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Steps in the Journey

Learn more about the journey from diagnosis through involvement with the Ontario Autism Program.

Diagnosis Pathways

This page from the Ontario government provides an overview of the assessment:


The website "End the Wait Ontario" compares public and private pathways so families can understand costs along with providing an overview of the next steps.

Receiving a Diagnosis

Learn more about the diagnostic process:


Learn more about the diagnostic terminology: 

Ontario Autism Program (OAP)

The Ontario Autism Program (OAP) is a provincially funded, needs-based system designed to support autistic children and youth under the age of 18. It is structured around "service streams" that provide a mix of direct funding and community-based programs.


Service Streams

Families can access five different supports depending on their child's age, needs, and when they registered with the Ontario Autism Program. 


AcessOAP

AccessOAP is not a government agency but is funded by the Ontario government. It is operated by Accerta Services Inc.


AccessOAP is responsible for:

  • Intake and Registration: OAP handles the official registration of children and youth for the OAP and reviews their eligibility.
  • Service Navigation: Families are assigned care coordinators who provide personalized guidance on available services in their community and help them make informed decisions about care.
  • Determination of Needs (DON): At some point in the process, AccessOAP care coordinators conduct the Determination of Needs assessment which results in a funding allocation for core clinical services.
  • Funding Management: Through the AccessOAP Family Portal, caregivers can track funding balances, submit invoices, and report expenses,.
  • Program Invitations: It is responsible for sending official invitations to families to enter specific service streams.
  • Transition Planning: They support families and youth as they prepare to transition to adult services.


Registering for OAP

The website "End the Wait Ontario" provides an overview of the registration process: 


Wait time and Wait List Information

Families should be aware this is a waiting period before receiving an AccessOAP number as well as a wait to receive the Determination of Needs (DON) invitation which signals the entry into the process to receive the child’s Core Clinical Services funding.

How long?

The website “End the Wait Ontario” uses information gained through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to share wait time for core clinical services information with families:


The Ontario Autism Coalition (OAC) will also post information from FOI requests and share them through their social media platforms.

  • See the June 9, 2026 Facebook post for the results of the FOI data from April 2026.


While Waiting

As stated above, there is a long wait time for the core clinical services.


While a family is waiting for an invitation to enter the process to receive the core clinical services funding, there are action steps that can be taken to receive support.

  • Foundational Family Services: These free supports are available to all registered children as soon as they receive an OAP number. Visit the Foundational Family Services page for more informaiton.
  • Other streams: Depending on the age and needs of the child, families may receive an invitation to other programs including the Caregiver-Mediated Early Years program and the entry to school program. The time-limited Urgent Response Services stream is also available for families facing immediate, high-risk situations. 

  • Autism Ontario program: See the Autism Ontario website to learn more about the FREE events, activities and parent learning opportunities available by visiting the official website at www.autismontario.com.
    • A summary of the official website is available on the Autism Ontario page.

  • Families can apply for the March Break Reimbursement funding; https://www.autismontario.com/marchbreak. There is also a One to One Summer Support Worker Reimbursement Fund and applications can be submitted; https://www.autismontario.com/camp.
  • Apply for other funding: Apply for Special Services at Home (SSAH), Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD) and the Disability Tax Credit (DTC).