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end|thewaitontario

End The Wait Ontario is a parent-led source for Ontario Autism Program (OAP) statistics and advocacy. Serving families, researchers, and journalists across Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, London, and all regions of Ontario.

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  • Browse All Pages
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  • How Long Is the Wait?
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  • Evidence Library
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end|thewaitontario

End The Wait Ontario is a parent-led source for Ontario Autism Program (OAP) statistics and advocacy. Serving families, researchers, and journalists across Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, London, and all regions of Ontario.

Getting Started

  • Browse All Pages
  • Search
  • Diagnosis Guide
  • While You Wait
  • Facts (Citation Ready)

Common Questions

  • All Questions
  • How Long Is the Wait?
  • What Is the OAP?
  • How Many Are Waiting?
  • Options While Waiting
  • Funding Amounts

Tools

  • Parent Navigator
  • Next Steps Tool
  • Wait Estimator
  • Funding Estimator
  • Therapy Budget
  • Waitlist Tracker

Providers

  • Provider Directory
  • Choosing a Provider
  • Submit a Provider

Funding & Support

  • OAP Overview
  • Funding Guide
  • Eligibility
  • How to Register
  • DTC & RDSP

Your Region

  • Toronto
  • Ottawa
  • Hamilton
  • London
  • Mississauga
  • All Regions

Evidence & Data

  • Evidence Library
  • Data Hub
  • Waitlist Data
  • Cost Calculator
  • Data Stories
  • Where Does the Money Go?

Take Action

  • Action Hub
  • Write Your MPP
  • File Complaint
  • Advocacy Toolkit

About

  • Our Story
  • Transparency
  • Media References
  • Founder
  • Press
  • Contact
end|thewaitontario

End The Wait Ontario is a parent-led source for Ontario Autism Program (OAP) statistics and advocacy. Serving families, researchers, and journalists across Toronto, Ottawa, Hamilton, London, and all regions of Ontario.

  • Browse All Pages
  • Search
  • Diagnosis Guide
  • While You Wait
  • Facts (Citation Ready)
  • All Questions
  • How Long Is the Wait?
  • What Is the OAP?
  • How Many Are Waiting?
  • Options While Waiting
  • Funding Amounts
  • Parent Navigator
  • Next Steps Tool
  • Wait Estimator
  • Funding Estimator
  • Therapy Budget
  • Waitlist Tracker
  • Provider Directory
  • Choosing a Provider
  • Submit a Provider
  • OAP Overview
  • Funding Guide
  • Eligibility
  • How to Register
  • DTC & RDSP
  • Toronto
  • Ottawa
  • Hamilton
  • London
  • Mississauga
  • All Regions
  • Evidence Library
  • Data Hub
  • Waitlist Data
  • Cost Calculator
  • Data Stories
  • Where Does the Money Go?
  • Action Hub
  • Write Your MPP
  • File Complaint
  • Advocacy Toolkit
  • Our Story
  • Transparency
  • Media References
  • Founder
  • Press
  • Contact

Legal Disclaimer: This website presents advocacy arguments based on publicly available data and legal frameworks. While we strive for accuracy, this content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Nothing on this website should be construed as a guarantee of any specific legal outcome.

Independence: End The Wait Ontario is a parent-led advocacy group. We are not affiliated with the Ontario government, the Ontario Autism Coalition, Autism Ontario, or the World Health Organization. We cite FOI data obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition as a matter of public record. This does not constitute affiliation. References to these organizations are for informational purposes; no endorsement is implied.

Non-partisan policy advocacy: We advocate on policy outcomes for children and families and do not endorse any political party or candidate.

Statistics are current as of the dates cited and may change. For specific legal guidance, consult a licensed attorney. For medical advice, consult qualified healthcare professionals. Last updated: 2026.

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Speak softly and carry a big stick. — Theodore Roosevelt

Carroll v. Ontario · HRTO 2025-62264-I · our own pending, unadjudicated application

© 2026 End The Wait Ontario. All rights reserved. · Parent-led advocacy · Not a government agency

What autism services are available in Ontario while waiting for OAP?

While waiting for OAP Core Clinical Services, families can access: Foundational Family Services (free, no waitlist), school-based IEP supports, Preschool Speech and Language programs, EarlyON Child and Family Centres, private therapy (if financially able), and DSO registration for transition planning.

Source: Ontario Autism Program

What is the average OAP funding amount per child?

The FAO (Financial Accountability Office of Ontario, 2023-24 report) reports an average annual funding of approximately $34,000 per child for children in core clinical services. As of Dec 10, 2025, 20,633 are enrolled; 20,633 have active funding (CBC FOI Jan 2026). However, intensive ABA therapy can cost up to $95,000 USD/year (2020 US cost estimate cited in FAO 2020 report; Canadian costs vary), leaving significant costs unfunded for many families.

Source: FAO Report 2023-24, FAO 2020

How much does ABA therapy cost in Ontario?

ABA therapy in Ontario costs $50-$150 per hour depending on provider credentials. Monthly costs for intensive programs (20-40 hours/week) range from $4,000 to $24,000. OAP funding covers a portion, but families typically face significant out-of-pocket expenses during the sensitive early intervention period.

Source: Ontario Provider Fee Schedules & FAO 2020 Report

  1. Home
  2. ›Therapy in your region

Service and region directory

Find the right therapy, priced and timed for where you live.

Pick a therapy type below, then a region, for a page built around that combination: local cost range, what OAP covers, typical wait, and how families in that region get started.

Browse by therapy

Browse by therapy type

Eight therapy types, each with a per-region breakdown.

