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Connect with data-backed voices on Ontario's autism waitlist crisis.
Media coverage reflects a provincial pattern, not individual incidents.
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 |
End The Wait Ontario was founded by Spencer Carroll, an Ottawa parent of a child on the Ontario Autism Program waitlist. The site tracks OAP data through Freedom of Information analysis, Ontario Budget review, Financial Accountability Office reports, and collaboration with the Ontario Autism Coalition. Our data has been cited by CBC News, The Trillium, and other outlets covering the Ontario autism crisis.
We have been featured in CBC News Toronto, CBC Ottawa Morning Radio, and The Trillium (Queen's Park Press Gallery). Our waitlist data was corroborated by the CBC News Toronto Enterprise Unit's independent FOI investigation published March 30, 2026.
OAP registration data interpretation, FOI analysis, and bi-weekly progress report methodology. We track the full data chain from raw FOI documents to published statistics, including how the government counts "registered" vs. "funded" children.
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Ontario Budget tracking, FAO Spending Plan Review analysis, and provincial policy comparison. We maintain detailed year-over-year OAP spending data and track commitments against FAO benchmarks.
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Lived experience context, caregiver burden documentation, and service gap impact. We track how OAP waitlist delays affect families during the early intervention period emphasized in WHO guidance.
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All media inquiries are handled through our contact form to ensure timely response and accurate information. We aim to respond to journalists within 24 hours. For urgent deadline requests, please indicate your deadline in the message.
We are available for interviews, fact-checking, data clarification, background briefings, and spokesperson availability. We do not charge for media assistance and do not accept payment for coverage.
Media Inquiries
Use the contact form for interviews, fact-checking, data requests, and spokesperson availability. We respond within 24 hours.
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 did CBC News find about the Ontario autism waitlist in 2026?
VerifiedCBC News reviewed 18 months of bi-weekly OAP progress reports obtained via FOI (Jun 2024 – Jan 2026). The latest verified figures show 91,974 children registered as of May 2026 with only 20,711 receiving funding — still under 25%. Registrations jumped 21% since mid-2024. In some periods, funded children decreased while hundreds more registered.
Source: CBC News Investigation, Mar 30, 2026 · Verify Link
How much does ABA therapy cost in Ontario?
VerifiedABA therapy in Ontario costs $50-$150 per hour depending on provider credentials. Monthly costs for intensive programs (20-40 hours/week) range from $4,000 to $24,000. OAP funding covers a portion, but families typically face significant out-of-pocket expenses during the sensitive early intervention period.
Source: Ontario Provider Fee Schedules & FAO 2020 Report · 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
22.5%
Only 20,711 children have active funding agreements (22.5%), less than one in four
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