FAO Report
Policy AnalysisKey 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.
The policy behind the numbers
67,509 children are caught in a structural funding gap the FAO confirmed in independent analysis.
Registered
88,175Children registered
Total in the Ontario Autism Program queue
CBC FOI Jan 2026
Funded
20,666Have active funding
Only 23.4% of registered children
CBC FOI Jan 2026
Waiting
67,509Still waiting
Registered. Diagnosed. Un-funded.
CBC FOI Jan 2026
Verified , CBC FOI Jan 2026
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Children registered | 88,175 |
| Have active funding | 20,666 |
| Still waiting | 67,509 |
Waiting for core clinical services as of January 2026 (FOI Data)
Only 23.4% of registered children receiving core clinical services (January 7, 2026 FOI data, down from 28.5% in FAO 2023-24 report)
Average time from registration to service invitation
Total OAP expenditure in 2022-23 (FAO)
Approximate average annual spending per child registered in OAP (calculated from total budget / registered children, not a direct FAO figure)
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."
Approximate breakdown based on FAO data. Categories overlap as some spending spans multiple program areas.
Direct therapy services: ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis), speech therapy, and OT (occupational therapy)
Respite, caregiver training, family resources
Foundational family services and interim funding
Program delivery and regional operations
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 88,175+ while core clinical service invitations remain slow.
Fiscal Consequence
Only ~23.4% of registered children are receiving core clinical funding.
Comprehensive guide to OAP policy, timeline, rights, and the waitlist crisis.
Official statistics, downloadable datasets, and data visualizations.
Track Ontario autism waitlist numbers in real time with live data.
Peer-reviewed evidence supporting the case for timely autism intervention.
This page is part of the Policy & Rights topic cluster. Legal framework and policy history.
Find your next step
01 · For new families
Step-by-step guide to OAP registration, interim therapy options, and what to expect during the wait.
02 · Already waiting
Estimate your wait time, find funded interim services near you, and track your OAP status.
03 · Take action
Email your MPP with one click, share verified data, and advocate for system-wide reform.
Commitment to Accuracy: Our data is verified against official government reports (FAO, MCCSS), peer-reviewed scientific literature, and accessible public records. Last updated: March 24, 2026.
Verified Facts
88,175, 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 to the Ontario Autism Program in 2026-27
23.4%, Only 20,666 children have active funding agreements () — less than one in four
WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism — timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement