The Facts

Ontario Autism Program Waitlist
When Doug Ford was elected: 23,000
Today: 58,524 (MCCSS website)

Children Receiving Therapy
When Doug Ford was elected: Over 10,000
Today: 4,312 (Feb 28, 2022, statement by MCCSS)

Please do not reward this disaster by voting for Doug Ford’s PC Party.

The OAC supports education workers

“Failing to provide enough education workers is akin to ripping the wheelchair ramps from the fronts of our schools. These people are that essential to our children.

—Kerry Monaghan, OAC Vice-President

Successive governments have chronically undervalued our children and the education workers who support them. Education workers, particularly those who work with our children to keep them safe and in the classroom, have extremely demanding working conditions and have never been compensated adequately. As such, the Ontario Autism Coalition (OAC) publicly supports education workers across Ontario who are fighting for better working conditions and compensation. Their working conditions are our children’s learning conditions.

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)