Official statement for world autism awareness day 2025 from the Ontario autism coalition available to read here: https://wawa-news.com/index.php/2025/04/02/ontario-autism-coalition-recognizes-world-autism-awareness-month/

Happy World Autism Awareness Day!

Our message is clear: awareness is important, action is imperative. ❤️💛💜

#50KIsNotOK #onpoli #onted #AutismIsLifelong

The official Ontario Autism Coalition statement on World Autism Awareness Day 2025 available to read here: https://wawa-news.com/index.php/2025/04/02/ontario-autism-coalition-recognizes-world-autism-awareness-month/

Happy World Autism Awareness Day!

Our message is clear: awareness is important, but action is imperative.

#50KIsNotOK #onpoli #onted #AutismIsLifelong

Ontario kids missing more school due to exclusions: Education Ministry data Advocates believe the data, obtained by The Trillium, showing students were excluded for 11,776 days in 2022-23 is the ‘tip of the iceberg’

Thank you to Sneh Duggal at The Trillium for this important article about school exclusions in Ontario. #onpoli #onted #50KIsNotOK

www.thetrillium.ca/news/educati...

Ontario kids missing more school due to exclusions: Education Ministry data Advocates believe the data, obtained by The Trillium, showing students were excluded for 11,776 days in 2022-23 is the ‘tip of the iceberg’

Thank you to Sneh Duggal at The Trillium for this important article about school exclusions in Ontario. #onpoli #onted #50KIsNotOK

www.thetrillium.ca/news/educati...

Ontario parents, advocates call for more supports for special needs students The special education system is fundamentally broken, according to the Ontario Autism Coalition.

Thank you to Allison Jones at CP for this piece highlighting the community's concerns about school safety. #onted #onpoli #50KIsNotOK #AutismIsLifelong

www.thestar.com/news/ontario...

Ontario parents, advocates call for more supports for special needs students The special education system is fundamentally broken, according to the Ontario Autism Coalition.

Thank you to Allison Jones at CP for this piece highlighting the community's concerns about school safety. #onted #onpoli #50KIsNotOK #AutismIsLifelong

www.thestar.com/news/ontario...

Home Page - Ontario Autism Coalition

While the Ministry responsible for the Autism Program has said they’ve increased overall funding, the province must prioritize connecting children to the critical care they deserve.

Read more from the Ontario Autism Coalition here: ontarioautismcoalition.com

#50KIsNotOk #60KIsNotOk #onpoli

Infographic stating the larger statistics from the FOI which include numbers as of Feb 5th, 2025: 79,281 children/youth registered for the Ontario Autism Program, of those 21,672 have been enrolled to core clinical services and of those 17,650 have access to funding. The rate of entry into these programs is flat, indicating little change. At present 61,631 eligible children/youth are not accessing core funding. We know from community chatter that invitations to core are going out to kids who were registered as of Spring 2020. The infographic shows the OAC logo and specifies that the organization is celebrating 20years this year!

According to ministry docs - the Ontario Autism Program is moving at a snail’s pace. This means young children on the autism spectrum are NOT receiving early intervention, services or support.
#50KIsNotOK #60KIsNotOK #onpoli #onted #onlab #solidarity #WeHaveReceipts

The OAC has officially launched their Spec Edu Survey Report - thank you to everyone who contributed, participated, amplified. Stay tuned as this survey will take place annually.
#onted #50KIsNotOK

ontarioautismcoalition.com/wp-content/u...

OAC statement (condensed): FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 2025-2-6 6 Yrs Later: Ontario Autism Program Promises Broken Today marks 6 yrs since the announcement of the Ford Government’s plans for the OAP; a file that sat stagnant & seemingly forgotten since Ford had taken office. The former Minister of Children Community & Social Services (MCCSS), Lisa MacLeod announced a complete program overhaul describing a situation that abandoned families & blocked access to early intervention. The Minister declared the state of the waitlist “unconscionable:” 23,000 children/youth “languishing” & waiting upwards to 2 yrs for necessary services. Despite initial promises to “clear the waitlist,” reduce wait times & connect families with funding for therapy, Feb 6 remains an anniversary unworthy of celebration. Today, despite a government claim to have delivered a program designed “by the community, for the community,” the waitlist number once deemed “unconscionable” has now more than doubled in size & the government’s self-described “needs-based” program layers age on top of need as criteria to issue funding. The rate at which children are coming off the waitlist is exceeded by that of those joining it. More than 50K children/youth continue to wait for an invitation to access Core Clinical Services. Whereas new, smaller, limited-time programs have been introduced for some, access to ongoing, individualized, clinical supports are wholly out of reach. Our community remains in crisis, many with yrs left to wait for clinical therapy & without an estimated wait time. The OAC reminds the Minister that the OAP is a time-sensitive file & new offerings for preschool-aged children do not benefit others who have already spent 5 years on a waitlist for clinical services. We continue to call on the Premier & MCCSS to make urgent improvements that eliminate discriminatory assessment criteria, address countless systemic barriers & direct adequate funding efficiently to the core services that matter most

