Ontario ABS
Ontario's needs-based autism support program managed through AccessOAP. Provides annual funding to families of autistic children under 18 for Core Clinical Services, including Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and mental health services. Funding amounts are determined by a Determination of Needs (DON) assessment, with annual envelopes ranging from $6,600 to $65,000 depending on the child's age band and assessed support level.
• Register immediately upon diagnosis, as funding is prioritized by registration date and waitlists are significant • Use Foundational Family Services and Caregiver-Mediated Early Years programs while waiting for core funding • OAP funding can be stacked with federal benefits like the Disability Tax Credit (DTC) and RDSP • Keep detailed records of all clinical service expenses for reconciliation purposes
You may qualify if: • Your child is under 18 and lives in Ontario • Your child has a formal diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from a qualified clinician • Your child is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or refugee • There is no income test for the program
• Formal ASD diagnosis from a qualified healthcare professional • Proof of Ontario residency for the child • Child's birth certificate or government-issued ID • Registration completed through the AccessOAP portal
1. Register your child with the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) through the AccessOAP website 2. Wait for an invitation to enter Core Clinical Services based on your registration date 3. Once invited, complete a Determination of Needs meeting with a care coordinator 4. Receive your annual Childhood Budget amount based on the assessment results 5. Purchase services from OAP-approved clinicians or service providers
• Delaying registration until the child is older, which may limit the number of years they receive early intervention funding • Not realizing that invitations for core funding are strictly registration-date based • Failing to utilize free foundational services available during the wait period
Free disability-benefits navigation services are available if you'd like help understanding or applying for this benefit.
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