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End The Wait Ontario is a parent-led advocacy organization. We publish FOI-verified data on the Ontario Autism Program waitlist and push for evidence-based reform. Built for Ontario families, researchers, and journalists.

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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.·The data is the stick.·Follow the data. Demand the standard.

Founded by the family behind Carroll v. Ontario, a human-rights case about autism wait times (HRTO 2025-62264-I, not yet decided).

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

A warm, sunlit pediatric therapy room

Therapy Decision Guide

Social Skills Group Therapy for Autism in Ontario

Social skills group therapy provides structured peer interaction opportunities where autistic children and adolescents practise conversation, cooperation, perspective-taking, and friendship skills with guided support. Programs like PEERS (UCLA) and Secret Agent Society have moderate evidence from randomized controlled trials. In Ontario, social skills groups are delivered by psychologists, behaviour analysts, and social workers, with OAP funding available for clinician-led groups.

This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical guidance specific to your situation.

  1. Home
  2. ›Therapy
  3. ›Social Skills Groups for Autism in Ontario — Evidence, Programs & OAP Coverage
Moderate EvidenceOAP Covered

Social Skills Groups, Quick Summary

  • Social Skills Group Therapy typically costs $50–$120/session (group rate per child); $800–$2,000 per multi-week program in Ontario.
  • Recommended frequency: Typically 1 session per week for 12–20 weeks per program cycle.
  • Best suited for ages 5–18 years (age-grouped; some adult programs available).
  • This therapy is covered by OAP (Ontario Autism Program) funding.
  • Clinician-led social skills groups are eligible under OAP core clinical services when delivered by regulated health professionals or BACB-certified practitioners. The OAP childhood budget can cover group therapy fees. Recreational social groups without clinical goals are not OAP-eligible.

At a glance

Evidence level
Moderate Evidence
OAP funding
Eligible under OAP core clinical services
Typical cost
$50–$120/session (group rate per child); $800–$2,000 per multi-week program
Typical frequency
Typically 1 session per week for 12–20 weeks per program cycle
Target age range
5–18 years (age-grouped; some adult programs available)

OAP Coverage Note

Clinician-led social skills groups are eligible under OAP core clinical services when delivered by regulated health professionals or BACB-certified practitioners. The OAP childhood budget can cover group therapy fees. Recreational social groups without clinical goals are not OAP-eligible.

Who provides this therapy

Ask any prospective provider which of these credentials they hold, and confirm the credential with the relevant regulatory college before starting.

Psychologists (College of Psychologists of Ontario)Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA)Social workers with autism specializationSpeech-language pathologistsOccupational therapists

On this page

  1. Evidence-Based Social Skills Programs
  2. What to Expect in Social Skills Groups
Evidence-Based Social Skills ProgramsWhat to Expect in Social Skills Groups

Evidence-Based Social Skills Programs

Several manualized social skills programs have research support for autistic individuals. The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS), developed at UCLA by Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson, is one of the most extensively studied. PEERS teaches concrete social skills including conversational rules, electronic communication etiquette, handling disagreements, and managing bullying through didactic instruction, role-play, and coached social activities.

Secret Agent Society (SAS), developed by Dr. Renae Beaumont, uses a spy-themed computer game and group activities to teach emotion recognition, regulation, and social problem-solving to autistic children aged 8–12. A 2015 RCT published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry demonstrated significant improvements in social-emotional functioning maintained at five-month follow-up.

In Ontario, many children's treatment centres, autism service providers, and private clinics offer social skills groups. When selecting a program, families should look for groups that use a structured curriculum, match participants by age and developmental level, include parent training components, and provide opportunities for practising skills in natural settings.

What to Expect in Social Skills Groups

A typical social skills group session lasts 60–90 minutes and includes 4–8 participants grouped by age and skill level. Sessions follow a predictable structure: review, a new skill, guided practice, and a home practice task.

Parent involvement is a key component of effective social skills programs. Many programs include concurrent parent sessions where caregivers learn strategies to support skill practice at home and facilitate peer interactions outside of group. Research shows that parent-mediated generalization is critical for translating group-learned skills into real-world social success.

Evidence

Evidence and sources

1

Laugeson et al. (2012)

Evidence-based social skills training for adolescents with autism spectrum disorders: The UCLA PEERS Program. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(6), 1025-1036.

2

Beaumont et al. (2015)

A randomized controlled trial of a social skills intervention for autistic children using the Secret Agent Society program. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 56(1), 58-67.

Before you commit

Questions worth asking any provider

  • What certification or regulatory college licenses you to deliver this therapy, and can I verify it?
  • How will you measure progress, and how often will you share results with our family?
  • What does a typical session look like, and can we observe one before committing?
  • How does this approach get adjusted if it is not working after a few months?
  • What happens to our data, our schedule, and our funding if you leave or the practice closes?

Signs to slow down

  • The provider cannot name a regulatory college or certifying body, or asks you not to check it.
  • You are asked to sign a long-term contract before seeing a session or meeting the therapist.
  • Progress is described only in general terms, with no way to see or measure it over time.
  • The provider discourages you from getting a second opinion or asking about other approaches.
  • Fees, cancellation terms, or what OAP funding covers are unclear or change after you sign up.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, clinician-led social skills groups with defined therapeutic goals are eligible under OAP core clinical services. The group must be facilitated by regulated health professionals or BACB-certified practitioners. Recreational or drop-in social groups without clinical objectives are not OAP-eligible.

Most evidence-based social skills programs target children aged 5 and up, when peer interaction expectations increase. Programs are typically age-grouped (5-7, 8-12, 13-17). The PEERS program for adolescents (ages 12-17) has the strongest research base. Early programs for younger children focus on foundational skills like joint attention and turn-taking.

Look for groups that use a manualized curriculum (like PEERS or Secret Agent Society), have trained facilitators, match participants by age and skill level, include parent training, and measure progress with standardized tools. Ask the provider about their curriculum, group size, facilitator credentials, and how they track outcomes.

Related Therapies

Developmental, Individual Difference, Relationship-Based (DIR) / Floortime

Moderate Evidence

Video Modeling Intervention

Strong Evidence

Structured Play Therapy for Autism

Moderate Evidence

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

Your Child's Health

Where the waitlist stands

Families navigating autism services in Ontario face a documented multi-year wait. Here is the Ontario data — and a two-minute way to push back, when you are ready.

See where the waitlist standsEmail Your MPP

Related Resources

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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 approximately 290% 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