Accessing autism funding and services in Ontario

AUGUST 17, 2022

For more than 20 years, funding and services have been provided that are specialized for children and youth under 18 years of age with autism, along with their families and caregivers.

The new Ontario Autism Program (OAP) is currently in a transitional phase as it moves toward becoming more needs-based and family-centered. At this time, families can access a variety of services and supports – more details are below.

What you need to know about available services

The new needs-based OAP has five service streams:

1. Core Clinical Services (Fees covered by AccessOAP funding, childhood budgets, interim one-time funding or out-of-pocket)

What it is: Core Clinical Services include applied behaviour analysis (ABA), occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and mental health services.

Who is eligible: Children and youth will be invited to start Core Clinical Services in the order they registered for the OAP.

How to access: Families will receive an invitation letter to access needs-based funding for Core Clinical Services. Care coordinators will be responsible for guiding your family through the determination of needs process to determine your child’s support needs and associated funding for core clinical services and supports. Once the funding is received, families may spend it on eligible Core Clinical Services. Families have flexibility to choose their service provider. To register for services offered at Surrey Place, visit our autism services page or call 1-833-575-KIDS (5437).

2. Foundational Family Services (FREE)

What it is: Foundational Family Services include a wide range of programs aimed at providing families with the tools to support their child and participate in their ongoing learning and development. Services include:

Family and peer mentoring
Caregiver workshops and follow-up coaching sessions
Brief, targeted consultations
Transition supports
Family resource and clinic days

Who is eligible: Foundational Family Services are available to all families registered in the OAP living anywhere in Ontario. These services are provided at no cost.

How to access: To register for services offered at Surrey Place, visit the MySurreyPlace.ca client portal or call 1-833-575-KIDS (5437). There’s no limit to the number of times families can access Foundational Family Services.

3. Caregiver-Mediated Early Years Services (FREE)

What it is: Caregiver-Mediated Early Years Services help caregivers with young children learn how to implement strategies and techniques to teach young children new skills. Programs are naturalistic, child-led and developmentally appropriate.

Who is eligible: All children 12-48 months old who are registered in the Ontario Autism Program can receive this program free of charge.

How to access: Invitation letters are sent to all eligible families. Families can select the most suitable program for their family and child and register directly with a service provider.

To register for services offered at Surrey Place or to learn more, visit the Toronto Autism Services Network website. Families can register directly on the site.

4. Entry to School Program (FREE)

What it is: Entry to School Program is a six-month group-based program designed to prepare young children entering kindergarten or grade 1 for the first time. Offered free of charge, the goal of this program is to help children develop school readiness skills, including communication, social skillsand how to manage their emotions and behaviour. Families and educators have access to consultation services from Entry to School staff, as needed, during a child’s first six months in school.

Who is eligible: Children between three to six years old who will be starting kindergarten or Grade 1 for the first time.

How to access: Eligible families will receive an invitation letterand register directly with a service provider. To register for services at Surrey Place or to learn more, visit the Toronto Autism Services Network website or call Surrey Place at 1-833-575-KIDS (5437).

5. Urgent Response Service (FREE)

What it is: Urgent Response Service provides access to supports to help prevent crisis and reduce the risk of a child or youth harming themselves or others. It is not designed to replace emergency or crisis services. Eligible children and youth and their families can receive up to 12 weeks of free supports, which may include interdisciplinary consultation, service coordination, respite services or direct services to the child/youth and family.

Who is eligible: This program is designed for eligible children and youth who are experiencing a specific, urgent need.

How to access: To register for services offered at Surrey Place, visit our Urgent Response Service page or call 1-833-575-KIDS (5437).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Families who were registered with their regional provider prior to April 1, 2019, continue to receive funded services under the old OAP guidelines. Behaviour plans which ended on or before March 31, 2023 can be extended for one additional six-month period. Any plans ending on or after April 1, 2023 cannot be renewed. To support the transition into Core Clinical Services, it is essential that all families create an account with Access OAP and agree to transition their child’s OAP record to AccessOAP, as outlined in the email/letter sent directly to them from the Ministry.

Families who registered on and after April 1, 2021 are in the new needs-based OAP. Families who received a letter or email from the Government of Ontario with a Transition Code will need to create an account with Access OAP. Most of these families are now waiting for their invitation to access Core Clinical Services. Once received, families will then be able to spend that funding on eligible Core Autism Services, including applied behaviour analysis (ABA), speech-language pathology, occupational therapy or mental health services. These families are also able to access a variety of FREE services, including Foundational Family Services, Caregiver-Mediated Early Years, Entry to School and Urgent Response Services where appropriate.

Surrey Place’s knowledgeable staff helps families navigate the services and supports available to them.

Surrey Place’s Intake Team helps families navigate the services offered at Surrey Place, ensuring families access relevant programs. Surrey Place offers all five streams of the Ontario Autism Program.
Surrey Place’s Family Support Coaches facilitate an Orientation to the Ontario Autism Program workshop to help families understand the new program. Coaches are also available to meet one-on-one with families experiencing challenges submitting their OAP registration forms, funding applications, or expense forms.
Family Support Coaches also help families navigate the broader supports and services available in the community.

Questions?

We’re here to help. Call 1-833-575-KIDS (5437) or visit https://www.surreyplace.ca/services/autism-services/

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

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

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

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

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

Accessing autism funding and services in Ontario

What you need to know about available services