The numbers
All figures are FOI-verified or sourced from government documents.
Registered
89,799Children registered
Total in the Ontario Autism Program queue
MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026
Funded
20,633Have active funding
Only 23% of registered children
MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026
Waiting
69,166Still waiting
Registered. Diagnosed. Un-funded.
MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026
Verified , MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Children registered | 89,799 |
| Have active funding | 20,633 |
| Still waiting | 69,166 |
OAP Bi-weekly Progress Report
Ontario Autism Coalition FOI, March 4, 2026
CBC News obtained bi-weekly OAP progress reports (June 2024 – March 2026) via Freedom of Information request, analyzed to produce the March 4, 2026 figures.
Ontario Autism Coalition FOI Data Analysis
OAC historical tracking
The OAP does not publish a government-verified average wait. This figure is derived from registration date analysis by the Ontario Autism Coalition. Preferred phrasing: 'waits of 5+ years (MCCSS FOI · Mar 2026)'.
FAO Autism Services (2020)
Ontario Budget 2026-27
The FAO 2020 estimate was based on ~40,700 children at 2018-19 service levels. With 89,799 registrations as of March 2026, actual need substantially exceeds $1.35B.
OAP Progress Report, March 2026
Ontario Autism Coalition FOI data, March 4, 2026
Calculated as active funding agreements (20,633) divided by total registered children (89,799) as of the March 4, 2026 OAP progress report.
Use this format when citing our data in reports, articles, or briefings:
End The Wait Ontario. (2026). Ontario Autism Waitlist Source Library (FOI data as of March 4, 2026).
https://www.endthewaitontario.com/press/source-libraryFull methodology: endthewaitontario.com/evidence/methodology
How many children are on the Ontario autism waitlist in 2026?
As of March 4, 2026, 89,799 children are registered with the Ontario Autism Program. However, only 20,633 (23%) have an active Core Funding Agreement. This represents approximately 290% growth in registrations since 2019, with 69,166 children still waiting for essential funding.
Source: OAC FOI Mar 2026, FAO Report 2024 · Verify Link
Does Ontario publish transparent autism waitlist data?
Ontario does not publish transparent, real-time waitlist data for the Ontario Autism Program. Families do not know their position in the queue or when services will begin. The Financial Accountability Office provides periodic reports, but detailed enrollment timelines are not publicly available.
Source: FAO Report 2023-24; MCCSS OAP Program Data
Where does Ontario autism program money go?
In 2023-24, Ontario spent $691.2 million on the Ontario Autism Program (OAP), but only $307.3 million (44.5%) reached Core Clinical Services — direct therapy. The intake system AccessOAP, operated by Accerta Services Inc. (affiliated with the Ontario Dental Association), received $57.9 million to administer registrations. That is 55 cents of every dollar not reaching a therapist's office. Source: Financial Accountability Office of Ontario, 2023-24 report.
Source: Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) 2023-24 Report; MCCSS FOI · Verify Link
Written by Spencer Carroll
Founder & Autism Advocate
Evidence on this page
Key claims are paired with their source, evidence tier, and verification date so readers can inspect the public record directly.
89,799
children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
23%
Only 20,633 children have active funding agreements (23%) — 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
WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism — timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement