$204.20/month
The income-tested Canada Disability Benefit provides up to $204.20/month for July 2026 to June 2027
Direct answer
Ontario families with autistic children may be able to claim the Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC) for eligible expenses, the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) for eligible dependants, and the Child Disability Benefit. Check CRA for current eligibility and amounts. Eligible medical expenses include psychology services, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, ABA therapy supervised by a psychologist, and tutoring certified as necessary by a doctor.
Canada Revenue Agency: Medical expenses · Verified 2026-08-10
Claim what you already paid. The Medical Expense Tax Credit lowers the tax bill on eligible autism costs.
- Claim medical expenses
- Claim autism therapy, tutoring & assessment costs as medical expenses on your Canadian tax return.
- Eligible expenses list
- Eligible expenses list.
The financial reality
Families bear costs the programme was designed to cover.
Ontario's figures, as of May 2026 (MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026).
Registered
91,974Children registered
Total registered in the Ontario Autism Program
Funded
20,711Have active funding
22.5% of registered children
Without active agreement
71,263Without an active funding agreement
An administrative status; it does not confirm current service delivery.
Show as table
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Children registered | 91,974 |
| Have active funding | 20,711 |
| Without an active funding agreement | 71,263 |
What expenses qualify?
Eligible expenses and source
| Expense group | Eligible expenses | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Therapy services |
| Canada Revenue Agency |
| Other expenses |
| Canada Revenue Agency |
Keep your receipts. The CRA (Canada Revenue Agency) checks medical expense claims often. Make sure each receipt shows the practitioner’s licence number and your child’s name. Wondering about ABA in particular? Read whether ABA counts as a medical expense.
Frequently asked questions
Ontario families with autistic children may be able to claim the Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC) for eligible expenses, the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) for eligible dependants, and the Child Disability Benefit. Check CRA for current eligibility and amounts. Eligible medical expenses include psychology services, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, ABA therapy supervised by a psychologist, and tutoring certified as necessary by a doctor.
Yes. Therapy services provided by licensed practitioners, including psychology, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and ABA therapy supervised by a psychologist, qualify as medical expenses under the CRA Medical Expense Tax Credit. Keep all receipts showing the practitioner's licence number and your child's name, as the CRA frequently audits medical expense claims.
The Medical Expense Tax Credit (METC) is a non-refundable federal tax credit. Its claim threshold is indexed and may change by tax year; check CRA guidance for the current amount and rules. For autism families, eligible expenses may include therapy services, doctor-certified tutoring, specialized camps under specific care conditions, travel expenses when traveling 40km or more for care, and incontinence supplies for children over age 3.
Where the waitlist stands
Evidence for this guide
- Medical expenses. Canada Revenue Agency
Related guides
Guides and tools related to this page.
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.
Facts3
Sources3
91,974
children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
1 in 50
According to the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, about 1 in 50 children and youth aged 1 to 17 in Canada had an autism diagnosis
Last system verification: 2026-08-10. Next scheduled update: 2026-11-05.
About this page
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