Glossary

Ontario autism acronyms and terms

Every acronym we use on this site, defined in plain language, with a link to the full guide where one exists. If you came here from another page, your browser back button returns you to where you were.

A

AAC: Augmentative and Alternative Communication. Tools and methods (picture boards, dedicated devices, apps) that support non-speaking or minimally speaking children.
ABA: Applied Behaviour Analysis. A therapy that focuses on building skills and reducing behaviors that interfere with learning or daily life.
AccessOAP: The organization that handles OAP registration and care coordination. Not a government ministry — an independent intake organization. Registration requires a written ASD diagnosis, and being registered is not the same as receiving Core Clinical funding. Read the full guide →
ACSD: Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities. An income-tested monthly provincial payment for families caring for a child with a severe disability. As of the current Ontario application form, the income threshold is listed as $77,640 — check the official page for current figures. Read the full guide →
ADP: Assistive Devices Program. A provincial program that helps pay for equipment like communication aids, wheelchairs, and hearing aids. Read the full guide →

B

BCBA: Board Certified Behaviour Analyst. The international BACB certification many ABA providers in Ontario hold. Since July 1, 2024, behaviour analysts practising in Ontario must also register with the CPBAO and use the title Registered Behaviour Analyst (RBA). Transitional registration routes closed on June 30, 2026, and new applicants now use the entry-level supervised practice route.
Behaviour analysis: A field focused on understanding behaviour and teaching skills. Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is the applied form most families encounter. In Ontario this work is regulated through the CPBAO.

C

CASLPO: College of Audiologists and Speech-Language Pathologists of Ontario. The regulatory college for SLPs in Ontario.
CDB: Child Disability Benefit. A monthly tax-free payment from the federal government. CDB may be paid if your child is approved for the Disability Tax Credit and your family is eligible for the Canada Child Benefit.
Childhood Budget: Earlier OAP funding stream replaced by Core Clinical for new entrants. Some existing families still hold it.
CMEY: Caregiver Mediated Early Years. Free OAP program for children 12 to 48 months with caregiver coaching. Access is by AccessOAP invitation. Cannot be held at the same time as Core Clinical. Read the full guide →
Core Clinical: The main OAP stream that funds ABA, speech, OT, and mental health therapy. Invitations are based on your child's OAP registration date. Many families wait a long time; exact wait times are not published and can vary. Read the full guide →
COTO: College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario. The regulatory college for OTs in Ontario.
CPBAO: College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario. The regulatory college for psychologists, psychological associates, and Registered Behaviour Analysts (RBAs) in Ontario.
CRA: Canada Revenue Agency. The federal government agency that handles taxes, the DTC, and benefit payments.
CSP: Coordinated Service Planning. A regional service that helps families with complex needs coordinate multiple supports under one plan.
CTN: Children's Treatment Network. Regional networks across Ontario that coordinate services for children with special needs. Publicly funded.

D

DSO: Developmental Services Ontario. The provincial access point for adult developmental services in Ontario, funded by MCCSS. Adults can access services from age 18, and families can begin the eligibility process around age 16. Eligibility is for people with a developmental disability and is determined by DSO; an autism diagnosis on its own does not confirm it. Read the full guide →
DTC: Disability Tax Credit. A federal tax credit from CRA. DTC approval is required to open an RDSP and is a prerequisite for Child Disability Benefit payments (which also depend on Canada Child Benefit eligibility). Read the full guide →

E

EarlyON: Free Ontario drop-in centres for families with young children (birth to 6). No diagnosis or referral required.
Entry to School: OAP program for children ages 3 to 6 that builds school readiness before kindergarten or Grade 1. Invitation required. Read the full guide →
Evidence-based service: A service approach supported by research and professional standards. Ask a provider what approach they use and how they measure whether it is helping your child. No service can promise a specific result for one child.

F

FFS: Foundational Family Services. Free OAP supports available to all registered families — workshops, peer mentoring, short consultations. No invitation required. Read the full guide →

I

IEP: Individual Education Plan. A document created by your child's school that outlines accommodations and supports. No diagnosis is required to request one. Read the full guide →
IOT: Interim One-Time funding. A smaller OAP envelope some families received before Core Clinical invitations began.
IPRC: Identification, Placement and Review Committee. A formal school board process that identifies a student as exceptional and determines placement.

M

MCCSS: Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. The Ontario ministry that runs SSAH and ACSD.

O

OAP: Ontario Autism Program. The provincial program that funds autism services for children under 18. Read the full guide →
OHIP: Ontario Health Insurance Plan. Covers medically necessary care in Ontario. OHIP+ covers eligible prescription medications for people under 25 who do not have private insurance. It does not cover ABA, speech therapy, OT, or other autism therapies.
OT: Occupational Therapist. A professional who helps with daily living skills, sensory processing, fine motor skills, and self-regulation.
Out-of-pocket payment: Paying for a service yourself rather than through OAP, insurance, or another program. Some families pay out of pocket while waiting for OAP funding. These costs are not always reimbursable later, so check the program rules first. Read the full guide →

P

Parent involvement: How a service includes you in the work, such as observing sessions, coaching on strategies to use at home, and reviewing progress with you. Some programs are caregiver-mediated, meaning the parent delivers strategies with coaching.
PHIPA: Personal Health Information Protection Act. Ontario law protecting health information privacy.
PSW: Personal Support Worker. A trained worker who helps with daily care and respite tasks.

R

RBA: Registered Behaviour Analyst. The Ontario regulated title for behaviour analysts under the College of Psychologists and Behaviour Analysts of Ontario (CPBAO), required since July 1, 2024. Many RBAs also hold the international BCBA credential.
RDSP: Registered Disability Savings Plan. A government-matched savings account for your child's future. You need DTC approval to open one.
Regulated clinician: A professional who must register with an Ontario regulatory college to practise, such as an RBA (CPBAO), SLP (CASLPO), or OT (COTO). You can check a provider's registration with the college for free before hiring.

S

Sliding scale: A fee that changes based on a family's income or ability to pay. Not all providers offer it, so ask directly whether a sliding scale or reduced fee is available.
SLP: Speech-Language Pathologist. A professional who helps with communication, language development, and alternative communication methods.
SSAH: Special Services at Home. A provincial program that funds respite, camps, and daily supports. Separate from OAP. Read the full guide →
Supervising clinician: The qualified, regulated professional who designs and oversees a service plan, even when day-to-day sessions are run by other staff. In ABA programs this is usually an RBA, psychologist, or psychological associate.

T

T2201: The CRA form that certifies eligibility for the Disability Tax Credit.
Transition planning: Planning ahead for a change in stage. At school this can mean moving between grades or schools. As a youth approaches 18, it can mean planning for adult services, since OAP is for children and youth under 18. Read the full guide →

U

Urgent Response: Short-term OAP support (up to 12 weeks) for immediate needs. Does not require a Core Clinical invitation. Read the full guide →

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