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FAO Report
An independent review of Ontario Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services spending on autism services.
Key Insight:
The FAO report confirms that while funding has nominally increased, the number of children waiting for core services has reached record highs, and per-child spending parity has not been achieved across the various OAP iterations. The "waitlist crisis" is a direct result of policy decisions documented in this independent financial audit.
71,263 children are caught in a structural funding gap the FAO confirmed in independent analysis.
Registered
91,97491,974Children registered
Total in the Ontario Autism Program queue
MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026
Funded
20,71120,711Have active funding
Only 22.5% of registered children
MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026
Waiting
71,26371,263Still waiting
Registered. Diagnosed. Un-funded.
MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026
Verified , MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Children registered | 91,974 |
| Have active funding | 20,711 |
| Still waiting | 71,263 |
Waiting for core clinical services as of May 2026 (FOI Data)
Only 22.5% of registered children have an active core clinical services funding agreement, which is not proof of service receipt (May 13, 2026 FOI data, down from 28.5% in FAO 2023-24 report)
Estimated typical time from registration to a core clinical service invitation runs to several years (MCCSS FOI via OAC historical tracking; not an FAO figure; no official province-wide average is published)
Total OAP expenditure in 2022-23 (FAO)
Approximate average annual spending per child registered in OAP 2022-23 (FAO $628M ÷ ~64,000 estimated registered at that time; not based on current $965M budget or current registered totals)
Unspent Funds
Funding went unspent in 2022-23 because there were not enough therapists to deliver services (FAO capacity analysis)
Nominal spending has nearly doubled since 2018, but service delivery has not kept pace.
Why it matters
"More children are waiting than ever before despite larger budgets."
The rollout of AccessOAP and the new diagnostic intake process caused significant delays.
Why it matters
"Funds allocated for services remained unspent while families waited for invitations."
Lack of qualified therapists (BCBAs, SLPs, OTs) limits the ability to scale clinical services.
Why it matters
"Funding alone cannot fix the waitlist without a matching increase in the clinical workforce."
Shift from direct service delivery to a fee-for-service / direct funding model.
Fiscal Consequence
Waitlist numbers began to accelerate as the old system was paused.
Centralized administrative body created to manage intake and funding.
Fiscal Consequence
Rollout delays led to millions in unspent funds while families remained stuck in intake.
Registration reaches 91,974+ while core clinical service invitations remain slow.
Fiscal Consequence
Only ~22.5% of registered children have an active core clinical funding agreement, which is not proof of service receipt.
Take Action
These findings point to systemic reforms. See what experts recommend.
Related Resources
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
What is the human cost of Ontario autism wait times?
VerifiedThe human cost of Ontario autism wait times is significant. Every month a child waits is time they cannot get back in terms of early development. The clock is always ticking, and the vast majority of autistic children in Ontario are waiting during the sensitive developmental period when intervention is most effective.
Source: WHO Fact Sheet: Autism Spectrum Disorders (2023); FAO Report 2023-24
Why are Ontario autism wait times so long?
VerifiedOntario's autism program operates on a fixed total OAP budget ($965M for 2026-27, up from $779M in 2025-26, per the 2026 Ontario Budget) regardless of how many children enter the system. Unlike healthcare where treatment follows diagnosis, OAP funds are rationed by registration date rather than medical need. This structural flaw creates perpetual 5+ year backlogs during sensitive developmental periods.
Source: 2026 Ontario Budget; FAO Report 2023-24
How should autism services be allocated?
VerifiedA needs-based model would have a doctor prescribe therapy levels, with the system funding the prescription based on medical urgency. Instead, Ontario uses a date-based lottery where families wait years regardless of their child's developmental needs. WHO and major health organizations universally recommend needs-based access.
Source: WHO Fact Sheet: Autism Spectrum Disorders (2023); MCCSS OAP Guidelines
What is the $6,600-$65,000 OAP funding range?
VerifiedThe $6,600-$65,000 range is the current needs-based funding available under the Ontario Autism Program's Core Clinical Services - the model in place since the redesigned OAP launched in 2020. [FAO] Once a child is invited to register and completes a needs assessment, they can be allocated between $6,600 and $65,000 in yearly core clinical services funding. The barrier is access, not the published range: families wait 5+ years (Ontario Autism Coalition, July 2026) for a Core Clinical Services invitation, and most registered children are not yet receiving this funding. Interim one-time funding ($22,000 under 6 / $5,500 ages 6-17) remains available only to families who registered before April 1, 2021.
Source: Financial Accountability Office [FAO] & MCCSS · Verify Link
Which Ontario hospitals diagnose autism?
VerifiedMajor autism diagnostic centres in Ontario include Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), Holland Bloorview, McMaster Children's, CHEO, and Children's Hospital London. [OAP] These publicly funded hubs typically have 12-24 month waitlists, while private clinics can provide assessments within weeks for $2,500-$4,000.
Source: Ontario Autism Program [OAP] · Verify Link
Have recent OAP reforms improved access?
VerifiedDespite multiple OAP reforms since 2019, FOI data shows waitlists have grown, not shrunk. [FAO] Each restructuring-Childhood Budgets, independent reviews, capacity funds-has promised improvement while actual wait times for families have lengthened to 5+ years, suggesting reform failures rather than progress.
Source: Financial Accountability Office [FAO] · Verify Link
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
According to the FAO (2020 report), OAP funding covers less than one-third of estimated need at 2018-19 service levels
$965M
Ontario allocated $965M to the Ontario Autism Program in 2026-27
22.5%
Only 20,711 children have active funding agreements (22.5%), less than one in four
Next steps & sources
Direct action pathways, primary source data, and contextual verification.
Founder & Autism Advocate