Fact Packs

69,166 children are waiting for core clinical services funding as of March 2026. 89,799 are registered with the Ontario Autism Program. The program is funding only 23% of registered children.

Budget 2026-27 allocated $965M to the Ontario Autism Program. The FAO projects $1.35B+ is needed to clear the waitlist. The funding gap is at least $385M at 2018-19 service levels, and likely far higher given current registration volumes.

Children waiting for OAP funding rely heavily on school-based supports. Education assistant shortages, reduced timetables, and SEAC accountability gaps compound the impact of the funding waitlist on children and families.

The waitlist crisis affects families across Ontario, from Ottawa to Thunder Bay to Windsor. Regional data shows how the distribution of registered children and funded agreements varies across the province.

Families waiting for OAP core funding face years without evidence-based supports during the critical early intervention window. WHO guidance emphasizes timely access. The human cost of the waitlist includes caregiver burnout, out-of-pocket expenses, and lost developmental progress.