Why I Built KnowAutism

Why did I build KnowAutism

Someone close to me went through the Ontario autism process with their child. After the diagnosis, they expected a clear path. Instead they got a confirmation number, a long wait, and a collection of government pages that did not connect to each other. They spent months learning rules that should have been explained up front.

That experience is not unusual. Parents across Ontario are forced to act like project managers just to access support their children are already eligible for. The information exists, but it is scattered across provincial and federal sites, written in policy language, and organized around program structure instead of family needs.

I built KnowAutism to close that gap. Not to replace the government, but to make the existing system easier to understand and act on.

What problem is this site trying to solve

Ontario has at least nine programs relevant to autism families, spread across provincial ministries, the federal government, and the school system. Each program has its own eligibility rules, application process, and timeline. Most families do not know what exists, what applies to them, or what order to do things in.

The result: parents miss programs they could use now, wait years without knowing about free interim supports, and spend time on hold or reading policy documents when they could be with their child.

What does KnowAutism help families do

Three things. Find which programs may apply to their situation. Understand what each program does, who it is for, and how to apply. Then take the next step with a clear action, not a reading list.

• The Program Finder asks a few questions about your child and situation, then shows which programs to look into first. It runs in your browser. Nothing is stored or sent to a server.
• The funding guides explain each program in plain language: what it is, who it is for, how to apply, what mistakes to avoid, and where to go next.
• The Start Here page gives you a step by step path based on where you are: before diagnosis, just diagnosed, waiting for funding, or already receiving support.

What this site does not do

KnowAutism is an independent guidance site. It is not the Ontario government, not a healthcare provider, and not affiliated with any program it describes.

• Not medical advice. We do not provide diagnostic guidance, therapy recommendations, or clinical assessments.
• Not legal or tax advice. We describe programs as publicly documented and direct families to official sources for confirmation.
• Not a replacement for government pages. If anything on this site conflicts with an official Ontario or Canada page, the official page is correct.
• Does not store health information. The Program Finder runs in your browser. Your answers are not stored, sent to a server, or linked to your identity. See the privacy page for details.

Why should parents trust this information

Every funding guide is based on publicly available information from official government sources. Provincial programs are sourced from ontario.ca. Federal programs are sourced from canada.ca and CRA pages. We do not copy government text. We paraphrase it in plain language and link to the official source on every guide page so you can verify the details yourself.

We do not claim perfect accuracy. Program rules change. If a fact is approximate or varies by region, we say so. If a number is unstable or unverifiable, we either soften it or remove it. Families should always verify time sensitive details on official government pages.

How is this site kept accurate

Each guide page is reviewed against the current official government page before publication. We check eligibility criteria, funding amounts, application steps, deadlines, and contact information against the source.

Every guide page shows a "Last verified" date. That date reflects when we last confirmed the guide against the official page, not just when we last edited text. We aim to verify every guide at least once per quarter, and sooner when the government announces program changes.

If you find something that looks wrong, outdated, or misleading, email knowautismca@gmail.com with the page name and what looks off. We will check it against the official source and update the guide if needed.

Where should I start next

• Just got a diagnosis or not sure where to begin

  The Start Here page walks you through what to do at every stage: before diagnosis, just diagnosed, waiting for funding, or already receiving support.

  Go to Start Here

• Want to see which programs apply to you

  Answer a few questions and get a list of programs to look into, in order. Runs in your browser. Nothing stored.

  Go to the Program Finder

• Want to read about a specific program

  Nine programs explained in plain language. Each guide covers eligibility, how to apply, common mistakes, and what to do next.

  See all funding guides