c/o Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, 199 Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5L 1A9, (647) 496–4688

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2024

Ontario Autism Coalition Demands Immediate Action

After Decline in Autism Services Enrolments

The Ontario Autism Coalition (OAC) is issuing an urgent call for action following new revelations that the rate of children coming off the waitlist for Ontario Autism Program (OAP) core clinical services has declined, despite a rapidly growing waitlist. Documents obtained by The Canadian Press reveal that while over 73,000 children are registered for government-funded core therapies, fewer than 14,113 are receiving funding — and some weeks have seen a reduction in the number of children receiving support.

Only half of the Ford OAP’s $720 million budget is allocated the most important part of the program, core clinical services, only slightly more than the amount set aside by the previous Liberal government. Ministry bureaucrats conceded that this was only enough to make core services available to approximately 20,000 children/youth. The system remains plagued by red tape, inefficiencies, and delays.

The OAC estimates that wait times for core clinical services have have stretched to five to seven years. This new information about service reductions potentially lengthens that wait time. Wait times were approximately three years under the previous government. This delay leaves families without options and children without essential early intervention.

“This is an unacceptable failure of the Ontario government to prioritize life-changing care to children,” said Alina Cameron, President of the Ontario Autism Coalition. “Families are being pushed to the brink, the consequences are catastrophic, and worst of all this is all preventable.”

The crisis is so severe that other ministries and programs are seeing an influx of families looking for help, families they are not prepared for or funded to help. For example, special education support is completely inadequate across the province. As well, an increasing number of families are turning to Ontario’s Children’s Aid Societies (CAS) for help out of desperation, a troubling trend highlighted in recent media reports.

The Ontario Autism Coalition is calling on the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services to act immediately to eliminate the backlog and expand access to core services. The situation is critical, and without swift intervention, the consequences for families will continue to worsen.

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For Further Information Contact:
Alina Cameron, President, Ontario Autism Coalition, (647) 496-4688
alina.cameron@ontarioautismcoalition.com

The Ontario Autism Coalition is a non-profit Ontario corporation dedicated to advocacy and political action on behalf of people with autism. www.ontarioautismcoalition.com

The Ontario Autism Coalition is a non-profit Ontario corporation dedicated to advocacy
and political action on behalf of people with autism.
www.ontarioautismcoalition.com