Education Guide
Case file
What's happening
While Ontario's public school system is mandated to accommodate students with disabilities, some families choose private schools that offer smaller class sizes, specialized programming, or approaches better suited to their autistic child. Ontario has several schools specifically designed for autistic students as well as inclusive private schools with strong support programs. This guide helps families evaluate private school options.
Ask for it in writing today
Whatever you decide to request, put it in writing and date it — a verbal answer leaves no record. The School Support Navigator can draft a letter for your specific situation.
What records to keep
A dated log of calls, emails, and meetings matters more than memory once a dispute runs past a few weeks. The Parent Documentation Toolkit walks through what to track.
The rule or duty that applies
2 governing sources for this topic, listed below with what each one covers.
The escalation ladder
If the first request does not resolve it, there is a standard next step — from the school, up through the board, to the Ombudsman and the Tribunal.
The evidence
4 verified figures for this topic, sourced below.
What to do next
A short list of concrete next actions, including where to raise this with your MPP.
Evidence
Approximately 900
Number of inspected private schools in Ontario
Ontario Ministry of Education
$40,000-$80,000/year
Specialized autism private school tuition range
Ontario private school surveys
Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC)
Tax credit available for qualifying schools
Canada Revenue Agency
Must be inspected to grant OSSD credits
Private school inspection requirement
Ontario Ministry of Education, Private Schools Policy
Guide
Private schools for autistic students in Ontario generally fall into three categories. Specialized autism schools, such as Kerry's Place and Giant Steps, are designed exclusively for autistic students and typically use evidence-based approaches like ABA, TEACCH, or structured teaching. Inclusive private schools accept students with a range of learning profiles and provide individualized support through learning strategists and smaller class sizes. Alternative education schools (Montessori, Waldorf, democratic schools) may suit some autistic learners through their distinctive pedagogical approaches.
When evaluating schools, look for: staff qualifications (BCBAs, special education teachers, speech-language pathologists on staff or available for consultation), student-to-staff ratios, the school's philosophy about autism (neurodiversity-affirming vs. deficit-based), transition planning, and track records of student outcomes.
Guide
Tuition at private schools for autistic students in Ontario ranges widely — from approximately $15,000 per year at some inclusive schools to $40,000-$80,000 per year at specialized autism schools with intensive support. These costs are generally not covered by the Ontario government, though some families have successfully argued for school board funding of private school placements when the public system cannot meet their child's needs.
Tax relief is available through the medical expense tax credit (METC) for tuition at certified schools that provide programming addressing a physical or mental impairment. The Disability Tax Credit and RDSP can also be part of a broader financial strategy. Some schools offer bursaries or sliding-scale fees.
Guide
During school visits, ask about: the school's experience with autistic students, how sensory needs are accommodated, crisis intervention and de-escalation approaches, communication methods supported (AAC, PECS, sign language), how behavioral challenges are addressed, parent communication frequency and methods, therapies available on-site, and transition planning for graduates.
Request to observe a class in session. Speak with current parents if possible. Ask for evidence of student outcomes — graduation rates, post-school placements, skill development data. A reputable school will be transparent about its strengths and limitations and honest about whether it is the right fit for your child.
Escalation ladder
This is general information, not legal advice, and no outcome is guaranteed at any rung. It is the same escalation path used across End The Wait Ontario's School Support Navigator.
Put your concern in writing to the principal. Most issues resolve at this level once there is a dated, written record — and every later rung will ask what you raised here.
If the principal does not respond in writing or the issue continues, escalate to the board's superintendent responsible for special education, attaching your correspondence with the school.
The board level: the Director of Education, and in parallel the board's SEAC (Special Education Advisory Committee) for systemic issues. Suspension appeals also live here — with a 10-school-day notice window (Education Act, s. 309(3)).
Since September 1, 2015, the Ontario Ombudsman takes complaints about school boards. It reviews how the board handled your concern — bring your dated chronology and the record of the steps you already took.
The HRTO hears applications about discrimination, including disability discrimination in education services. Applications must be filed within one year of the incident (or the last in a series) — Human Rights Code, s. 34(1). This site provides general information only; get advice from the Human Rights Legal Support Centre (hrlsc.on.ca) or a lawyer before filing.
Questions
Governing rule
Ontario Ministry of Education
Private school inspection and registration requirements (ontario.ca/education)
Ontario Human Rights Commission
Right to equal treatment in education regardless of disability (ohrc.on.ca)
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Written by Spencer Carroll
Founder & Autism Advocate
Evidence 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)
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
23%
Only 20,633 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