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Budget 2026: $965M budgeted, 67,509 children still waiting. Read our analysis →

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end|thewaitontario

Parent-led advocacy for Ontario families waiting for autism services.

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end|thewaitontario

Parent-led advocacy for Ontario families waiting for autism services.

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

  • 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

Parent-led advocacy for Ontario families waiting for autism services.

  • 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
  • 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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Advocacy, not anger. Data, not speculation.

Carroll v. Ontario · HRTO 2025-62264-I

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

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Ontario Autism Updates

Year-by-year review of the OAP, waitlist, and policy landscape

  1. Home
  2. ›Updates
2025

2025 Year in Review

The year the true scope of the waitlist crisis became undeniable: 88,175 children registered, 67,509 unfunded, FAO confirms structural underfunding.

Read the full review

The political record

Every year in this series is measured against the children still waiting.

Registered

88,17588,175

Children registered

Total in the Ontario Autism Program queue

CBC FOI Jan 2026

Funded

20,66620,666

Have active funding

Just 23.4% of registered children

CBC FOI Jan 2026

Waiting

67,50967,509

Still waiting

Registered. Diagnosed. Un-funded.

CBC FOI Jan 2026

Verified April 29, 2026 , CBC FOI Jan 2026

Share these numbers
Ontario Autism Program key statistics (CBC FOI Jan 2026, verified 2026-04-29)
MetricValue
Children registered88,175
Have active funding20,666
Still waiting67,509

Take Action

Help End the Wait

88,175 children are registered with the Ontario Autism Program. Contact your MPP today, your voice matters.

Contact Your MPPTake Action

Why is there a backlog in Ontario autism services?

The waitlist for core autism services has grown dramatically. FOI data showed 88,175 children registered (Dec 2025), representing a massive increase from previous years. Because invitations to core services are limited by fixed budgets, tens of thousands of children remain unserved, creating multi-year backlogs.

Source: CBC FOI Jan 2026

How has the OAP changed over time?

The OAP shifted from direct service (pre-2019) to a "childhood budget" check system (2019-2020), back to a "needs-based" program (2021-present). Each reset caused massive delays. The current system is needs-based but lacks the funding to serve the 67,509 waiting children (excludes children awaiting diagnosis, CBC FOI Jan 2026).

Source: Political History of OAP

How fast is the Ontario autism waitlist growing?

The Ontario autism waitlist has grown by approximately 285% since 2019. While the government officially registers thousands of new children annually, only a tiny fraction are moved into core clinical services, causing the waitlist to compound year over year.

Source: CBC FOI Jan 2026; FAO Report 2023-24

About This Article
Written by:Spencer Carroll - Founder & Autism AdvocateParent of autistic child navigating OAP system
Featured in CBC News Investigation
FOI Data Verified
Clip in WHO Social Media Reel
Active HRTO Advocacy
FAO & Legislative Assembly Cited

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Just diagnosed?
First steps after an autism diagnosis
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Verified Facts

Facts cited on this page

88,175, children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program

SecondaryCBC FOI Jan 2026Verified: 2026-04-29

23.4%, Only 20,666 children have active funding agreements () — less than one in four

SecondaryCBC FOI Jan 2026Verified: 2026-04-29

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

Gov / Peer-ReviewedWorld Health Organization (2023)Verified: 2023-11-15
View our methodologyView all sourcesNext data update: 2026-08-22