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Data Methodology
We hold ourselves to a higher standard than the government holds itself. Every statistic, every claim, and every figure published on EndTheWaitOntario.com is sourced from verifiable public records. Here is exactly how we collect, verify, and present our data.
We prioritize data sources in this order:
Direct government records obtained through Ontario's FIPPA/MFIPPA process. These are the most authoritative because they are the government's own data.
Independent, non-partisan legislative officer reports. The FAO's mandate is to provide independent analysis of provincial finances and trends.
Budget documents, ministry reports, program guidelines, and regulatory filings published by the Ontario government itself.
Value-for-money audits and special reports examining government programs.
Statistics Canada, PHAC publications, and federal framework documents related to autism services.
Academic studies published in recognized journals, used to provide context for Ontario-specific data.
News coverage from recognized outlets, used for context and cross-referencing only — never as a primary data source.
Our primary waitlist figure — 87,692 children and youth registered with the Ontario Autism Program as of our most recent FOI data — comes directly from Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services records obtained through Freedom of Information requests. When the government publishes different numbers, we explain the discrepancy and show our sourcing.
We maintain a data consistency standard across the site. When a number is updated, it is updated everywhere simultaneously. Our audit process checks for discrepancies between pages.
We make mistakes. When we do, we correct them publicly:
Our corrections policy is published at /corrections-policy
Corrections are timestamped and the original text is preserved for reference
We do not silently edit published content — all substantive changes are disclosed
If you find an error, contact us at our contact page
We are transparent about the limits of our data:
We cannot verify the exact current waitlist number in real time — our FOI data has a processing lag
We cannot independently confirm how individual families experience the program
We rely on government-reported spending figures that we cannot independently audit
Geographic breakdowns are estimates based on regional population data and available program statistics
Where our analysis involves estimates or calculations rather than direct government data, we state this explicitly and show our methodology.
All FOI responses referenced on this site are preserved in their original form
The Internet Archive (Wayback Machine) independently archives this site regularly
Our published statistics can be cross-referenced against FAO reports, budget documents, and Hansard records
We welcome verification of any claim on this site and will provide source documents upon request
Verified Facts
87,692 — children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
23.1% — 23,875 children enrolled in Core Clinical Services; 20,293 have active funding agreements ()
$965M — Ontario allocated to the Ontario Autism Program in 2026-27
According to the FAO (2020 report), OAP funding covers less than one-third of estimated need at 2018-19 service levels
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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