Autism Services

Funding Sources for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and other Developmental Disabilities

Ontario Autism Program (OAP) Childhood Budgets/Interim One-Time Funding 

Individualized funding provided by Ministry Children, Community, and Social Services for children or youth with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

More info here.

Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) -Passport Funding

Provided by Ministry Children, Community, and Social Services for adults (18+years of age) with developmental disabilities.

More info here.

Assistive Devices Program (ADP)

Financial assistance for Ontario residents with long term physical disabilities to obtain assistive devices appropriate for the individual’s needs and essential for independent living.

More info here.

Home and Community Care Services through Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs)

Funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care – Provides case managers that can organize home and community based services for qualifying children and adults.

More info here.

Special Services at Home (SSAH)

Financial support through the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Service which provides help to families who are caring for a child under the age of 18 years with a developmental and/or physical disability.

More info here.

Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ASCD)

Provides financial support for low-to-moderate income families to cover some of the extra costs of caring for a child (under 18 years of age) who has a severe disability.

More info here.

Private Health Insurance – Extended Health Benefits

Many employers offer private healthcare benefits, which may cover:-Occupational Therapy-Physiotherapy-Psychology-Speech-Language Pathology-Social Work…

If you have health Insurance, check your benefits package. If not, you can also determine whether you qualify to buy private insurance through the many carriers in Ontario.

Children’s Critical Illness Coverage

A few private insurance companies now offer coverage for a diagnosis of Autism, with varying levels of funding eligibility.

The following policies cover Autism as a non-critical illness thereby allowing parents of children with an autism diagnosis the ability to use the funds for therapy/treatment as they choose:

Blue Cross – covered under the Critical Illness Multi-Protection plan

Desjardins – covered under the Critical Illness –Child, 20 pay plan

Easter Seals Ontario

Provides funding for special equipment/supplies/camps for children with a disability.

More info here.

Incontinence Supplies Grant Program

Administered by Easter Seals Ontario for the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care this program is for children and youth between the ages of 3 to 18 years with chronic disabilities (physical or developmental) that result in irreversible incontinence or retention problems lasting longer than six months and requiring the use of incontinence supplies.

More info here.

Top Up Program

The Top Up Program is available to eligible clients receiving the Incontinence Supplies Grant (funded by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care) and Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD) (funded by the Ministry of Children and Youth Services/Ministry of Community and Social Services). The program “tops up” the annual amount from the Incontinence Supplies

More info here

Access2 Entertainment Card

Allows a caregiver free access to accompany a person with a disability to over 500 eligible venues and events across Canada.

More info here.

March of Dimes

March of Dimes Canada provides a wide range of services to people with physical disabilities

More info here.

Autism Ontario One-to-One Summer Support Worker Reimbursement Fund

Available to families of children or youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who retain the services of a one-to-one support worker for their child to attend a community summer camp or summer program.

March Break Reimbursement Fund-Available to families of children or youth with ASD who the services of a one-to-one support worker OR who have paid for their child to attend a March Break camp program

More info here.

Jennifer Ashleigh Children’s Charity (JACC)

Assists in funding of hospital and treatment costs, household costs, respite care, specialized medical treatments, and therapies – (Speech Language Therapy, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy) for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Asthma, Diabetes, Dyslexia/Learning Disabilities, Language Delays (Receptive & Expressive Language), or Stuttering. Family income cap of $60,000 gross family income

More info here.

Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada

Provides funded trips/experiences for chronically ill children and their families

More info here.

Ceridian Cares

Supports individuals or families in need of financial assistance in the form of grants for ‘Quality of Life’ and ‘Basic Essentials’ for children’s programs, camp, art supplies, books, athletic programs. Does not cover the cost towards ongoing therapies.

More info here.