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
How often are special needs kids excluded from school? Ontario won’t say – Sudbury News
The Ontario Autism Coalition got ‘the runaround’ when it asked for data on the exclusion of special needs kids from school.
Ontario Autism Coalition wants to find out how often students with special needs are sent home
The Ontario Autism Coalition is surveying parents of children with special needs about school exclusions – when a student is sent home because the …
York Region program uses horses to help students with autism spectrum disorder build confidence
According to Autism Ontario, one in 66 Canadian children and youth (ages five to 17) are diagnosed with autism and about one to two per cent of …
Ontario Autism Coalition Supports School Exclusions Survey – Wawa-news.com
The Ontario Autism Coalition is calling on families of special education students to complete a survey to gather data on school exclusions.
‘I was diagnosed at 46’: Waterloo mom calls late autism diagnosis a relief | TheRecord.com
According to Autism Ontario, there are “approximately 135,000 autistic people in Ontario” and in Canada, one to two per cent of the population are …
Dedicated hair salon for children with autism set to open in Barrie – CTV News Barrie
In addition to the opening of the salon, Mucci is also dedicating her time to raising funds for Autism Ontario’s central west region.
Parents concerned with ‘shameful’ changes to Ontario Autism Program
Parents and advocates are raising concerns over changes made to the Ontario Autism Program, saying the provincial government is failing to meet the needs of kids and families.
Police launch autism strategy following Tasering of Mississauga teen – Insauga.com
Peel Regional Police announced a new strategy to serve the autistic community. … Police met with Autism Ontario, Community Living Mississauga, …
London family looking for Good Samaritan after autistic son, 5, wanders away from home
Michael Cnudde with Autism Ontario said autistic children running away, or eloping, is common. He said it is also common for autistic children …
A school staffer cut their son’s hair. Putting things right for their child with autism has been hard – CBC
On almost a weekly basis this year, staff at the Ontario Autism Coalition have heard heartbreaking stories from Ontario families — from children …
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)
