Education Coordinator],
I am writing to request a meeting regarding Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) support for my child, [Child Name], under Policy/Program Memorandum 140 (2007).
PPM 140 requires all Ontario school boards to offer ABA as an instructional approach for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Specifically, I am requesting:
- ABA-based instructional strategies be incorporated into [Child Name]'s IEP
- A transition meeting with [Child Name]'s external ABA provider, [Provider Name]
- Information about ABA training provided to [Child Name]'s classroom teacher and EA
- A timeline for implementing ABA strategies in the classroom
[Child Name] currently receives [X hours/week] of ABA therapy through [private provider / OAP]. The strategies used include [list specific strategies]. Continuity of these evidence-based approaches in the school setting is essential.
I would appreciate a response within 10 business days to schedule this meeting.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
The Compliance Reality
Ontario tracks board compliance with PPM 140 through annual surveys published on the Ontario Open Data portal. The reality is that compliance varies dramatically across the province's 72 school boards.
Common Responses When Parents Request ABA
"We don't have ABA-trained staff."
PPM 140 requires boards to train staff. This is the board's problem to solve, not a reason to deny your child support.
"ABA is a therapy, not an educational approach."
PPM 140 explicitly identifies ABA as an instructional approach for schools. This argument contradicts the policy.
"We use other evidence-based methods."
PPM 140 specifically names ABA. Other methods may complement ABA, but they do not replace the board's obligation under this policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Verified References & Sources
Updated:Government Reports & Data
- [2023]Exclusion of Students With Disabilities — 2023 SurveyVerified FAO DataCommunity Living Ontario • Report • 2023-10-01
- [2024]Inclusion Without Proper Support Is AbandonmentVerified FAO DataElementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario • Report • 2024-06-01
- [2020]Autism ServicesVerified FAO DataFinancial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) • Report • 2020-07-21
- [2024]Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services: Spending Plan ReviewVerified FAO DataFinancial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) • Report • 2024-06-05
- [2026]MCCSS bi-weekly OAP Core Clinical Services progress reports (FOI release CSS2026-0749)Verified FAO DataMinistry of Children, Community and Social Services (Ontario) • Report • 2026-03-04
- MCCSS bi-weekly OAP Core Clinical Services progress reports (FOI release CSS2026-0749). Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (Ontario) (March 2026)
- Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services: Spending Plan Review (2024). Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (2024)
About This Article
Written by Spencer Carroll
Founder & Autism Advocate
Evidence on this page
The source chain stays visible.
Key claims are paired with their source, evidence tier, and verification date so readers can inspect the public record directly.
Facts7
Sources6
Cochrane systematic review finds evidence that early intensive behavioural intervention (EIBI) may produce positive effects on adaptive behaviour and communication for young children with ASD (low certainty of evidence)
WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism — timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement
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)
89,799
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
Last system verification: 2026-06-13. Next scheduled update: 2026-09-10.