Privacy, on your terms.Analytics run by default. Decline any time.

FOI-Verified Data

Ontario Autism Waitlist Trends 2018–2026

The OAP waitlist grew from approximately 23,000 children in 2019 to 91,974 in May 2026 — ~300% growth in seven years.

Registered (May 2026)

91,974

verified against MCCSS FOI data obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition; May 13, 2026

Waiting without funding

71,263

77.5% of all registered; MCCSS FOI snapshot, May 13, 2026

Growth since 2019

~300%

From ~23,000 to 91,974; FAO and MCCSS/OAC sources, latest May 13, 2026

Direct answer

Under the Ford government, the Ontario Autism Program waitlist grew from approximately 23,000 children at the time of the 2019 program redesign to 91,974 children by May 2026 — an increase of ~300%. The current endpoint is 20,711 active Core Funding Agreements; that does not establish service receipt.

FAO report (2019 baseline) · MCCSS/OAC FOI (May 13, 2026) · Verified 2026-08-10

Read the trend with its confidence labels

The 2019 baseline is approximate, while later points are tied to named releases with their own reporting dates. The table omits years and measures that are not published in a comparable form; it does not create a forecast or promise. The latest source snapshot is May 13, 2026; this page was last reviewed in August 2026.

See source definitions

Key finding

Under the Ford government, the Ontario Autism Program waitlist grew from approximately 23,000 children at the time of the 2019 program redesign to 91,974 children by May 2026 — an increase of ~300%. During that same period, the administrative count used for the historical funded comparison increased by roughly 3,600. The current endpoint is 20,711 active Core Funding Agreements; that does not establish service receipt.

The 2019 baseline (~23,000) is approximate. The government did not publish exact real-time registration counts in 2019. The May 2026 figure (91,974) is verified via Ontario Autism Coalition FOI of the OAP bi-weekly progress report dated May 13, 2026.

Trend sources and confidence boundaries

Year-by-Year Waitlist Data

Published OAP registration anchors from the approximate 2019 baseline to May 2026. Missing years and incompatible measures remain unavailable rather than interpolated.

Scroll horizontally to compare all dated fields. Source is listed for each published snapshot.

Sources are listed by snapshot; verified 2026-08-10. Missing years and incompatible measures are not interpolated.
YearTotal RegisteredWaiting (Unfunded)FundedBudget ($M)ConfidenceSource
2019 (approximate baseline)23,000———ApproximateFAO MCCSS context / historical OAP program data
Feb 2024 (FAO)70,176———VerifiedFinancial Accountability Office of Ontario, MCCSS Spending Plan Review (2023-24)
2024 (mid-year FOI)72,871———VerifiedCBC News FOI - OAP bi-weekly progress reports (mid-2024 baseline)
Jan 2026 (CBC FOI)88,17567,50920,666—VerifiedOAP bi-weekly progress report, January 7, 2026 (CBC News FOI)
Mar 2026 (MCCSS FOI)89,79969,16620,633—VerifiedOAP bi-weekly progress report, March 4, 2026 (MCCSS) - via the Ontario Autism Coalition (FOI release CSS2026-0749)
May 2026 (MCCSS/OAC FOI)91,97471,26320,711—VerifiedMCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures, May 13, 2026 - obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition under Freedom of Information, published July 2026
Sources: CBC News FOI (Jan 2026), FAO MCCSS Spending Plan Review (2023-24), Ontario Autism Coalition historical tracking. The table intentionally omits unsupported years and does not connect anchors as an interpolated annual series.

Growth Rate Analysis

How fast the waitlist is growing and what it means for children waiting today.

Since 2019 baseline

+21%

Growth in total OAP registrations since the April 2019 program redesign. From ~23,000 to 91,974.

Recent growth rate

+21%

Registrations grew 21% over an 18-month period (mid-2024 to January 2026), according to CBC News FOI data covering OAP progress reports.

Sources: CBC News OAP progress-report FOI and the Ontario Autism Coalition historical tracking. Verified 2026-08-10.

What this page does not project

The current public snapshots do not provide a comparable throughput series for a defensible provincial forecast. We show dated anchors and measured historical change, but leave future totals unavailable rather than turning an inferred rate into a promise.

Key Policy Milestones

Policy decisions and program changes that shaped the waitlist trajectory from 2018 to present.

Ford Government Elected

Program change

Progressive Conservative government elected. Campaign had promised to maintain autism services. Within months, program restructuring began.

Flat-Rate Funding Announced

Funding change

Government announced a flat-rate funding model (20,000 dollars a year for children under 6, 5,000 dollars a year for school-age children, as announced in 2019) regardless of individual therapy needs. This replaced the previous needs-based IBI model.

Largest Autism Protest in Ontario History

Public action

Thousands of parents and children descended on Queen's Park. Described as the largest autism protest in Ontario history. Government announced a policy review within days.

