(Canada) Ont: 'Minimum 5 yr wait' for autism services; $567M funding "not enough"
- The end of childhood
- May 24
- 1 min read
June 24, 2025, NWO: 'The longer the wait, the greater the cost' says Ontario Autism Coalition president
THUNDER BAY — A $60 million [$44M US] boost in autism funding is very welcome, says the president of the Ontario Autism Coalition, but questions remain for local caregivers.
The 2025 provincial budget included an increase in funding for the Ontario Autism Program, from about $720 million [$524M US] to $779 million [$567M US], but that's not enough according to Thunder Bay's Alina Cameron.
“Any increase to the Ontario Autism Program funding-wise is greatly appreciated and needed, but we're left with a lot of questions about where this funding is going to be used specifically,” said Cameron. . . .
Although similar levels of funding have been allocated to the Ontario Autism Program in previous years, the number of children currently wait-listed for core clinical services has reached an all-time high.
“Early intervention, a proven and essential element of care, is virtually non-existent in Ontario,” Cameron said. “It's a minimum of five years wait at present, meaning an early intervention is not accessible right now.”
With the lack of essential supports, it has become increasingly more common for one parent to leave the workforce and care for their child full-time, adding pressure to the family dynamic, she said. . . .
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