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From Youth to Adulthood: Navigating Autism Services in Ontario After Age 18

OCTOBER 12, 2025

Turning 18 is a big step in any young person’s life. For people with autism and their families, it also means changes in the services they can receive. Youth programs end, and new adult services begin, but the process can be confusing.

At Surrey Place, we’re here to help make this transition easier. As the agency that hosts Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) for the Toronto Region, the access point for adult developmental services funded by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) in Ontario, we support individuals and families as they move into the adult system.

Table of contents

Understanding Developmental Services Ontario (DSO)

Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) is your gateway to accessing most government-funded adult developmental services in Ontario. In Toronto, Surrey Place is home to DSO Toronto Region (DSOTR), where we help eligible individuals apply for the services they need.

Families can begin the intake process as early as age 16 or 17 to avoid service gaps and allow time to prepare. Here’s what the process typically looks like:

  • Confirming eligibility – You must be 18 or older, live in Ontario, and have a documented developmental disability.
  • Gathering paperwork – Includes assessments from doctors or psychologists, and proof of residency.
  • Meeting with DSO staff – To discuss your needs, strengths, and goals.
  • Getting connected – DSOTR refers you to programs and supports when they become available.

DSO can connect you to:

  • Supported housing or independent living options
  • Day programs and community participation supports
  • Employment readiness and job coaching
  • Clinical supports

If you don’t currently have a family doctor, this is also a good time to find one and establish care. A family physician can support continuity as your child enters adulthood.

DSO Toronto Region helps people and families understand their options. You don’t have to do it alone, we’re here to guide you.

Jeanny Scantlebury, Vice President, Adult Services

Key Service Changes After Age 18

In Ontario, most autism and developmental services for children end at age 18. At that point, families need to apply for adult services through a different system. Some important changes include:

  • Youth services don’t continue automatically — A new application through Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) is required to determine and access adult supports.
  • New eligibility rules — DSO will be guide you through the eligibility process, which includes psychological assessments and proof of residency. It’s helpful to begin gathering paperwork such as assessments from psychologists or doctors, well before your child turns 18.
  • Different goals — Compared to services for children, adult services focus more on life skills, independence, jobs, and community participation. This includes housing supports, respite for caregivers, supports to help take part in the community, specialized and clinical supports, Adult Protective Service Worker Program, and the Passport program. As part of planning, families can also begin exploring financial supports available in adulthood.

It may feel like a big change, but with the early planning, families can navigate these changes with more confidence and less stress.

Adult Autism Services Offered at Surrey Place

If your child is already a client at Surrey Place and they’re about to head into adulthood, we can help with an easy transition to adult services.

In addition to being the DSO agency for Toronto, we offer many programs designed to support adults with autism. These services aim to build skills, stay healthy, and encourage meaningful community involvement. Some of our adult services include:

Our adult programs are based on dignity and independence. We want to help adults with autism live meaningful lives and feel included in their communities.

Jeanny Scantlebury, Vice President, Adult Services

Building Life Skills for Greater Independence

Life skills are a key part of becoming more independent. For many adults with autism, learning to manage everyday tasks can build confidence and unlock new opportunities for work, relationships and participation in the community. These skills can be practiced at home, in the community, or with support from a caregiver or therapist. Examples include:

  • Cooking and planning simple meals
  • Using a debit card and managing a basic budget
  • Doing laundry and cleaning
  • Using transit and scheduling appointments
  • Personal hygiene and dressing for different situations

We work with each person as an individual. We want to help adults reach their goals and live as independently as possible.

Jeanny Scantlebury, Vice President, Adult Services

Planning Financially for Adulthood

Adulthood also brings new financial considerations. Government programs are available to help, but they require preparation. Surrey Place’s Individualized Funding (IF) Library is a free online resource that makes navigating these systems easier. Through the IF Library, you can:

  • Learn about the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), which provides monthly support and health benefits
  • Understand how to apply for Passport Funding to help pay for programs, activities, and caregiver relief
  • Explore Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) to plan for long-term financial security
  • Track and manage funding sources in one place
  • Learn about supported decision-making, such as guardianship or powers of attorney

Families who start planning early are better prepared.

Jeanny Scantlebury, Vice President, Adult Services

Whether your loved one is preparing to turn 18 or already navigating the adult system, Surrey Place is here to help. Explore our programs, connect with Developmental Services Ontario (DSO), and find out how we support adults with autism at every stage.

