91,974
children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
Primary source MCCSS FOI via OAC · May 2026 Verified 2026-11-03
Teens and adults
What changes at 18, adult services, work, and housing.
- Running time 0:53 Teens and adults
Plan the move into adult services before support runs out
Apply for ODSP up to six months before the 18th birthday - Running time 0:53 Teens and adults
Plan the transition before supports change at 18
At age 18, multiple supports end simultaneously while adult services have separate applications and their own waitlists. - Running time 0:34 Teens and adults
Programs for adults with autism in Ontario
When your child turns 18, OAP (Ontario Autism Program) funding ends. - Running time 0:49 Teens and adults
What Happens to Autism Funding at 18 in Ontario?
OAP funding does not automatically continue into adulthood. - Running time 0:49 Teens and adults
What Happens to OAP When Your Child Turns 18?
Ontario Autism Program services end when a person turns 18. - Running time 0:38 Teens and adults
Autism and guardianship in Ontario: what changes at 18
If decision-making support is needed, supported decision-making should be explored before guardianship. - Running time 0:50 Teens and adults
Autism Housing Ontario: Options for Autistic Adults
Housing support for an autistic adult in Ontario starts with Developmental Services Ontario (DSO). - Running time 0:49 Teens and adults
Autism Workplace Accommodations: Rights Guide
You do not need a formal diagnosis to request accommodation, you need only demonstrate a disability-related need. - Running time 0:49 Teens and adults
Housing options for autistic adults in Ontario
DSO is the mandatory starting point for all funded housing - Running time 0:50 Teens and adults · Français
Passer aux services pour adultes: SOPDI, Programme Passeport et POSPH
Commencer tôt peut réduire l’écart entre les services pour enfants et ceux pour adultes. - Running time 0:56 Teens and adults
Passport Funding for Adults with Developmental Disabilities in Ontario
Passport does not replace the Ontario Autism Program, which is for children and youth. - Running time 0:51 Teens and adults
What Is DSO? Developmental Services Ontario Explained
It is the access point for adult developmental services funded by Ontario's Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, with nine DSO locations across the province. - Running time 0:50 Teens and adults
Aging with Autism: Support for Older Adults in Ontario
Autism can be diagnosed at any age, including in older adults. - Running time 0:54 Teens and adults
Autism and Intellectual Disability: Ontario Services and Support
At 18, Ontario Autism Program eligibility ends and adult supports may become the main pathway. - Running time 0:45 Teens and adults
Kerry's Place vs. Geneva Centre Autism Services
Kerry's Place has province-wide reach and stronger residential and housing supports. - Running time 0:49 Teens and adults
Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Pathways for Autistic Youth
The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) lets high school students start exploring trades before graduation. - Running time 0:58 Teens and adults
Substitute Decision-Makers for Autistic Individuals in Ontario
Ontario’s public guidance says a guardian or attorney for personal care has priority. - Running time 0:54 Teens and adults
Supported Employment for Autistic Adults in Ontario
You do not need to get ODSP income support.
Sources on this page
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Facts 3
Sources 3
US$2.4M
Lifetime support costs for autism with co-occurring intellectual disability can reach US$2.4 million per person (Buescher et al.)
Primary source Buescher et al. (2014) Verified 2014-08-01
1 in 50
According to the 2019 Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, about 1 in 50 children and youth aged 1 to 17 in Canada had an autism diagnosis
Primary source Public Health Agency of Canada (2024) Verified 2024-03-26
Open complete source list(3)
Last system verification: 2026-11-03. Next scheduled update: 2027-02-01.
About this page
Check the author’s context, review method, and how to report an error.
Written by Spencer Carroll
Founder & Autism Advocate
Lived experience: Parent of autistic child in the OAP system