Open a therapy to see every region it covers. Each region link goes to a page with that therapy's local cost range, OAP coverage, wait time, and starting providers.

ABA TherapyPrivate: $50–$150/hr · OAP: $5,000–$65,000/year depending on age and service tier17 regions
  • Barrie-Simcoe
  • Belleville
  • Durham
  • Hamilton
  • Kingston
  • Kitchener-Waterloo
  • London
  • Mississauga
  • Niagara
  • Ottawa
  • Peterborough-Kawartha
  • Sault Ste Marie
  • Sudbury
  • Thunder Bay
  • Toronto
  • Windsor
  • York Region
Speech-Language TherapyPrivate: $150–$250/session · OAP: $5,000–$65,000/year (combined with other OAP-eligible therapies)17 regions
  • Barrie-Simcoe
  • Belleville
  • Durham
  • Hamilton
  • Kingston
  • Kitchener-Waterloo
  • London
  • Mississauga
  • Niagara
  • Ottawa
  • Peterborough-Kawartha
  • Sault Ste Marie
  • Sudbury
  • Thunder Bay
  • Toronto
  • Windsor
  • York Region
Occupational TherapyPrivate: $130–$200/session · OAP: $5,000–$65,000/year (combined with other OAP-eligible therapies)17 regions
  • Barrie-Simcoe
  • Belleville
  • Durham
  • Hamilton
  • Kingston
  • Kitchener-Waterloo
  • London
  • Mississauga
  • Niagara
  • Ottawa
  • Peterborough-Kawartha
  • Sault Ste Marie
  • Sudbury
  • Thunder Bay
  • Toronto
  • Windsor
  • York Region
Early Start Denver Model (ESDM)Private: $80–$140/hr · OAP: $5,000–$20,000/year (Childhood Budget)17 regions
  • Barrie-Simcoe
  • Belleville
  • Durham
  • Hamilton
  • Kingston
  • Kitchener-Waterloo
  • London
  • Mississauga
  • Niagara
  • Ottawa
  • Peterborough-Kawartha
  • Sault Ste Marie
  • Sudbury
  • Thunder Bay
  • Toronto
  • Windsor
  • York Region
DIR/FloortimePrivate: $70–$120/hr · OAP: $5,000–$20,000/year (Childhood Budget)17 regions
  • Barrie-Simcoe
  • Belleville
  • Durham
  • Hamilton
  • Kingston
  • Kitchener-Waterloo
  • London
  • Mississauga
  • Niagara
  • Ottawa
  • Peterborough-Kawartha
  • Sault Ste Marie
  • Sudbury
  • Thunder Bay
  • Toronto
  • Windsor
  • York Region
Social Skills GroupsPrivate: $1,000–$2,500 per program (10–16 sessions) · OAP: $5,000–$65,000/year (combined services budget)17 regions
  • Barrie-Simcoe
  • Belleville
  • Durham
  • Hamilton
  • Kingston
  • Kitchener-Waterloo
  • London
  • Mississauga
  • Niagara
  • Ottawa
  • Peterborough-Kawartha
  • Sault Ste Marie
  • Sudbury
  • Thunder Bay
  • Toronto
  • Windsor
  • York Region
Feeding TherapyPrivate: $150–$250/hr · OAP: $5,000–$20,000/year (Childhood Budget)17 regions
  • Barrie-Simcoe
  • Belleville
  • Durham
  • Hamilton
  • Kingston
  • Kitchener-Waterloo
  • London
  • Mississauga
  • Niagara
  • Ottawa
  • Peterborough-Kawartha
  • Sault Ste Marie
  • Sudbury
  • Thunder Bay
  • Toronto
  • Windsor
  • York Region
AAC TherapyPrivate: $150–$250/hr (SLP sessions) · OAP: $5,000–$65,000/year (combined OAP budget); ADP covers device up to $7,50017 regions
  • Barrie-Simcoe
  • Belleville
  • Durham
  • Hamilton
  • Kingston
  • Kitchener-Waterloo
  • London
  • Mississauga
  • Niagara
  • Ottawa
  • Peterborough-Kawartha
  • Sault Ste Marie
  • Sudbury
  • Thunder Bay
  • Toronto
  • Windsor
  • York Region

Browse by region

Or start from where you live.

Each region has its own hub covering every service, provider, and funding pathway available locally — not just the therapy breakdowns above.

  • Barrie-Simcoe
  • Belleville
  • Durham
  • Hamilton
  • Kingston
  • Kitchener-Waterloo
  • London
  • Mississauga
  • Niagara
  • Ottawa
  • Peterborough-Kawartha
  • Sault Ste Marie
  • Sudbury
  • Thunder Bay
  • Toronto
  • Windsor
  • York Region
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.

Facts5
Sources5

Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) delivered to children aged 18–30 months produced significant gains in IQ, adaptive behaviour, and autism severity — some children no longer met diagnostic criteria at follow-up

Government / peer-reviewedDawson G, Rogers S, Munson J, et al. (2010)Verified 2010-01-01

Cochrane systematic review finds evidence that early intensive behavioural intervention (EIBI) may produce positive effects on adaptive behaviour and communication for young children with ASD (low certainty of evidence)

Government / peer-reviewedReichow B, Hume K, Barton EE, Boyd BA (2018)Verified 2018-05-09

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

89,799

children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program

Secondary sourceMCCSS FOI · Mar 2026Verified 2026-06-13

23%

Only 20,633 children have active funding agreements — less than one in four

Secondary sourceMCCSS FOI · Mar 2026Verified 2026-06-13
Last system verification: 2026-06-13. Next scheduled update: 2026-09-10.
View methodologyBrowse every source