Learn More about our Adult Services today

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By 2 months

Has your baby had their hearing screened? YES NO

By 6 months

Does the child?

Startle in response to loud noises? YES NO
Turn to where a sound is coming from? YES NO
Make different cries for different needs (hungry, tired)? YES NO
Watch your face as you talk? YES NO
Smile/laugh in response to your smiles and laughs? YES NO
Imitate coughs or other sounds such as ah, eh, buh YES NO

By 9 months

Does the child?

Respond to their name? YES NO
Respond to the telephone ringing or a knock at the door? YES NO
Understand being told no? YES NO
Get what they want through using gestures (reaching to be picked up)? YES NO
Play social games with you (Peek-a-Boo)? YES NO
Enjoy being around people? YES NO
Babble and repeat sounds such as babababa or duhduhduh? YES NO

By 12 months

Does the child?

Follow simple one-step directions (sit down)? YES NO
Look across the room to a toy when adult points at it? YES NO
Consistently use three to five words? YES NO
Use gestures to communicate (waves hi/bye, shakes head for no)? YES NO
Get your attention using sounds, gestures and pointing while looking at your eyes? YES NO
Bring you toys to show you? YES NO
Perform for social attention and praise? YES NO
Combine lots of sounds together as though talking (abada baduh abee)? YES NO
Show an interest in simple picture books? YES NO

By 18 months

Does the child?

Understand the meaning of in and out, off and on? YES NO
Point to more than 2 body parts when asked? YES NO
Use at least 20 words consistently? YES NO
Respond with words or gestures to simple questions (Where's teddy? What's that?)? YES NO
Demonstrate some pretend play with toys (gives teddy bear a drink, pretends a bowl is a hat)? YES NO
Make at least four different consonant sounds (p ,b, m, n, d, g, w, h)? YES NO
Enjoy being read to and sharing simple books with you? YES NO
Point to pictures using one finger? YES NO

By 2 years

Does the child?

Follow two-step directions (Go find your teddy bear and show it to Grandma.)? YES NO
Use 100 to 150 words? YES NO
Use at least two pronouns (you, me, mine)? YES NO
Consistently combine two to four words in short phrases (Daddy hat. Truck go down.)? YES NO
Enjoy being around other children? YES NO
Begin to offer toys to other children and imitate other children's actions and words? YES NO
Use words that are understood by others 50 to 60 per cent of the time? YES NO
Form words or sounds easily and without effort? YES NO
Hold books the right way up and turn the pages? YES NO
Read to stuffed animals or toys? YES NO
Scribble with crayons? YES NO

By 30 months

Does the child?

Understand the concepts of size (big/little) and quantity (a little/a lot, more)? YES NO
Use some adult grammar (two cookies, bird flying, I jumped)? YES NO
Use over 350 words? YES NO
Use action words such as run, spill, fall? YES NO
Participate in some turn-taking activities with peers, using both words and toys? YES NO
Demonstrate concern when another child is hurt or sad? YES NO
Combine several actions in play (puts blocks in the train and drives the train, drops the blocks off.)? YES NO
Put sounds at the beginning of most words? YES NO
Use words with two or more syllables or beats (ba-na-na, com-pu-ter, a-pple)? YES NO
Recognize familiar logos and signs involving print (Stop sign)? YES NO
Remember and understand familiar stories? YES NO

By 3 years

Does the child?

Understand who, what, where and why questions? YES NO
Create long sentences using five to eight words? YES NO
Talk about past events (trip to grandparents house, day at child care)? YES NO
Tell simple stories? YES NO
Show affection for favourite playmates? YES NO
Engage in multi-step pretend play (pretending to cook a meal, repair a car)? YES NO
Talk in a way that most people outside of the family understand what she/he is saying most of the time? YES NO
Have an understanding of the function of print (menus, lists, signs)? YES NO
Show interest in, and awareness of, rhyming words? YES NO
Read to stuffed animals or toys? YES NO
Scribble with crayons? YES NO

By 4 years

Does the child?

Follow directions involving three or more steps (First get some paper, then draw a picture and give it to Mommy)? YES NO
Use adult type grammar? YES NO
Tell stories with a beginning, middle and end? YES NO
Talk to try and solve problems with adults and with other children? YES NO
Show increasingly complex imaginary play? YES NO
Talk in a way that is understood by strangers almost all the time? YES NO
Generate simple rhymes (cat-bat)? YES NO
Match some letters with their sounds (letter b says buh, letter t says tuh)? YES NO