Autism referral guide for Ontario family physicians.

Diagnostic hub directory

Ontario funds five primary autism diagnostic hubs plus regional centres. Wait times below are estimates from current data; confirm with each hub directly.

What families need from primary care during the OAP wait

The OAP wait averages 5+ years. During this period, primary care is often the single most consistent professional contact a family has. Concrete things that make a measurable difference:

• Sign the T2201 promptly. Delays in DTC approval delay every downstream federal benefit.
• Provide letters for school IEP requests. Schools defer to clinical letters under PPM 140; the family has no other professional source.
• Screen for comorbidities at every visit. ADHD, anxiety, sleep, GI, seizure activity. Many of these are addressable in primary care.
• Document harm of waiting. If parents are paying out-of-pocket for therapy or sacrificing work hours, brief documentation in the chart can support future advocacy or HRTO claims.
• Refer for respite + family mental health. Caregiver burnout is the leading predictor of family crisis. Connection to SSAH, OAP Foundational Family Services, family therapy.
• Coordinate with the school. A short phone call or letter to the IEP team often unlocks supports the family has been requesting unsuccessfully.