caregiver mediated
OAP Category
Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
Free (OAP-funded)
Cost to Families
Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services
strong
Evidence Level
WHO Standards for Autism Intervention
5+ years
OAP Wait Time
OAP bi-weekly progress report (Jan 7, 2026) obtained via FOI by CBC News
OAP-funded programs for young children (12-48 months) that teach parents and caregivers strategies to support their child's development. Evidence-based approaches delivered in home or community settings. While Caregiver-Mediated Early Years Programs is considered highly effective, especially during the critical window of ages 12-48 months for maximum impact, families depending on the Ontario Autism Program face a severe bottleneck. Currently, 76.6% of registered children are waiting to access core services like Caregiver-Mediated Early Years Programs.
Caregiver-Mediated Early Years Programs is a government-funded OAP service. There is no cost to families. Your child must be registered with the Ontario Autism Program to access this service. Contact your AccessOAP service coordinator to confirm eligibility and availability in your region.
Related Resources
Commitment to Accuracy: Our data is verified against official government reports (FAO, MCCSS), peer-reviewed scientific literature, and accessible public records. Last updated: March 24, 2026.
Verified Facts
88,175, children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
23.4%, Only 20,666 children have active funding agreements () — less than one in four
OAP registrations jumped 21% since mid-2024, with the number of funded children dipping in some periods despite hundreds more registering
$965M, Ontario allocated 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