Methodology
View full methodology
Primary sources, citation protocol, and cross-verification practice in detail.
Methodology
Every number on this site is FOI-sourced, cross-verified, and independently auditable. Our methodology follows rigorous health data principles.
Primary sources only
FOI responses, FAO reports, MCCSS publications, Hansard, and budget estimates. No secondary interpretations without primary source verification.
Citation protocol
Every data point includes source document, date, FOI reference number where applicable, and page number.
Cross-verification
Numbers cross-referenced against multiple independent sources (FAO vs. MCCSS vs. budget estimates vs. Statistics Canada).
Update protocol
Data pages include "Last verified" dates. Stale data (>90 days) triggers automatic review.
Correction policy
Any errors identified are corrected with transparent changelog. No silent edits.
The standard we set
89,799 children are registered. 20,633 have active funding. 23% are receiving core clinical services. Every one of these numbers traces to a specific FOI response or government publication, verify any of them.
The numbers are real
Written by Spencer Carroll
Founder & Autism Advocate
Evidence on this page
Key claims are paired with their source, evidence tier, and verification date so readers can inspect the public record directly.
WHO recommends accessible, community-based early interventions for children with autism — timely evidence-based psychosocial interventions improve communication and social engagement
89,799
children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program
23%
Only 20,633 children have active funding agreements — less than one in four
Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) delivered to children aged 18–30 months produced significant gains in IQ, adaptive behaviour, and autism severity — some children no longer met diagnostic criteria at follow-up
Cochrane systematic review finds evidence that early intensive behavioural intervention (EIBI) may produce positive effects on adaptive behaviour and communication for young children with ASD (low certainty of evidence)
Evidence supports autism screening and intervention commencing in the first 2 years of life — earlier identification directly enables earlier intervention during the highest neural plasticity window