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Ontario schools are required to plan transitions for autistic students at every stage, from kindergarten entry to post-secondary pathways. Most families are never told this.
Direct answer
Policy/Program Memorandum 156: Supporting Transitions for Students · Verified 2026-08-10
Transition planning is legally required, but children age out of school every year without one.
PPM 156 addresses transitions that are especially challenging for autistic students. Each requires proactive planning, not reactive scrambling.
| Transition point | Planning consideration | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Entry to School | The first school transition. Planning should begin 6+ months before kindergarten. Connect OAP Entry to School program with school team. Kindergarten guide | PPM 156 |
| Elementary to Secondary | Grade 8 to Grade 9 is often the most disruptive transition. New building, new staff, new routines. IEP must transfer with updated accommodations. High school planning | PPM 156 |
| School to Post-Secondary | The most consequential transition. Planning must start by age 14. Covers college, university, trades, employment, and community living. | PPM 156 |
| School to School | Moving between schools (family move, program change) requires the IEP to transfer and a new transition plan in the receiving school. | PPM 156 |
| Grade to Grade | Annual transitions to a new teacher and classroom. For autistic students, even this "routine" change can be highly disruptive without planning. | PPM 156 |
| Program Changes | Moving from a self-contained classroom to integrated, or vice versa. Requires careful planning and gradual introduction to the new setting. | PPM 156 |
Source: Policy/Program Memorandum 156 · Verified 2026-08-10
By age 14, the IEP must contain a transition plan addressing life after secondary school. PPM 156 specifies what must be in it.
What does the student want to do after school? College, university, trades apprenticeship, supported employment, community living? Goals must be specific, not vague.
Who does what? The plan must identify specific actions, who is responsible for each, and deadlines. Not "the school will help with transition", but "the guidance counsellor will arrange a college accessibility office meeting by November 2026."
The school must connect families with relevant agencies: Developmental Services Ontario (DSO), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), post-secondary disability services, vocational rehabilitation, and community living organizations.
For students who will need ongoing support, the transition plan should address daily living skills, transportation, financial management, self-advocacy, and community participation.
The plan must include clear timelines and be reviewed at least annually as part of the IEP review process. As the student approaches graduation, reviews should become more frequent.
| Pathway | Description | Related guide | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| University | Degree programs with accessibility services | Guide | PPM 156 |
| College | Applied programs with hands-on learning | Guide | PPM 156 |
| Trades | Apprenticeships and OYAP pathways | Guide | PPM 156 |
| High School Planning | Course selection and pathway planning | Guide | PPM 156 |
Source: Policy/Program Memorandum 156 · Verified 2026-08-10
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What is PPM 156 and how does it help autistic students transition?
PPM 156 (2013) requires Ontario school boards to plan transitions at every stage - entry to school, grade to grade, and school to post-secondary or work. [Ministry of Education] For autistic students, transition plans must begin by age 14 and be included in the IEP, covering post-secondary goals, community agency connections, and independent living skills.
Source: Ontario Ministry of Education - PPM 156 · Open source record
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 Ontario Regulation 181/98, an Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) can place a student in a special education program. Once that placement starts, the principal has 30 school days to make sure an Individual Education Plan (IEP) is completed. Ministry policy (PPM 140) also lets boards write IEPs for students who have not been formally identified by an IPRC
91,974
children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
US$2.4M
Lifetime support costs for autism with co-occurring intellectual disability can reach US$2.4 million per person (Buescher et al.)
1 in 50
According to the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, about 1 in 50 children and youth aged 1 to 17 in Canada had an autism diagnosis
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Lived experience: Parent of autistic child navigating OAP system