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Current May 2026 snapshot
Source-dated OAP snapshots: how many children are registered, how many have an active funding agreement, and how the reported counts changed over time.
Direct answer
MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026 · Verified 2026-08-10
In brief
Administrative counts are source-attributed. Historical rows and the May 13, 2026 snapshot are labelled separately; an active agreement does not prove service receipt.
Ontario's figures, as of May 2026 (MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026).
Registered
91,974
91,974Children registered
Total registered in the Ontario Autism Program
Funded
20,711
20,711Have active funding
22.5% of registered children
Without active agreement
71,263
71,263Without an active funding agreement
An administrative status; it does not confirm current service delivery.
Figures as of · MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026 · checked
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Children registered | 91,974 |
| Have active funding | 20,711 |
| Without an active funding agreement | 71,263 |
February and March rows use MCCSS bi-weekly progress reports obtained via CBC FOI (CSS2026-0749 to March 4, 2026). The May 2026 row uses MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026. The government does not publish official monthly summaries, so each row is the closest available bi-weekly reading for that month.
Monthly counts and the source document for each snapshot.
| Month | Total Registered | Without Active Agreement | Active Funding Agreements | % Funded | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026Latest | 91,974 | 71,263 | 20,711 | 23% | MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures, May 13, 2026, obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition under Freedom of Information |
| March 2026 | 89,799 | 69,166 | 20,633 | 23% | OAP Bi-weekly Progress Report, March 4, 2026 (MCCSS FOI via OAC — release CSS2026-0749) |
| February 2026 | 89,332 | 68,450 | 20,882 | 23% | OAP Bi-weekly Progress Report, February 18, 2026 (MCCSS; MCCSS FOI release CSS2026-0749 (obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition)) |
February and March rows: MCCSS bi-weekly progress reports obtained via CBC FOI (release CSS2026-0749 to March 4, 2026). May 2026 row: MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026.
Current snapshot: 20,711 children hold active funding agreements (22.5%).
How many children are on the Ontario autism waitlist in 2026?
As 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 · May 2026 · Open source record
How long do families wait for Ontario autism services?
The reported wait for OAP Core Clinical Services funding is 5+ years for families registered in August 2021 (community-reported, Ontario Autism Coalition, July 2026). The FOI data does not contain a government-published average.
Source: Ontario Autism Coalition, July 2026 · Open source record
Is the Ontario Autism Program underfunded?
The 2026-27 Ontario Budget allocated $965 million for autism services, up from $779 million in 2025-26, while 91,974 children are registered. The budget record supports the current allocation; the historical FAO funding model is cited separately.
Source: 2026-27 Ontario Budget · Open source record
The families live it. Use our advocacy tools to contact your MPP or share the waitlist data with decision-makers.
| Date | Record | Publisher | Source type |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026Government source | MCCSS OAP progress-report column for May 13, 2026 (released via OAC FOI) | Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (Ontario) | Government source |
| 2026-03-30Government source | Ontario autism funding: province's own data shows nearly 67,000 kids waiting for services | CBC News | Government source |
Guides and tools related to this page.
Sources 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
OAP registrations jumped 21% since mid-2024, with the number of funded children dipping in some periods despite hundreds more registering
Check the author’s context, review method, and how to report an error.
Founder & Autism Advocate
Lived experience: Parent of autistic child navigating OAP system