Transition to Adulthood: Planning for the Future

Who Transition to Adulthood May Help

Transition to Adulthood is typically considered for autistic children and, in some cases, adults navigating the challenges this service addresses. Providers assess fit on an individual basis — the notes below describe general timing and frequency, not a guarantee of eligibility or outcome.

• Typical frequency: Intensive planning starting at age 14
• Critical window: Ages 14-21 during the transition period
• WHO-recommended intervention: Yes

Planning and support for autistic youth as they leave children's services and move into adult systems, including school, work, and housing. While Transition to Adulthood is considered highly effective, especially during the critical window of ages 14-21 during the transition period, families depending on the Ontario Autism Program face a severe bottleneck. Currently, 77% of registered children are waiting to access core services like Transition to Adulthood.

Cost and Funding

Transition to Adulthood 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.

How to Access Transition to Adulthood

1. Confirm your child is registered with the Ontario Autism Program — registration is the entry point for core clinical and foundational funding.
2. Contact your regional AccessOAP service coordinator to ask where this service sits in your funding queue and what documentation is required.
3. Once a funding agreement is active, ask AccessOAP for a list of enrolled OAP providers offering transition to adulthood in your area.
4. Search or call providers directly to confirm current intake status — waitlists and availability change frequently and are set by each provider, not by this site.

Questions to Ask a Provider

These are general process questions worth asking any transition to adulthood provider — not claims about a specific provider's answers.

Frequently Asked Questions: Transition to Adulthood

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