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Guide
Families in OAP core clinical services complete a determination of needs process with a care coordinator at least once a year. The process reviews each child’s strengths, support needs, and priority goals across ten areas, along with developmental, health, and environmental factors. The information from the process results in a corresponding funding allocation for core clinical services and supports.
Request written progress reports from every therapist and service provider your child has seen in the past year. Reports should include measurable outcomes, hours delivered, and goals achieved. Compile these into a single folder for easy reference at the review meeting.
Read your child's existing service plan carefully. Note which goals have been met, which are in progress, and which were not addressed. Identify any goals that are no longer relevant and any new needs that have emerged over the year.
Write down any services your child needs but is not receiving. Use specific examples from daily life, school, or therapy. If wait times prevented access to a recommended service, document the timeline and impact on your child.
Create a one-page summary of your child's current status, key concerns, and requests for the coming year. Practise presenting your points clearly and concisely. Having written notes ensures you cover everything important during the meeting.
Bring all documentation to the meeting. Present your child's progress and unmet needs. Ask the coordinator to explain any changes to funding or eligibility. Request that all agreed-upon changes be documented in writing before you leave.
Review the updated service plan for accuracy before signing. Confirm the date of the next annual review. Ask for a copy of the signed plan and any related correspondence. Follow up on any action items within two weeks of the meeting.
Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
Ontario Autism Program guidelines for annual reviews and service plan updates (ontario.ca/autism)
Autism Ontario
Family resources and advocacy tools for navigating OAP processes (autismontario.com)
Ontario does not publish what happens if a family misses this annual review. Contact your AccessOAP care coordinator and ask them to confirm the next steps for your child in writing.
Yes. You can bring a support person, family member, or professional advocate to any OAP meeting. Having someone with you can help you stay focused and ensure all your concerns are addressed.
Funding for core clinical services is set through the determination of needs process, which takes place at least once a year. During the meeting, the care coordinator works with your family to understand your child’s current strengths, support needs, and priority goals, and also considers developmental, health, and environmental factors. The information from the process results in the corresponding OAP funding allocation.
Next Steps
Families navigating autism services in Ontario face a documented multi-year wait. Here is the Ontario data — and a two-minute way to push back, when you are ready.
Related Resources
How long do families wait for Ontario autism services?
VerifiedOntario autism wait times for core clinical services now exceed 5+ years (Ontario Autism Coalition, July 2026). Funding invitations are currently reaching families who registered in August 2021 (Ontario Autism Coalition, July 2026 (reported from community intake)). This delay far exceeds the sensitive early intervention window recommended by developmental specialists.
Source: MCCSS FOI via OAC · Mar 2026, FAO Report 2024 · Verify Link
How many children are on the Ontario autism waitlist in 2026?
VerifiedAs of May 13, 2026, 91,974 children are registered with the Ontario Autism Program. However, only 20,711 (22.5%) have an active Core Funding Agreement. This represents ~300% growth in registrations since 2019, with 71,263 children still waiting for essential funding.
Source: MCCSS FOI via OAC · Mar 2026, FAO Report 2024 · Verify Link
Is the Ontario Autism Program underfunded?
VerifiedYes. The Financial Accountability Office (FAO) determined that $1.35 billion annually is needed to serve all registered children at 2018-19 service levels. The 2026-27 Ontario Budget allocated $965 million, leaving an estimated $385M+ annual shortfall. This gap is the primary driver of the perpetual 91,974+ child waitlist.
Source: Financial Accountability Office of Ontario [FAO] · Verify Link