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Occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physiotherapy — delivered inside Ontario schools, funded by MCCSS, not by the school board. Most parents have never heard of it.
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.
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Commitment to Accuracy: Our data is independently verified against official government reports (FAO, MCCSS), peer-reviewed scientific literature, and accessible public records. Last updated: February 1, 2026.
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