Parents frustrated with long wait times for Ontario autism program
A Vaughan mother is frustrated after waiting years to access the provincial autism program, with no clear end in sight. Amy Jones says her six-year-old son Elijah has autism and speech apraxia. “[It] is a neurological problem – it makes his brain and mouth not connect together,” she explains. Elijah’s doctors say he needs speech […]
A mother in Vaughan, Amy Jones, is struggling with lengthy wait times for accessing Ontario's autism program for her six-year-old son, Elijah, who has autism and speech apraxia. Despite Elijah's doctors recommending immediate speech therapy, Jones has been unable to secure funding through the Ontario Autism Program (OAP). Jones explains that the program does not provide any clear timeline for when funding will be granted.
She is not alone, as more than 70,000 children across Ontario are currently on the waitlist for the OAP, with an estimated average wait time of over five years for core clinical services. The Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services acknowledges the issue and has announced significant investments in the program. Since 2018, OAP funding has increased by nearly $674 million, or 232%, and an additional $186 million has been allocated for 2026.
The government has also invested over $70 million since 2022 in workforce capacity projects aimed at expanding autism services. However, it remains unclear how this funding will directly benefit children like Elijah. Jones faces high costs for the necessary therapies, paying between $125 to $175 per 45-minute to hour-long session.
She can only afford one or two sessions per week, but Elijah requires more frequent appointments to see any progress.
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