91,974
children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
ON THE PUBLIC RECORD · VERIFIED 2026-08-10
Global Autism Service Benchmarks
Direct answer
These systems define eligibility and timelines differently, so the comparison does not rank access or imply equivalent wait times.
United Kingdom
NHS & NICE Standards
Diagnostic assessment guidance: NICE recommends starting an autism diagnostic assessment within 3 months after referral to an autism team. This is clinical guidance, not a general statutory wait limit. In England, section 42 of the Children and Families Act 2014 requires the local authority to secure the special educational provision specified in a child’s EHC plan; specified health care provision is arranged by the responsible commissioning body. The duty depends on what the plan specifies. NICE CG128, recommendation 1.5.1 · Children and Families Act 2014, section 42.
Australia
NDIS Early Childhood
Early childhood approach: The NDIS early childhood approach serves children younger than 9 with developmental delay or disability. Early connections can connect families to supports without NDIS eligibility; NDIS access is a separate decision. NDIS early intervention access for developmental delay applies to eligible children younger than 6, subject to the Act’s criteria. This does not mean every child under 9 receives an immediate NDIS plan or a fixed package amount. NDIS early childhood approach · NDIS Act 2013, section 25.
United States
IDEA & Medicaid EPSDT
Early intervention timeline: Under IDEA Part C, the initial screening (if applicable), evaluation, assessments, and IFSP meeting generally must be completed within 45 days after referral, with specified exceptions. Separately, EPSDT requires Medicaid programs to cover medically necessary, Medicaid-coverable services for enrolled children under 21; it does not itself guarantee named autism therapies without a wait. 34 CFR § 303.310 · CMS: EPSDT benefit.
International Comparison Matrix
The table compares selected official pathways and legal frameworks. The 45-day and three-month figures apply to different steps and populations; neither is a measure of time to receive autism therapy. This page does not establish a comparable wait-time measure across jurisdictions.
| Jurisdiction | Published pathway / timeline | Framework | What the rule covers | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario | The Ontario Autism Program offers supports to eligible children and youth with an autism diagnosis. | Ontario Autism Program | Program eligibility and supports; this table does not state a comparable statutory autism-therapy wait limit for Ontario. Ontario program details. | Ontario program details |
| England | NICE recommends starting an autism assessment within 3 months after referral to an autism team. | NICE CG128; Children and Families Act 2014, s. 42 | Assessment-start guidance; specified education and health provision in an EHC plan. | NICE CG128; Children and Families Act 2014, s. 42 |
| Australia | Early childhood approach under 9; NDIS early intervention access for developmental delay is under 6 and criteria-based. | NDIS Act 2013, s. 25; early childhood approach | Early connections and NDIS participant eligibility are distinct pathways. | NDIS Act 2013, s. 25; early childhood approach |
| United States | Part C initial steps generally within 45 days of referral, subject to exceptions. | IDEA Part C rule; Medicaid EPSDT | Early intervention process timeline; Medicaid-coverable medically necessary services for enrolled children under 21. | IDEA Part C rule; Medicaid EPSDT |
UN CRPD Article 25
UN CRPD & Canada's International Human Rights Commitments
Canada ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on March 11, 2010. Article 25 recognizes the right to health without disability-based discrimination and calls on States Parties to take appropriate measures to ensure access to health services, including disability-specific services and early identification and intervention as appropriate. Canada treaty record · UN Convention, Article 25.
“Provide those health services needed by persons with disabilities specifically because of their disabilities, including early identification and intervention as appropriate” (Article 25(b)).
The Convention is an international treaty commitment. Whether a particular program or delay breaches a legal obligation requires analysis of the facts, applicable domestic law, and the treaty’s implementation; this page does not make that legal determination.
Sources 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.
Facts4
Sources4
22.5%
Only 20,711 children have active funding agreements (22.5%), less than one in four
$965M
Ontario allocated $965M to the Ontario Autism Program in 2026-27
The FAO estimated $1.35 billion in annual OAP need at 2018-19 service levels for approximately 40,700 children in its 2020 report
Last system verification: 2026-08-10. Next scheduled update: 2026-11-05.
About this page
Check the author’s context, review method, and how to report an error.