Ontario's New Autism Program


On March 29, 2016 the Ontario Ministry of Child and Youth Services announced spending of $333 million over 5 years for early services for families and children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The new Ontario Autism Program will be more flexible and will combine ABA (Applied Behavioural Analysis) and IBI (Intensive Behavioural Interventions) into a single expanded and improved system. The goals of the program include: delivery of more flexible services based on each child's individual needs, significantly reduced wait times for therapy, delivery of a diagnosis earlier in a child's development and increased number of treatment spaces available to serve more children and accommodate the rising prevalence in autism diagnoses.

OSOT sits on Ontario Autism Program Advisory Committee

The Ministry of Children and Youth Services will be engaging a provincial Advisory Committee to provide strategic advice on the design of the new Autism Program.  OSOT has been invited to participate on this Advisory Committee and to appoint a representative.  Debra Kennedy has agreed to assume this role.  Debra is the Chair of OSOT's School-Based OT Team, has practiced in a pediatric context for over 20 years.  Deb is currently the Director of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy at the York District Region School Board and Simcoe-York Children's Treatment Network Liaison. Debra has extensive experience working with children and youth with autism, including program design, service coordination and evaluation.  OSOT hopes to support Debra's representation with a network of members who bring diverse experience in working with children with autism and their families.  Please contact OSOT if interested.

On June 28, 2016 the Ministry announced an additional commitment of $200 million investment over the next four years for additional supports for children and youth with autism and changes and enhancements to the new program's implementation and transition period in order to accelerate implementation of the Program (to commence June 2017), to address needs of families with children over 5 transitioning off the IBI waitlist, to improve access to diagnostic services for earlier diagnosis and treatment and to increase supports to families to navigate transitions to the new program. View a graphic representation of the New Autism Program transition plan which may be useful to share with families. Families affected by these changes, or who have questions about the new Ontario Autism Program, can call 1-888-284-8340 for information, or contact their Ministry of Children and Youth Services regional office or their service provider.

On December 7, 2017 the Ministry announced details of the new Direct Funding Option for evidence-based behavioural services.  The new direct funding option will provide families in the OAP with the choice of receiving direct funding to purchase evidence-based behavioural services for their child or youth, or service through one of Ontario's regional providers.   Additionally, the Ministry announced the following changes that will be implemented in January 2018;

  • Increase the maximum hourly rate for evidence-based behavioural services purchased through the OAP from $39 per hour to a maximum of up to $55 per hour, for families who choose the direct funding option.

  • Communication of new qualifications for clinical supervisors that will be phased in over time so that families feel confident that they are receiving consistent, high-quality behavioural services. This will be accompanied by the creation of an OAP provider list that will be implemented in 2018 to help families select a qualified OAP service provider.

  • Implementation of an Independent Clinical Review Process to give families in the OAP the opportunity to request a review of key components of their child or youth's OAP behaviour plan by a team that includes two clinicians and a family representative, in the event that they have concerns with any clinical decisions.

  • Change accountability and clinical oversight for behavioural services. Clinical supervisors will be accountable for OAP behaviour plans. Direct service providers will no longer provide clinical oversight for evidence-based behavioural services delivered through the direct funding option.

  • Introduce a quality assurance review process in spring 2018 in which OAP behaviour plans for both direct funding and direct service options, will be assessed by a team of third-party clinical reviewers.

  • Minister of Children & Youth Services, Michael Coteau will be hosting Tele Town Halls on January 11 at 7 p.m. and January 17 at 7 p.m. to answer questions from parents and caregivers. More details will be available on Ontario.ca/autism. 

See Press Release and for more detailed information see this Backgrounder and continue to monitor developments and more information on the OAP Website.​

Learn more

Implications for Occupational Therapists

Occupational therapists working with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder will wish to be informed about the changes announced. Changes may have implications for the children and families you work with. Understand the timing of transitions! How does this impact OT services for children with ASD? What opportunities does this create? We want to hear from you.