This week marked the 6th anniversary of Doug Ford & Lisa MacLeod demolishing the Ontario Autism Program. There are still OVER 50K autistic children waitlisted for support.

Ask the Ontario provincial election candidates why.

#50KIsNotOK #onpoli #onted #onlab #WeHaveReceipts #DontLookAwayOntario

This hits very close to home as we bring Regis’ experience at the DDSB to the Ontario Special Education Tribunal.

#50KIsNotOk

The OAC has officially launched their Spec Edu Survey Report - thank you to everyone who contributed, participated, amplified. Stay tuned as this survey will take place annually.
#onted #50KIsNotOK
ontarioautismcoalition.com/wp-content/upl…

A dark blue background covered in different sized golden stars, and golden buntings across the top. The text (golden) reads "HAPPY NEW YEAR” then "2025" below that. Under that it reads "WISHING EVERYONE HEALTH & HAPPINESS IN 2025". Beneath that is the Ontario Autism Coalition Logo (with figures of red, gold, violet).

2024 was a yr of struggle for Ontario's autism community, but we’re not giving up. To every OAC member & ally: we see you, we stand with you & we will continue to fight alongside you. Let’s make 2025 a yr of action & solidarity. Together, we are stronger. #50KIsNotOK #AutismIsLifelong #onted

A dark blue background covered in different sized golden stars, and golden buntings across the top. The text (golden) reads "HAPPY NEW YEAR” then "2025" below that. Under that it reads "WISHING EVERYONE HEALTH & HAPPINESS IN 2025". Beneath that is the Ontario Autism Coalition Logo (with figures of red, gold, violet).

2024 was a yr of struggle for Ontario's autism community but we’re not giving up. To every OAC member & ally: we see you, we stand with you & we will continue to fight alongside you. Let’s make 2025 a yr of action & solidarity. Together, we are stronger. #50KIsNotOK #AutismIsLifelong #onted

Photo of Ontario Premier Doug Ford (at the premiers meeting) in front of a row of Canadian provincial flags, seated at a table. He is speaking, one hand slightly raised, and is flanked by reporters holding microphones. Cameras and phones are held towards him to record what he is saying. On top of this photo are the words in bold typeface: "50K+ Children waitlisted for autism services. Special education is imploding. Every 3 days, a child in care dies. 'Leadership'". At the bottom are the Ontario Autism Coalition logo and hashtags #50KIsNotOK #WeHaveReceipts

Yesterday this photo was lauded by Ontario PCs as proof of leadership.

When we see this photo we know the truth.

@fordnation is dangerous to our communities, to us, to our kids.

PLEASE VOTE

#50KIsNotOK #onpoli #onted #WeHaveReceipts #DontLookAwayOntario #AutismIsLifelong

Photo of Ontario Premier Doug Ford (at the premiers meeting) in front of a row of Canadian provincial flags, seated at a table. He is speaking, one hand slightly raised, and is flanked by reporters holding microphones. Cameras and phones are held towards him to record what he is saying. On top of this photo are the words in bold typeface: "50K+ Children waitlisted for autism services. Special education is imploding. Every 3 days, a child in care dies. 'Leadership'". At the bottom are the Ontario Autism Coalition logo and hashtags #50KIsNotOK #WeHaveReceipts

Yesterday this photo was lauded by Ontario PCs as proof of leadership.

When we see this photo we know the truth.

@fordnation is dangerous to our communities, to us, to our kids.

