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
Shortage of core therapy funds for kids with autism sparks concerns – CHCH
Founding member of the Ontario autism coalition Bruce McIntosh says families with provincial invites from late last year aren’t seeing …
Most kids with autism in Ontario won’t get core therapy funding any time soon: document
TORONTO — Most of the children in Ontario waiting for publicly funded core … Alina Cameron, the president of the Ontario Autism Coalition, …
Ontario Autism Program faces funding delays amid soaring demand for services
Amidst an ever-growing demand for services, parents with children on the autism spectrum are growing desperate with an increasing waitlist and funding delays for critical therapies, while advocates want to see a shift to a needs-based program.
Most kids with autism won’t get core therapy funding soon: Ontario ministry document – CBC
Most of the children in Ontario waiting for publicly funded core autism therapy … Alina Cameron, the president of the Ontario Autism Coalition, …
Ford cuts blamed for child trafficker’s access to autism centre – Orillia News
The province promised to regulate autism therapy providers four years ago but hasn’t done it yet, the Ontario Autism Coalition says of ‘shocking’ …
Ford government to blame for child trafficker’s access to autism therapy centre: advocates
The province promised to regulate autism therapy providers four years ago but hasn’t done it yet, the Ontario Autism Coalition says.
Children with autism at risk from Ontario’s years-long therapy wait-lists – The Globe and Mail
Alina Cameron, vice-president of research at the Ontario Autism Coalition, with her daughter, Fiona. Fiona was put on the wait-list for funded …
Father calls for transparency in new Peel police autism strategy – Brampton Guardian
Police have partnered with several groups to develop the strategy, including Autism Ontario, Kerry’s Place, ErinoakKids Centre for Treatment and …
Broken Autism Program Suffers Another Setback – Wawa-news.com
The Ford autism program’s slow rollout, unstable funding, … The Ontario Autism Coalition calls upon the Ford government to work with regional …
Ontario’s largest children’s treatment centre making cuts to support for autistic youth – CBC
It says its not required to provide fee for service autism programs and can’t afford to … Former Ontario Autism Coalition president ‘shocked’.
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)