Autism Support & Navigation for Families
Your Child Has Been Diagnosed With Autism. What Comes Next?
Receiving an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis can bring both answers and many new questions.
Which therapies does my child need?
What funding can we apply for?
How do I register for the Ontario Autism Program?
What should I ask the school for?
Are there tax benefits or financial supports available?
Where do I even start?
At My Child Is Different, we help families understand the supports available to their child and create a clear, personalized plan for the next steps.
Every autistic child is different. Some children need significant support with communication and daily living, while others may need help primarily with social communication, emotional regulation, sensory needs, learning, attention, or independence. Our goal is to help families identify the programs and services that are relevant to their child, rather than trying to navigate everything alone.
1. Ontario Autism Program — OAP
One of the first steps after an autism diagnosis in Ontario is registering the child with the Ontario Autism Program (OAP) through AccessOAP.
Depending on the child's age, needs, eligibility, and stage within the program, OAP supports may include the following:
Foundational Family Services—free services available to families registered with OAP, including caregiver education, workshops, coaching, consultation, and resources.
Core Clinical Services—individualized funding that may be used for eligible clinical services such as behavioral services, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and mental-health supports.
Caregiver-Mediated Early Years Programs — early intervention programs that teach parents and caregivers strategies they can use during everyday routines with younger children.
Entry to School Program — supports eligible children who are preparing to begin kindergarten or Grade 1 and helps with the transition into school.
Urgent Response Services—short-term support for eligible children and youth experiencing an urgent behavioral or safety-related situation. Services may be provided for up to 12 weeks.
We can help families understand these pathways, organize their information, and determine what steps they should take next.
2. Therapy and Developmental Supports
An autism diagnosis does not mean every child needs every therapy.
Supports should be selected according to the child's individual strengths, challenges, and family priorities.
Speech-Language Therapy
A Speech-Language Pathologist may support the following:
Communication and language development • understanding and using language • social communication • speech clarity • functional communication • alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) when appropriate.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy may help with:
Sensory regulation • fine-motor skills • handwriting • dressing • feeding • toileting • daily routines • play skills • independence and self-care.
Behavioural / ABA Services
Behavioral supports may be helpful when a child needs assistance with:
Functional communication • significant behaviours • transitions • emotional regulation • daily routines • safety • independence • learning new skills.
Therapy goals should be meaningful and individualized to the child.
Mental-Health and Psychological Supports
Autistic children can also experience anxiety, ADHD, emotional dysregulation, and other mental-health concerns. Psychology, psychotherapy, or other mental-health services may therefore be appropriate for some children.
Other children may benefit from feeding therapy, physiotherapy, developmental services, or additional medical assessment depending on their individual needs.
3. School Supports—IEP, Accommodations, and Special Education
Parents do not need to manage school concerns alone.
Ontario schools provide special-education programs and services for students with autism and other exceptionalities.
Families may need to discuss an Individual Education Plan (IEP) with their child's school. An IEP identifies the special education instruction, accommodations, and services a student requires.
Depending on the child, school supports may include the following:
Visual schedules • sensory breaks • extra processing time • alternative ways of demonstrating learning • communication supports • assistive technology • behavioural strategies • reduced distractions • transition plans • modified or alternative expectations • additional special-education support.
Some children may also go through the Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC) process.
We can help parents understand what these terms mean and prepare for discussions with their child's school.
4. Special Services at Home — SSAH
Families may also be eligible for Special Services at Home (SSAH).
SSAH provides funding to eligible families caring for a child with a developmental and/or physical disability. Funding can help purchase services and supports related to caregiving and participation in activities at home and in the community.
This is a separate program from OAP, so families should not assume that registering for OAP means they cannot explore SSAH.
5. Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities — ACSD
Some families may qualify for Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD).
ACSD provides financial assistance to eligible families to help with some of the additional costs associated with caring for a child with a severe disability. Eligibility depends on several factors, including the child's needs and family circumstances.
We can help families understand whether this is a program they should explore and what information may be required.
6. Disability Tax Credit — DTC
Families should also consider whether their child may qualify for the federal Disability Tax Credit (DTC).
