Therapy is expensive, and government funding rarely covers the full cost. This hub helps you find every financial resource available to your family.
The financial reality
Families bear costs the programme was designed to cover.
Registered
89,799Children registered
Total in the Ontario Autism Program queue
MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026
Funded
20,633Have active funding
Only 23% of registered children
MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026
Waiting
69,166Still waiting
Registered. Diagnosed. Un-funded.
MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026
Verified , MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Children registered | 89,799 |
| Have active funding | 20,633 |
| Still waiting | 69,166 |
Every program in one place
Seven federal and provincial programs, in order of what most families need first. Open any row for eligibility rules and step-by-step application guidance.
OAP Core Clinical Services
Funds ABA, speech, and occupational therapy once your Core Funding Agreement starts.
Registered children on the waitlist
$6,600–$65,000/year
See the funding guideDisability Tax Credit (DTC)
Lowers your income tax and unlocks the monthly Child Disability Benefit.
Any household with a certified disability
Tax credit + monthly benefit
Check eligibilityRDSP Savings Plan
A long-term savings account for your child. Government matching and free bonds for low-income families.
DTC-approved individuals
Grants + bonds over time
Learn strategiesODSP
Monthly income support, prescription drug coverage, and employment help.
Adults with disabilities, age 18+
Monthly income support
Check eligibilityCanada Disability Benefit
A new federal monthly payment for low-income working-age adults with disabilities.
DTC-approved adults, 18–64
Monthly federal payment
Read the guideHenson Trust
An estate-planning trust that protects inheritances without affecting ODSP eligibility.
Families planning for the long term
Protects ODSP eligibility
Understand the trustMedical Expense Tax Deductions
Therapy, equipment, and travel costs you can claim at tax time.
Any family paying privately for therapy
Claimable tax deduction
See what qualifiesChapter 3
The Hidden Cost
$3.64B Annual funding gap
Plan ahead
Families report paying $40,000–$80,000 a year out of pocket for intensive private therapy while waiting for OAP funding. Use the estimator to see your household's likely gap.
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.
$200/month
The Canada Disability Benefit provides up to for eligible Canadians with disabilities
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