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Data stories
Interactive, data-driven stories on Ontario's autism waitlist: what the numbers mean, and what it would take to change them.
MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026 · FAO reports · Verified 2026-08-10
| Subject | 2019 baseline | May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Registered children | 23,000 | 91,974 |
Interactive data story: Ontario's autism waitlist grew from about 23,000 in 2019 to 91,974 registered as of May 13, 2026, based on FOI data and FAO reports.
Sources: MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026 · FAO Annual Reports · Verified 2026-08-10
Read the storyA $385M annual gap against the FAO estimate, lapsed funding, and what waiting costs families.
Sources: MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026 · FAO 2024 spending review · Verified 2026-08-10
Read the storyAge, geography, gender, income, and language compound to determine who gets help on Ontario's autism waitlist.
Read the storyHow access to autism services varies sharply depending on where a family lives in Ontario.
Read the storyOntario autism stories spanning a decade and a half of an underfunded, oversubscribed program.
Read the storyInteractive scrollytelling on how Ontario's autism waitlist grew, with policy events and funding-gap analysis.
Read the storyAn interactive policy simulator to explore scenarios for clearing Ontario's autism backlog.
Read the storyThe full picture
Ontario families assembled this evidence from the government’s own records. Put it to work — email your MPP in two minutes.
How many children are on the Ontario autism waitlist in 2026?
As of May 13, 2026, 91,974 children are registered with the Ontario Autism Program. However, only 20,711 (22.5%) have an active Core Funding Agreement. This represents ~300% growth in registrations since 2019, with 71,263 children still waiting for essential funding.
Source: MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026 · Open source record
Is the Ontario Autism Program underfunded?
The 2026-27 Ontario Budget allocated $965 million for autism services, up from $779 million in 2025-26, while 91,974 children are registered. The budget record supports the current allocation; the historical FAO funding model is cited separately.
Source: 2026-27 Ontario Budget · Open source record
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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
WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism. Timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement
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Founder & Autism Advocate
Lived experience: Parent of autistic child navigating OAP system