Welcome Minister Parsa
Enough Waiting!
Why Won’t Doug Ford Hurry Up?
Please help us. Kids with autism need access to core services NOW! Doug Ford and his minister promised 8,500 kids would receive core services by fall 2022. Today we learned that only 8,000 are registered, and only a handful are receiving funding. There are 60,411 autistic kids on the waitlist. Ford and his ministers have more than doubled the waitlist while saying that they would clear it. Well, they haven’t. Not even close. We’ve tried talking to them, we’ve tried protests, we’ve tried petitions. None of it has worked, and our kids can’t wait any longer. So we’re turning to you. Please contact your MPP and tell them that #50KIsNotOK. Don’t accept an answer that implies that this government has done a good job—because they haven’t.
OAC Autism Awareness Video in Downtown T.O.
For Autism Awareness Month, we put a video message up on the digital billboards in Yonge-Dundas Square in downtown Toronto. The video will run in rotation with other ads until the end of April. If you’re in the area, stop by and take a selfie. Please tag the OAC at @ONTautism, and use the hashtag #AutismIsLifelong.
The OAC OAP Action Checklist
Download the checklist
OAC Supports Missing Persons Amendment Act
March 6, 2023 OAC Lobby Day at Queen's Park
Lobby Day OAP Briefing Note March 2023 Queen's Park
Lobby Day Education Briefing Note March 2023 Queen's Park
Schools have ‘unchecked power’ to exclude students with disabilities: advocates
Steve LeGault, a member of the Ontario Autism Coalition whose son was … On behalf of Lecce, Ontario’s education minister, a spokesperson issued …
Even with new data, schools have ‘unchecked power’ to exclude students with disabilities: advocates
We filed a Freedom of Information (FOI) request this spring after the NDP’s education critic and the Ontario Autism Coalition held a press …
Inaugural Emma’s Way Walk, advocating for autism, held in Lions Park – Orangeville Citizen |
Approximately 30 people attended the walk, showing solidarity for those with autism and raising money for Autism Ontario, which supports families and …
Walk to Help those living with Autism | FM101 Orangeville Today
The 2.5 km walk aims to raise funds for Autism Ontario. The event is being held Saturday (aug19) at the Orangeville Lions Club Sports Park on …
Inaugural Emma’s Way Walk coming to Lions Park, raising awareness and funds for autism
While the 2.5km walk is free to attend, organizers ask that attendees donate to Autism Ontario, which is a charitable organization that supports …
Ont. autism coalition responds to wait list report | CP24.com
The Ontario Autism Coalition is insisting families impacted by autism in this province are facing a crisis.
Orangeville autism family shares concerns with Ontario’s funding model for clinical services …
Vivian Petho and her husband, David Vahey, who received an autism diagnosis … AccessOAP is also made up of Serefin, Autism Ontario and McMaster …
Lengthy waits for help still plaguing autistic children – Mississauga News
The information “was a shock but not a surprise, if that makes any sense” says Bruce MacIntosh, founding president of the Ontario Autism Coalition …
Families of children with autism continue to wait for publicly-funded suppport – CTV News Kitchener
… that families have been begging the ministry for this information for so long,” said Alina Cameron, President of the Ontario Autism Coalition.
Ontario moves to regulate therapy used in autism program – Collingwood News
(Left to right) Michael Parsa, now Ontario’s minister of Children, … a renewed call from the Ontario Autism Coalition for the government to move …
Media Releases
- Response to MCCSS Funding Announcement
- Statement on Appointment of Minister Merrilee Fullerton
- Autism Community Takes Action Against Minister Todd Smith
- Ontario Autism Coalition Response to the Ontario Autism Program Pilot
- Ontario Autism Coalition Holds Annual General Meeting
- Another Year of Waiting for a Needs-Based Ontario Autism Program
- OAC Releases Education Recommendations for School Re-opening
- The Ford Government Short Changes Autism Families…Again
- Families to Protest Delays to Autism Program (EN)
- Families to Protest Delays to Autism Program (FR)
- Letter to Minister Smith Jan 2019
- Families Still Waiting for Details on New Autism Program
- Recommendations Release
- OAP Enhancement Doesn’t Address the Big Issues (Mar. 2019)
- Minister of Education’s “Autism Announcement” Is Too Little, Too Late (Mar. 2019)
- Ford Government’s One-Size-Fits-All Approach Fails All Children with Autism (Feb. 2019)
- Disability Advocates Call for Action Limiting When Principals Can Exclude Students from School (Jan. 2019)
- OAC demands that the Ford Government end the conflict of interest with the Regional Autism Programs (Nov. 2018)
- Parents Worried That Increased Special Education Funding Will Not Be Spent On What’s Needed (Mar. 2018)
- OAC Will Protest the Lack of Appropriate Supports in Schools for Students with Autism and Other Special Education Needs (Oct. 2017)
- OAC Calls On Ministry of Education to Issue Consistent Policy Allowing Autism Service Dogs In Ontario Schools (Sep. 2017)
- The Autism Community Will Remind The Wynne Government That The New Autism Program Must Serve All Children And Youth With Autism (Apr. 2017)
- Education System Must Change to Meet the Needs of Students with Autism (Apr. 2017)
Briefing Notes to Government
- Presentation To Finance Committee
- Recommendations for Special Education in Ontario’s Public Schools: Exclusions, Suspensions and Expulsions (Oct. 2018)
- Recommendations for changes to the Ontario Autism Program (Aug. 2018)
- Rethinking the Ontario Autism Program – Direct Funding as a Way Forward (May 2016)
Important Letters
- Letter To Minister Smith (Jan 2019)
- Letter to Minister Hon. Lisa MacLeod – Bill 64, Noah and Gregory’s Law (Dec. 2018)
- Letter to Minister Hon. Lisa M. Thompson – Ontario Schools that Exclude or Refuse to Admit Students with Disabilities (Dec. 2018)
- The Health Professions Appeal and Review Board (Aug. 2018)
- Letter to Minister Hon. Mitzie Hunter (July 2017)
- Letter to the Minister Hon. Michael Coteau (Sept 2016)