91,974
children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
Parent Navigator
A plain-language explanation of this stage and the next steps available to your family.
Your child has passed the years before age 6 and is still waiting for core funding. That is a hard place to be, and the long wait is not your fault. The early years are emphasized in research on intervention, but funding and support still matter at every age — and school becomes a central part of the picture. Now is the time to make sure your wait is fully documented and to weigh your escalation options.
Document the full wait
Make sure your timeline captures the whole history — registration, every status request, every gap.
Weigh escalation
A long wait may warrant escalation. Compare your routes — MPP, Ombudsman, legal clinic.
Get school supports right
If your child is in school, make sure school supports are in place and documented.
My child has waited past the early years for core funding. Please confirm in writing our registration date, our current standing, and what happens next.
SOURCE
Government of Ontario • 2024-01-01
SOURCE
Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) • 2024-06-05
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.
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
WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism. Timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement