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Education Series
The evidence for intervention
School-based rehab services are funded separately from OHIP, most families don't know what they can request.
Registered
88,175Children registered
Total in the Ontario Autism Program queue
CBC FOI Jan 2026
Funded
20,666Have active funding
Only 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 |
This is the most important fact about SBRS that parents need to understand. When a school tells you "we don't provide therapy" or "we don't have OT/SLP," they may be technically correct about their own staff, but SBRS therapists come from children's treatment centres funded by the Ministry, not the school board.
The school doesn't need to "have the budget" for therapy. They just need to facilitate the referral. If they won't, you can contact the treatment centre directly.
Do not confuse SBRS with School Health Support Services (SHSS), which is administered by Ontario Health atHome and covers medical procedures (tube feeding, suctioning, catheterization). SBRS covers rehabilitation therapy. Both are available in schools, both are free, and both are funded outside the school board.
Talk to your child's teacher, SERT (Special Education Resource Teacher), or principal about SBRS. Ask specifically: "Does this school receive SBRS services from a children's treatment centre?"
If the school is unresponsive, contact your local children's treatment centre: ErinoakKids (Peel/Halton), KidsAbility (Waterloo), CHEO (Ottawa), GrandviewKids (Durham), Holland Bloorview (Toronto), etc.
The treatment centre will assess your child and determine eligibility. Services are based on functional needs, not diagnosis labels. No IPRC identification is required.
Once SBRS services begin, ensure the therapy goals are reflected in the IEP. The SBRS therapist should collaborate with the school team to align school-based and therapy goals.
This page is part of the Education & Schools topic cluster. School rights, IEPs, IPRC, and advocacy for autistic students in Ontario.
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.
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