Evidence supports autism screening and intervention commencing in the first 2 years of life — earlier identification directly enables earlier intervention during the highest neural plasticity window
Parent Navigator
A plain-language explanation of this stage and the next steps available to your family.
Your child’s assessment is booked or in progress. This is a good time to get ready so that, if a diagnosis comes, you can register with the Ontario Autism Program right away. Gather what you have, keep dates, and read up on what registration involves. You cannot register with the OAP until there is a written diagnosis — but everything you organize now saves time later.
Confirm the timeline
Ask the assessing clinician, in writing, when you can expect the written report.
Prepare to register
Read how OAP registration works so you can act the day the diagnosis arrives.
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Save appointment letters and any interim notes in one place, dated.
When do you expect the written assessment report to be ready, and will it clearly state the diagnosis? Please confirm in writing.
SOURCE
Government of Ontario • 2024-01-01
Last updated: 2026-07-04
Evidence on this page
Key claims are paired with their source, evidence tier, and verification date so readers can inspect the public record directly.
Evidence supports autism screening and intervention commencing in the first 2 years of life — earlier identification directly enables earlier intervention during the highest neural plasticity window
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
WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism. Timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement
91,974
children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
22.5%
Only 20,711 children have active funding agreements (22.5%), less than one in four
$965M
Ontario allocated $965M to the Ontario Autism Program in 2026-27