Having an autism diagnosis by itself does not automatically mean that a child will qualify. Eligibility is based on the effect of the child's impairment on everyday functioning and the criteria established by the Canada Revenue Agency. A medical practitioner must certify the relevant portion of the application.
For eligible families, DTC approval can be extremely important because it may also provide access to additional disability-related financial programs.
7. Child Disability Benefit — CDB
When a child is approved for the DTC and the family qualifies for the Canada Child Benefit, they may also qualify for the Child Disability Benefit.
The CDB is a tax-free monthly benefit for eligible families caring for a child under 18 with a severe and prolonged impairment. Families already receiving the Canada Child Benefit generally receive the CDB automatically once the child is DTC-approved.
8. Registered Disability Savings Plan — RDSP
After DTC approval, families should also consider opening a Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP).
An RDSP is a long-term savings program designed to help eligible people with disabilities save for their future. Depending on eligibility and family income, the federal government may contribute additional money through disability savings grants and bonds.
Starting this planning while a child is young can be particularly valuable.
9. Respite and Caregiver Support
Supporting an autistic child can place significant demands on parents and caregivers.
Respite is not a luxury. For some families, it is an essential part of maintaining a safe and sustainable home environment.
Ontario has respite supports for eligible children with autism and other special needs, and SSAH funding may also be used for eligible respite and support services.
Families can also explore caregiver education, parent groups, community agencies, and autism organizations.
10. Recreation and Community Participation
Children with autism should have opportunities to participate in their community.
Depending on the child, families can explore the following:
Autism-friendly recreation • swimming • camps • sensory-friendly events • social groups • adapted sports • community programs • library programs • recreation programs and other inclusive activities.
For children who require a support person when attending participating recreational, entertainment, or cultural venues, families may also want to explore programs such as the Access 2 Card. At participating venues, the card can provide free or discounted admission for one support person.
11. Safety and Daily-Living Supports
For some autistic children, safety and everyday functioning require additional planning.
Families may need support related to:
Wandering or elopement • limited awareness of danger • communication during emergencies • medical-alert identification • toileting • sleep • feeding • sensory overload • aggression or self-injury • transportation safety • community safety.
Some children may also benefit from adaptive equipment, communication devices, or sensory and daily-living products.
A child's safety plan should be individualized according to their abilities and risks.
12. Medical and Developmental Follow-Up
Autism may occur alongside other developmental or medical concerns.
Families should continue appropriate follow-up with their child's healthcare providers and discuss concerns such as:
ADHD • anxiety • sleep difficulties • feeding problems • constipation or gastrointestinal concerns • seizures • hearing • vision • learning difficulties • intellectual disability • speech and motor development.
Treating co-occurring conditions can make a major difference in the child's quality of life and ability to participate at home, at school, and in the community.
13. Planning for the Teenage and Adult Years
Planning should not stop during childhood.
For autistic youth who may qualify for adult developmental services, families can begin exploring Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) from age 16. Adult developmental services begin after age 18 for eligible individuals.
Families may also explore ODSP as adulthood approaches. Ontario allows an eligible young person to begin the ODSP application process up to six months before their 18th birthday.
Transition planning may also include:
Post-secondary education • employment • independent living skills • transportation • financial planning • Passport funding • adult healthcare • decision-making supports housing and long-term planning.
Starting these discussions early can make the transition to adulthood much easier.
We Help You Build a Plan for Your Child
There are many programs available—but knowing which ones apply to your child, where to start, what documents are needed, and what should be done first can be confusing.
At My Child Is Different, we help families organize the process.
We can help you:
Understand available programs and benefits
Identify supports your child may be eligible for
Navigate OAP and autism services
Explore therapy options
Understand school supports and IEPs
Navigate SSAH and ACSD applications
Understand DTC, Child Disability Benefit and RDSP options
Identify respite and community resources
Plan safety and daily-living supports
Prepare for future transitions and adult services
You Don't Have to Figure It Out Alone.
Every child has different needs, and every family's situation is different.
Our goal is to help you move from “I don't know where to start” to having a clear, organized plan for supporting your child.
Let us help you find the supports, services, and resources that may make a difference for your family.
Eligibility for government programs, funding, and benefits is determined by the responsible government agency or program. My Child Is Different can assist families with understanding and navigating available options but cannot guarantee eligibility, approval, funding, or access to services.