How long do families wait for Ontario autism services?
Ontario autism wait times for core clinical services now exceed 5+ years (Ontario Autism Coalition, July 2026). Funding invitations are currently reaching families who registered in August 2021 (Ontario Autism Coalition, July 2026 (reported from community intake)). This delay far exceeds the sensitive early intervention window recommended by developmental specialists.
Source: MCCSS FOI via OAC · Mar 2026, FAO Report 2024 · Verify Link
How do autism wait times vary by region in Ontario?
Ontario autism wait times vary by region, but the current verified waitlist count is province-wide: 71,263 children were waiting for funding as of May 2026. Northern Ontario families face fewer nearby providers and longer travel distances, while Ottawa, London, Toronto/GTA, and other regions still report multi-year waits.
Source: MCCSS FOI via OAC May 2026 & regional family reports · Verify Link
Is the Ontario Autism Program underfunded?
Yes. The Financial Accountability Office (FAO) determined that $1.35 billion annually is needed to serve all registered children at 2018-19 service levels. The 2026-27 Ontario Budget allocated $965 million, leaving an estimated $385M+ annual shortfall. This gap is the primary driver of the perpetual 91,974+ child waitlist.
Source: Financial Accountability Office of Ontario [FAO] · Verify Link
Regional Autism Services
71,263
children waiting
5+
year avg wait
Unavailable
city estimate
Families in Markham use the province-wide Ontario Autism Program. Registration and active funding agreements are administrative measures, not proof of service receipt. Comparable average-wait and city-level prevalence figures are unavailable.
91,974
Province-wide registered
MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures as of May 13, 2026, released in response to an Ontario Autism Coalition Freedom of Information request and published by the OAC in July 2026; part of the same bi-weekly OAP Core Clinical Services progress-report series as FOI release CSS2026-0749 (to Mar 4, 2026) and the CBC News FOI investigation (Jun 2024 – Jan 2026).
22.5%
Active funding agreements
MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures as of May 13, 2026, released in response to an Ontario Autism Coalition Freedom of Information request and published by the OAC in July 2026; part of the same bi-weekly OAP Core Clinical Services progress-report series as FOI release CSS2026-0749 (to Mar 4, 2026) and the CBC News FOI investigation (Jun 2024 – Jan 2026).; administrative status only
Not published
Comparable average wait
Confirm with AccessOAP
Unavailable
Est. autistic children in Markham
No city-scoped source verified
Provincial Data
City-level prevalence and comparable average-wait figures are unavailable. Review the province-wide administrative dataset with its stated limitations in the Data Hub.
Diagnostic Services
Getting a formal diagnosis is the first step to accessing OAP funding. These are the primary diagnostic hubs serving Markham families.
Nearest OAP access point: York Region OAP Office
Diagnostic hub
Therapy Providers
OAP-registered providers deliver core clinical services. Private providers are also available for families who cannot wait.
Education & IEP Rights
York Region District School Board
Markham families attend schools under the York Region District School Board. Understanding your child's educational rights, including IEPs (Individual Education Plans) and IPRCs, is vital while waiting for clinical services.
A legal document outlining your child's learning needs, supports, and goals within the Ontario curriculum.
The formal process to identify your child as exceptional and determine appropriate classroom placement.
Your Voice Matters
Your MPP represents Markham in Queen's Park. A personal email from a constituent carries far more weight than a petition. Let them know this crisis is happening in their riding.
Common Questions
Education
Autistic children in Markham are served by the York Region District School Board. If your child attends a school in this board, you have specific rights to IEP accommodations, EA support, and accessible programming.
Explore the Region
Related Resources
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.
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
$965M
Ontario allocated $965M to the Ontario Autism Program in 2026-27