Privacy, on your terms.Analytics run by default. Decline any time.
Connect with data-backed voices on Ontario's autism waitlist crisis.
Direct answer
MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026 · Verified 2026-08-10
Media coverage reflects a pattern across the province.
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 |
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). CBC News published its own FOI investigation on March 30, 2026 (data to January 2026), with figures consistent with those we publish.
Three areas of expertise: waitlist data methodology, policy and budget analysis, and family impact.
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.
For media inquiries, contact the media team
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.
For media inquiries, contact the media team
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.
For media inquiries, contact the media team
All media inquiries are handled through our contact form to ensure timely response.
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. Replies are sent as time allows. Put your deadline in the first line.
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
What did CBC News find about the Ontario autism waitlist in 2026?
CBC 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 · Open source record
How much does ABA therapy cost in Ontario?
Private ABA fees in Ontario vary by provider, credentials, setting and intensity. Ask for a complete written quote. OAP Core Clinical Services may fund eligible services after a funding invitation ($6,600–$65,000/year).
Source: Ontario Autism Program: guidelines for core clinical services and supports · Open source record
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
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
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