How fast is the Ontario autism waitlist growing?

The OAP waitlist has grown ~300% since 2019, from approximately 23,000 children to over 91,974. Year-over-year growth has ranged from 12% to 39% (calculated from FOI progress reports at each reporting period).

Why did the Ontario autism waitlist grow so quickly?

The 2019 OAP restructuring created a single provincewide waitlist, then COVID-19 suspended services in 2020. Rising autism prevalence (1 in 50 children, per Public Health Agency of Canada 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth) combined with flat funding created a structural gap that widens every year.

Where does the Ontario autism waitlist data come from?

End The Wait Ontario sources waitlist data from Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS), Financial Accountability Office (FAO) reports, and Ontario Autism Coalition research.

In short

Ontario's autism waitlist grew ~300%, from 23,000 to 91,974 children (2019–2026)
71,263 children (77.5%) are still waiting for core clinical services

Show all 4 facts

COVID-19 suspended services in 2020 while new registrations continued
Rising prevalence (1 in 50 children) combined with flat funding widens the gap every year

Verified: 2026-08-10

Scope: Ontario, Canada

The crisis behind this story

This growth isn't a policy anomaly, it's the predictable result of demand rising while funding stayed flat. The numbers behind this story represent real children losing their early intervention window.

Registered

Children registered

Total in the Ontario Autism Program queue

MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026

Funded

Have active funding

Only 22.5% of registered children

MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026

Waiting

Still waiting

Registered. Diagnosed. Un-funded.

MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026

Verified August 10, 2026 , MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026

Share these numbers

Ontario Autism Program key statistics (MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026, verified 2026-08-10)
Metric	Value
Children registered	91,974
Have active funding	20,711
Still waiting	71,263

DATA STORY 1 OF 5

The Growing Wait

Q: How many children are on the Ontario autism waitlist?

As of May 13, 2026, 91,974 children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program. Of these, 71,263 (77.5%) are waiting for core clinical services funding.

How Ontario's autism waitlist grew from 23,000 to 91,974 children in seven years

About this chart: Only 13 of 87 months shown are measured FOI/FAO data points. The remaining months are linearly interpolated to show the trend between anchor points — they represent the expected shape of growth, not reported observations. The table below identifies which rows are reported observations versus estimates.

Data reference table

Use this table to identify which months are based on reported data versus interpolated estimates. Only rows marked "Reported" contain actual FOI/FAO measurements.

Ontario Autism Program Waitlist Growth (reported observations and interpolated estimates)
Month	Data status	Total Registered	Active agreement measure	Without active agreement	Wait estimate (months)
2019-01	Reported — FOI baseline (Jan 2019)	23,000	8,000	15,000	18
2019-02	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	23,333	8,083	15,250	18
2019-03	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	23,667	8,167	15,500	18
2019-04	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	24,000	8,250	15,750	18
2019-05	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	24,333	8,333	16,000	19
2019-06	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	24,667	8,417	16,250	19
2019-07	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	25,000	8,500	16,500	19
2019-08	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	25,333	8,583	16,750	19
2019-09	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	25,667	8,667	17,000	19
2019-10	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	26,000	8,750	17,250	20
2019-11	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	26,333	8,833	17,500	20
2019-12	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	26,667	8,917	17,750	20
2020-01	Reported — FOI baseline (Jan 2020)	27,000	9,000	18,000	20
2020-02	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	27,471	9,059	18,412	20
2020-03	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	27,941	9,118	18,824	20
2020-04	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	28,412	9,176	19,235	21
2020-05	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	28,882	9,235	19,647	21
2020-06	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	29,353	9,294	20,059	21
2020-07	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	29,824	9,353	20,471	21
2020-08	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	30,294	9,412	20,882	22
2020-09	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	30,765	9,471	21,294	22
2020-10	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	31,235	9,529	21,706	22
2020-11	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	31,706	9,588	22,118	22
2020-12	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	32,176	9,647	22,529	23
2021-01	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	32,647	9,706	22,941	23
2021-02	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	33,118	9,765	23,353	23
2021-03	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	33,588	9,824	23,765	23
2021-04	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	34,059	9,882	24,176	24
2021-05	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	34,529	9,941	24,588	24
2021-06	Reported — FOI update (Jun 2021)	35,000	10,000	25,000	24
2021-07	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	35,833	10,167	25,667	24
2021-08	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	36,667	10,333	26,333	25
2021-09	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	37,500	10,500	27,000	25
2021-10	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	38,333	10,667	27,667	25
2021-11	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	39,167	10,833	28,333	26
2021-12	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	40,000	11,000	29,000	26
2022-01	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	40,833	11,167	29,667	26
2022-02	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	41,667	11,333	30,333	27
2022-03	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	42,500	11,500	31,000	27
2022-04	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	43,333	11,667	31,667	27
2022-05	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	44,167	11,833	32,333	28
2022-06	Reported — FOI update (Jun 2022)	45,000	12,000	33,000	28
2022-07	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	45,889	12,222	33,667	28
2022-08	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	46,778	12,444	34,333	28
2022-09	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	47,667	12,667	35,000	29
2022-10	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	48,556	12,889	35,667	29
2022-11	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	49,444	13,111	36,333	29
2022-12	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	50,333	13,333	37,000	29
2023-01	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	51,222	13,556	37,667	30
2023-02	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	52,111	13,778	38,333	30
2023-03	Reported — FAO annual report (Mar 2023)	53,000	14,000	39,000	30
2023-04	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	53,889	14,222	39,667	30
2023-05	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	54,778	14,444	40,333	31
2023-06	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	55,667	14,667	41,000	31
2023-07	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	56,556	14,889	41,667	31
2023-08	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	57,444	15,111	42,333	32
2023-09	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	58,333	15,333	43,000	32
2023-10	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	59,222	15,556	43,667	32
2023-11	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	60,111	15,778	44,333	33
2023-12	Reported — FOI update (Dec 2023)	61,000	16,000	45,000	33
2024-01	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	62,167	16,250	45,917	34
2024-02	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	63,333	16,500	46,833	34
2024-03	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	64,500	16,750	47,750	34
2024-04	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	65,667	17,000	48,667	35
2024-05	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	66,833	17,250	49,583	36
2024-06	Reported — FOI update (Jun 2024)	68,000	17,500	50,500	36
2024-07	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	69,333	17,667	51,667	37
2024-08	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	70,667	17,833	52,833	38
2024-09	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	72,000	18,000	54,000	39
2024-10	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	73,333	18,167	55,167	40
2024-11	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	74,667	18,333	56,333	41
2024-12	Reported — FOI update (Dec 2024)	76,000	18,500	57,500	42
2025-01	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	77,169	18,610	58,559	44
2025-02	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	78,338	18,720	59,618	46
2025-03	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	79,508	18,830	60,678	47
2025-04	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	80,677	18,940	61,737	49
2025-05	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	81,846	19,050	62,796	51
2025-06	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	83,015	19,160	63,855	53
2025-07	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	84,184	19,270	64,914	55
2025-08	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	85,354	19,380	65,974	56
2025-09	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	86,523	19,490	67,033	58
2025-10	Reported — FOI update (Oct 2025)	87,692	19,600	68,092	60
2025-11	Estimated — interpolated between source anchors	87,692	21,738	67,746	62
2025-12	Reported — MCCSS FOI via OAC (Dec 10	87,692	23,875	67,399	65
2026-01	Reported — CBC News FOI (Jan 7 2026 bi-weekly progress report)	88,175	20,666	67,509	65
2026-03	Reported — MCCSS FOI release CSS2026-0749 (obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition) (Mar 4 2026 bi-weekly progress report)	89,799	20,633	69,166	65
2026-05	Reported — MCCSS figures May 13 2026 (obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition under FOI; published July 2026)	91,974	20,711	71,263	65