Needs-Based Funding Promised

Government announcement

Government announced a return to needs-based funding. New OAP structure announced. Implementation timeline and details left unclear, with phased rollout stretching years.

COVID-19: Services Suspended

Crisis point

In-person autism therapy services suspended across Ontario. Children already on long waitlists lost their spots in service. New registrations continued while funded service delivery stalled.

Core Clinical Services Launch

Program change

New Core Clinical Services model launched. Funding range of $6,600 to $65,000 per year. Waitlist for the new service grew immediately as eligibility was extended.

FAO Spending Plan Review

Official report

Financial Accountability Office reviewed MCCSS spending plan. Reported 70,176 registered with OAP and only 19,966 receiving core services. Funding gap documented.

Waitlist Exceeds 50,000

Crisis point

Auditor General of Ontario noted OAP program wait times. Waitlist officially confirmed to have surpassed 50,000 children waiting without funded services.

CBC FOI Investigation Published

Official report

CBC News published investigation based on 18 months of OAP bi-weekly progress reports obtained via Freedom of Information. Revealed 88,175 children registered with only 20,666 funded.

Key Ontario Autism Policy Milestones 2018–2026
YearTitleTypeDescription
2018Ford Government ElectedProgram changeProgressive Conservative government elected. Campaign had promised to maintain autism services. Within months, program restructuring began.
2/2019Flat-Rate Funding AnnouncedFunding changeGovernment announced a flat-rate funding model (20,000 dollars a year for children under 6, 5,000 dollars a year for school-age children, as announced in 2019) regardless of individual therapy needs. This replaced the previous needs-based IBI model.
3/2019Largest Autism Protest in Ontario HistoryPublic actionThousands of parents and children descended on Queen's Park. Described as the largest autism protest in Ontario history. Government announced a policy review within days.
10/2019Needs-Based Funding PromisedGovernment announcementGovernment announced a return to needs-based funding. New OAP structure announced. Implementation timeline and details left unclear, with phased rollout stretching years.
3/2020COVID-19: Services SuspendedCrisis pointIn-person autism therapy services suspended across Ontario. Children already on long waitlists lost their spots in service. New registrations continued while funded service delivery stalled.
2021Core Clinical Services LaunchProgram changeNew Core Clinical Services model launched. Funding range of $6,600 to $65,000 per year. Waitlist for the new service grew immediately as eligibility was extended.
2023FAO Spending Plan ReviewOfficial reportFinancial Accountability Office reviewed MCCSS spending plan. Reported 70,176 registered with OAP and only 19,966 receiving core services. Funding gap documented.
2023Waitlist Exceeds 50,000Crisis pointAuditor General of Ontario noted OAP program wait times. Waitlist officially confirmed to have surpassed 50,000 children waiting without funded services.
3/2026CBC FOI Investigation PublishedOfficial reportCBC News published investigation based on 18 months of OAP bi-weekly progress reports obtained via Freedom of Information. Revealed 88,175 children registered with only 20,666 funded.

Budget Context

How OAP funding has changed relative to the growing waitlist.

Scroll horizontally to compare published budget and registration snapshots; source is listed for each row.

Budget and population sources are listed by row. Verified 2026-08-10; measures describe different years and populations.
Fiscal YearOAP BudgetChildren RegisteredPer-child comparisonSource
2019-20~$600M~23,000Not comparableFAO, Autism Services in Ontario (2020); Ontario Autism Coalition historical tracking
2025-26$779M70,176Not comparableOntario Autism Coalition FOI; MCCSS OAP progress reports
2026-27$965M91,974Not comparable2026 Ontario Budget; MCCSS/OAC FOI
FAO estimated need (2020 projection)$1.35B~40,700 children (2020 estimate)Not comparableFinancial Accountability Office, Autism Services in Ontario (2020)
Budget figures and FAO estimates describe different years, populations, and program measures. We do not divide a budget by registrations to create a per-child allocation. Current funding context: $385M ($385M (FAO 2020 at 2018-19 levels vs. 2026-27 budget)).

The funding gap

In 2020, the Financial Accountability Office estimated Ontario needed $1.35B per year to serve approximately 40,700 children at 2018-19 service levels. The 2026-27 budget of $965 million serves a registered cohort of 91,974 children — more than double the FAO's projected population. The FAO estimate is now widely considered a floor, not a ceiling.

Current funding gap versus FAO estimate: $385M ($385M (FAO 2020 at 2018-19 levels vs. 2026-27 budget)).

Sources: Financial Accountability Office of Ontario, Autism Services in Ontario (2020); 2026 Ontario Budget; MCCSS/OAC FOI. Verified 2026-08-10.

Provincial Context

Cross-provincial autism waitlist comparisons are difficult because provinces use different eligibility criteria, funding models, and tracking methods. The context below is directional only. Ontario is the only province that publicly reports a unified autism program registration count via FOI.

