Paying out of pocket for therapy adds up fast. The METC (Medical Expense Tax Credit -- a federal tax break) lets you claim eligible costs to lower your tax bill.
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 |
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.
Can I claim autism-related expenses on taxes while waiting?
Yes. The Disability Tax Credit (DTC) is available for children with autism diagnoses, even before OAP funding. Form T2201 requires a medical practitioner to certify impairment. DTC enables access to the Child Disability Benefit and reduces taxable income by $8,662 (2024).
Source: CRA Disability Tax Credit Guidelines
What is the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) for autism?
The DTC (Form T2201) is a federal tax credit for severe and prolonged impairment. Approval reduces income tax ($10,138 disability amount, 2025 CRA rate) and unlocks other benefits like the Child Disability Benefit (up to $3,411/year, 2025–26) and the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP).
Source: CRA Disability Tax Credit
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 $200/month 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 1 in 50 children and youth aged 1 to 17 in Canada had an autism diagnosis
23%
Only 20,633 children have active funding agreements (23%) — 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