Toronto families wait 3-4 years for publicly funded autism therapy. The GTA has 25,000+ children on waitlists, with only 8,000 receiving services. Private therapy costs $80,000+ annually. Major centers like Holland Bloorview and SickKids have 12-18 month diagnostic waits. Families must act immediately while waiting.
GTA children waiting
Average wait time
Annual private cost
150 Kilgour Road, Toronto
Wait time: 12-15 months for diagnosis
555 University Avenue, Toronto
Wait time: 18-24 months for assessment
401 Smyth Road, Ottawa (serves East GTA)
Wait time: 15-18 months
1179A King Street West, Suite 004
112 Merton Street, Toronto
Multiple GTA locations
Mississauga, Brampton, Halton
Free online resource hub with visual supports, learning modules, and toolkits while waiting
Request an Individual Education Plan (IEP) and ask about the Intensive Support Program (ISP)
If experiencing crisis, contact Urgent Response at 1-866-257-5005
"Toronto Autism Parents Support" and "GTA Special Needs Parents" for resources
Contact: 416-397-3000 | specialeducation@tdsb.on.ca
Contact: 416-222-8282 | info@tcdsb.org
| Service Type | Public Wait Time | Private Cost | Hours Needed/Year | Annual Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autism Diagnosis | 12-18 months | $2,500-4,000 | One-time | $2,500-4,000 |
| Intensive ABA Therapy | 3-4 years | $60-120/hour | 1,000-1,500 hours | $60,000-180,000 |
| Speech Therapy | 6-12 months | $150-175/hour | 50-100 hours | $7,500-17,500 |
| Occupational Therapy | 8-14 months | $175-200/hour | 50-100 hours | $8,750-20,000 |
| BCBA Supervision | N/A | $150-200/hour | 100-200 hours | $15,000-40,000 |
| Total Annual Cost (Full Program) | $93,750-261,500 | |||
Government Funding: Ontario Autism Program provides average of $8,000/year after 3-4 year wait. This covers approximately 3-8% of actual therapy costs.
Toronto families typically wait 3-4 years for publicly funded autism therapy through the Ontario Autism Program. Some specialized services have wait times exceeding 5 years. Private therapy is available immediately but costs $60,000-80,000 annually.
Major diagnostic centers include Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, SickKids Hospital, Surrey Place, and CHEO satellite clinics. Private psychologists can also diagnose but cost $2,500-4,000. Wait times for public diagnosis range from 12-18 months.
While waiting: Autism Ontario Toronto Chapter offers workshops, Geneva Centre provides social groups, Kerry's Place offers respite services, and school boards provide some support. Many families access private speech therapy ($150/hour) or occupational therapy ($175/hour) if they can afford it.
Private ABA therapy in Toronto costs $60-120 per hour. Full-time intensive therapy (30-40 hours/week) costs $80,000-120,000 annually. Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) charge $150-200/hour for supervision.
Yes. The Urgent Response Service (1-866-257-5005) provides crisis intervention. SickKids Emergency and Holland Bloorview offer urgent mental health support. Some families access Crisis Intervention through Children's Aid Society if safety concerns exist.
TDSB and TCDSB offer Intensive Support Programs (ISP), Educational Assistants, limited in-school ABA support, and IEP development. Contact Special Education departments to access services. Programs have limited spots and require January applications.
25,000+ GTA children are missing their critical intervention window. Join us in demanding immediate action from Queen's Park and Ottawa.
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