Limitation note: No other province publishes a unified autism waitlist count equivalent to Ontario's OAP registration data. Comparisons below reflect publicly available policy context, not equivalent registration counts. They are included to assist researchers and journalists contextualizing Ontario's program structure.

Scroll horizontally to compare provincial program context and sources.

Sources are listed by province. Page reviewed 2026-08-10; the measures are not equivalent registration counts.
ProvincePopulation contextWaitlist statusFunding modelComparison noteSource
OntarioPopulation ~14.8M. ~1 in 50 children with autism diagnosis.89,799 registered; 69,166 waiting without funding (Mar 2026)OAP Core Clinical Services: $6,600–$65,000/year per childVerified primary source. Excludes children awaiting diagnosis.MCCSS OAP bi-weekly progress report, FOI via OAC (March 4, 2026; CSS2026-0749)
British ColumbiaPopulation ~5.4M.BC Ministry of Children and Family Development does not publish a unified public waitlist count for autism services.Autism Funding: up to 22,000 dollars a year under age 6; up to 6,000 dollars a year ages 6-18 (program scheduled to end March 31, 2027; confirm current amounts with the BC ministry)BC autism funding model differs significantly from Ontario. Comparable waitlist data not publicly available.BC Ministry of Children and Family Development
AlbertaPopulation ~4.6M.Alberta does not operate a province-wide autism waitlist equivalent to Ontario's OAP. Services delivered through FSCD program.Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD): needs-based individualized fundingDifferent program structure makes direct comparison with Ontario OAP inappropriate. Included for policy context only.Alberta Government, Family Support for Children with Disabilities
QuebecPopulation ~8.8M.CLSC and CIUSSS waitlists for autism assessment and services reported in some regions but no unified provincial count is published.Services delivered through regional health authorities. No unified direct-funding model comparable to OAP.Quebec autism services are structurally different. No directly comparable provincial waitlist figure is publicly available.Autism Society of Greater Montreal; regional CIUSSS reports

Next step

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

Data Sources

Evidence for this snapshot

Evidence for this snapshot
DateRecordPublisherSource type
July 2026MCCSS OAP progress-report snapshot, May 13, 2026Verified 2026-08-10MCCSS, released through an Ontario Autism Coalition FOI requestGovernment source
March 30, 2026Ontario government autism funding data shows waitlist jumped 21 per cent in 18 monthsVerified 2026-04-29CBC NewsGovernment source
2024MCCSS Spending Plan Review (2023-24)Verified 2026-04-29Financial Accountability Office of OntarioGovernment source
2019–2026Ontario Autism Coalition — Historical Waitlist TrackingVerified 2026-04-29Ontario Autism CoalitionResearch source
March 26, 20262026 Ontario Budget: Building OntarioVerified 2026-04-29Ontario Ministry of FinanceGovernment source
2020Autism Services in OntarioVerified 2026-04-29Financial Accountability Office of OntarioGovernment source
Citable facts from this page(3)

How many children are on the Ontario autism waitlist?

Latest FOI data shows 91,974 children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program (May 2026), while 22.5% have active funding agreements. [FOI] An active funding agreement does not mean a child is receiving services; it is an administrative status distinct from service delivery. Some families report waits of 5+ years for families registered in August 2021 (community-reported, Ontario Autism Coalition, July 2026). That report is not a province-wide average. Last verified: 2026-08-10

Source: MCCSS FOI data via Ontario Autism Coalition [OAC] · Open source record

What makes End The Wait Ontario different from other autism resources?

End The Wait Ontario collects Ontario autism waitlist figures in one place. Each figure on this site shows its source and date. The current counts come from MCCSS Ontario Autism Program figures, May 13, 2026, obtained by the Ontario Autism Coalition under Freedom of Information; spending figures come from the Financial Accountability Office (FAO). [FOI] Parents and advocates can check the latest figures and the record behind each one. Last verified: 2026-08-10

Source: MCCSS FOI data via Ontario Autism Coalition [OAC] · Open source record

Why is there such a long waitlist?

According to MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026, 91,974 children are registered in the OAP (May 2026), and only 22.5% have active funding agreements. [FOI] The FAO's 2020 estimate of the budget needed to serve the waitlist was $1.35B. [FAO]

Source: MCCSS FOI data via Ontario Autism Coalition [OAC] · Open source record

Related Data

Sources 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.

Facts4
Sources2

22.5%

Only 20,711 children have active funding agreements (22.5%), less than one in four

Primary sourceMCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026Verified 2026-08-10

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

Primary sourceWorld Health Organization (2025)Verified 2025-09-17
Last system verification: 2026-08-10. Next scheduled update: 2026-11-05.
View methodologyBrowse every source

About this page

Check the author’s context, review method, and how to report an error.

Written by

Founder & Autism Advocate

Lived experience: Parent of autistic child navigating OAP system

Last updated:

Get the next FOI release before the news cycle does.