PLEASE VOTE

#50KIsNotOK #onpoli #onted #WeHaveReceipts #DontLookAwayOntario #AutismIsLifelong

Yesterday this photo was lauded by Ontario PCs as proof of leadership.

When we see this photo we know the truth.

@fordnation is dangerous to our communities, to us, to our kids.

PLEASE VOTE

#50KIsNotOK #onpoli #onted #WeHaveReceipts #DontLookAwayOntario #AutismIsLifelong

Yesterday this photo was lauded by Ontario PCs as proof of leadership.

When we see this photo we know the truth.

@fordnation is dangerous to our communities, to us, to our kids.

PLEASE VOTE

#50KIsNotOK #onpoli #onted #WeHaveReceipts #DontLookAwayOntario #AutismIsLifelong

Hospital staff suggested ‘surrendering’ a child. Another was taken by nurses to CAS in a taxi. What happens when the system can’t cope The stories of an Oshawa-area family and another case investigated by the Patient Ombudsman suggest pressures put on parents by health-care staff.

In Ontario the PC Ford govt has ignored systemic issues in all programs meant to protect kids & help them lead meaningful, healthy lives. Education, health care, complex needs-arrive too little too late

Our communities live the consequences

VOTE
#onpoli #50KIsNotOK

www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

The # of disability families contacting us (@ontautism.bsky.social) has increased exponentially the last 6 mons & they’re in an ever increasing level of crisis.

The FORD PC govt knows. I’ve told them. They don’t care.

Please, Ontario. In 2025 vote like you give a shit.
#onpoli #50KIsNotOK #onted

My paid X account is being throttled bc of my efforts to educate the Ontario public about the 50k kids waitlisted for the ON autism program; that Ford let us all down.

But the men lashing out at me w obscenities - nothing comes of reporting them.

I’m thankful for #bluesky #50KIsNotOK

Keep an eye on @jamiewestndp.bsky.social today in Question Period 👀 He is asking a question Bob & Suzanne from Sudbury.

#DontLookAwayOntario
#AutismDoesntEndAtFord
#50kIsNotOk #ONpoli

I wish doug ford had the same sense of urgency for the Ontario autism program as he does for booze and ripping out bike lanes.

50,000+ children/youth are waiting for access to critical core services.

Families are in crisis.

#50KIsNotOK #onpoli #onted #DontLookAwayOntario #WeHaveReceipts

The volume of families coming to the @ontautism.bsky.social for help with advocacy has noticeably escalated the last 6 months. The escalating level of crisis they come to us in is unfathomable. This was all avoidable. #50KIsNotOK #onpoli #DontLookAwayOntario #onted

Sudbury family had to send their autistic 8-year-old five hours away just to get her help. ‘We can’t do this by ourselves anymore’ The only place for the girl with complex needs was Mississauga, a 400-kilometre drive away, making it hard for the struggling parents to even visit.

Exhaustion, lack of info & therapies - it’s no wonder families end up here.

If Doug Ford isn’t moved into action on the #OntarioAutismProgram by stories like this he’s completely lost the plot. Shame.

#50KIsNotOK #onpoli

www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

The Ontario Ford government is generating longer waitlists #NotOnTimeNotOnBudget

Over 50,000 vulnerable kids are STILL waiting for access to core autism services via the Ontario Autism Program. It’s been over 6 years. Tick tock.

#50KIsNotOK #onpoli #onted #WeHaveReceipts #DontLookAwayOntario

Families Rally At Rickford Event A small group of northern Ontario families gathered with signs outside of the Prince Arthur Hotel where Minist...

Ah memories.

Northern MPPs Greg Rickford and Kevin Holland still block autism families from meeting with them - years later.

Over 50,000 kids are stuck on a waitlist for core autism services.

#50KIsNotOk #Onpoli #onted #WeHaveReceipts

www.country1053.ca/2019/11/07/1...

#50KIsNotOK #WeHaveReceipts #DontLookAwayOntario #onpoli #onted #ODSP #AutismIsLifelong

With a spring ONTARIO prov election on the horizon, here are some facts we’d like to share:

Under the Ford govt (as of June 2024) of the 73,031 kids registered for the ON autism pgm only 14,113 were actually accessing it. That’s after 6+ yrs of waiting for them to “get it right”

#vote #50kIsNotOK

#50KIsNotOK #onpoli #onted #WeHaveReceipts #DontLookAwayOntario