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91,974 children
are waiting for help

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Verified References & Sources

Updated: Mar 2026

Government Reports & Data

[2023]
Exclusion of Students With Disabilities — 2023 SurveyVerified FAO Data
Community Living Ontario • Report • 2023-10-01
View
[2024]
Inclusion Without Proper Support Is AbandonmentVerified FAO Data
Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario • Report • 2024-06-01
View
[2020]
Autism ServicesVerified FAO Data
Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) • Report • 2020-07-21
View
[2024]
Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services: Spending Plan ReviewVerified FAO Data
Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) • Report • 2024-06-05
View
[2026]
Ontario Autism Program figures as of May 13, 2026 (MCCSS, released under Freedom of Information to the Ontario Autism Coalition; published in the OAC "OAP At A Glance" update, July 2026)Verified FAO Data
Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (Ontario), obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition • Report • 2026-05-13
View

Verified References & Sources

Updated: Mar 2026

Government Reports & Data

[2023]
Exclusion of Students With Disabilities — 2023 SurveyVerified FAO Data
Community Living Ontario • Report • 2023-10-01
View
[2024]
Inclusion Without Proper Support Is AbandonmentVerified FAO Data
Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario • Report • 2024-06-01
View
[2020]
Autism ServicesVerified FAO Data
Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) • Report • 2020-07-21
View
[2024]
Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services: Spending Plan ReviewVerified FAO Data
Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO) • Report • 2024-06-05
View
[2026]
Ontario Autism Program figures as of May 13, 2026 (MCCSS, released under Freedom of Information to the Ontario Autism Coalition; published in the OAC "OAP At A Glance" update, July 2026)Verified FAO Data
Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (Ontario), obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition • Report • 2026-05-13
View

MCCSS bi-weekly OAP Core Clinical Services progress reports (FOI release CSS2026-0749). Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (Ontario) (March 2026)
Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services: Spending Plan Review (2024). Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (2024)

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Citable source facts(2)Question-and-answer pairs with their source and verification link.

How many children are on the Ontario autism waitlist in 2026?

Verified

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 · Mar 2026, FAO Report 2024 · Verify Link

Is the Ontario Autism Program underfunded?

Verified

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

About This Article

Written by Spencer Carroll

Founder & Autism Advocate

Parent of autistic child navigating OAP system

Evidence on this page

The source chain stays visible.

Key claims are paired with their source, evidence tier, and verification date so readers can inspect the public record directly.

Facts3

Sources2

91,974

children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program

Government / peer-reviewedMCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026Verified 2026-08-10

22.5%

Only 20,711 children have active funding agreements (22.5%), less than one in four

Government / peer-reviewedMCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026Verified 2026-08-10

WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism. Timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement

Government / peer-reviewedWorld Health Organization (2023)Verified 2023-11-15

Last system verification: 2026-08-10. Next scheduled update: 2026-11-05.

View methodology Browse every source

In short

The crisis behind this story

Data reference table

91,974 childrenare waiting for help

Verified References & Sources

Government Reports & Data

Verified References & Sources

Government Reports & Data

Help End the Wait

The source chain stays visible.

91,974 children
are waiting for help