When Ashley Ferreira’s five-year-old son was diagnosed with autism in 2020, she expected support — not a half-decade of waiting. Five years later, she’s still paying out of pocket for essential therapies that the Ontario government promised to fund.
“I thought the diagnosis came with help,” Ferreira said. “It was a slap in the face when I realized how long families were waiting.”
Her experience echoes the findings of a recent Ontario Autism Coalition survey, which reveals that families now receiving government funding for core autism therapies applied five years ago. These therapies — including applied behaviour analysis, speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy — are meant to provide critical early intervention, but thousands of children remain on waiting lists.
Figures obtained through a freedom-of-information request show that more than 84,000 children are registered in the Ontario Autism Program (OAP), yet only 19,600 currently receive funding for core services.
When asked whether the five-year wait is acceptable, Children, Community and Social Services Minister Michael Parsa declined to give a direct answer, saying only, “We want to make sure every family is supported, every child and youth in this province has the opportunity to succeed and thrive.”
The Progressive Conservative government points to an increased $778 million budget for the autism program — more than double previous funding levels — and the inclusion of more services such as mental health supports and speech therapy. Officials also highlight “pillar programs,” such as the entry-to-school initiative, urgent response services, and caregiver training, designed to offer temporary relief while families wait for core therapy funding.
But for parents like Ferreira, those interim measures aren’t enough. “I see the pillars as Band-Aid solutions,” she said. “Our children need continued support.” Her family has already spent over $100,000 on private therapy to keep her son progressing.
Advocates say the system is failing an entire population. “Based on the 2021 StatsCan census, at least one in every 32 children in Ontario is autistic,” said Alina Cameron, president of the Ontario Autism Coalition. “That’s not rare — that’s a population being failed by this government. Families are paying the price.”
Cameron added that nearly 44% of parents of autistic children cannot work due to caregiving demands, compounding the financial strain.
Opposition leaders also criticized the Ford government’s handling of the program. NDP critic Alexa Gilmour called the coalition’s findings “a damning picture” of a system that “asks families to trust a safety net that isn’t there.”
“Less than one quarter of children registered for the Ontario Autism Program have received the therapy they were promised,” Gilmour said.
For families like the Ferreiras, the wait continues — and so does the debt. “He’s thriving right now,” Ashley said of her son. “But it’s no thanks to the government.”