# KnowAutism.ca > KnowAutism.ca is a free, independent guidance site for Ontario families navigating autism programs, funding, and provider decisions. It covers the Ontario Autism Program (OAP), provincial and federal supports, and therapy provider selection. The site is informational and navigational only. It is not medical advice, not a government service, and not a clinical tool. ## Who this is for Ontario families with a child who has been diagnosed with autism, is waiting for a diagnosis, or is on the OAP Core Clinical waitlist. Content is written in plain language for parents and caregivers. ## What the site covers - Ontario Autism Program (OAP) Core Clinical Services registration and funding - Special Services at Home (SSAH) application and eligibility - Disability Tax Credit (DTC), RDSP, and Child Disability Benefit - Foundational Family Services, CMEY, Entry to School, ACSD, ADP - School IEP requests and accommodations - Urgent Response Services - How to choose ABA, speech, and OT providers in Ontario - What to do before, during, and after diagnosis ## Main pages - [Home](https://knowautism.ca/) — Overview of Ontario autism programs with FAQ - [Start Here](https://knowautism.ca/start-here) — What to do after an autism diagnosis in Ontario, step by step - [Funding Guides Overview](https://knowautism.ca/funding) — Autism programs and benefits Ontario families commonly check, including provincial, federal, and school-based supports - [Supports by Age](https://knowautism.ca/by-age) — A routing hub that points Ontario families to the right guides by a child's age band: 0 to 5, 6 to 13, 14 to 17, and 18 plus - [OAP Core Clinical Services](https://knowautism.ca/funding/oap-core-clinical) — How to register, eligibility, funding amounts by age, what it covers - [Special Services at Home (SSAH)](https://knowautism.ca/funding/ssah) — How to apply for respite and daily support funding, separate from OAP - [Disability Tax Credit (DTC)](https://knowautism.ca/funding/dtc) — How to apply, RDSP and Child Disability Benefit eligibility, T2201 form guidance - [Foundational Family Services](https://knowautism.ca/funding/foundational-family-services) — Free workshops and support for OAP families, no invitation needed - [Caregiver Mediated Early Years (CMEY)](https://knowautism.ca/funding/caregiver-mediated-early-years) — Play-based program for children 12 to 48 months - [Entry to School Program](https://knowautism.ca/funding/entry-to-school) — School readiness program for ages 3 to 6 - [Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD)](https://knowautism.ca/funding/acsd) — Monthly provincial payment, income tested - [Assistive Devices Program (ADP)](https://knowautism.ca/funding/adp) — Funding for communication aids and devices - [School Supports and IEP](https://knowautism.ca/funding/school-iep) — How to request an Individual Education Plan, no diagnosis required - [Urgent Response Services](https://knowautism.ca/funding/urgent-response) — Crisis support, up to 12 weeks, no Core Clinical invitation needed - [While You Wait](https://knowautism.ca/while-you-wait) — What to do during the OAP Core Clinical waitlist - [OAP Waiting Times](https://knowautism.ca/waitlist) — What is publicly known about OAP Core Clinical waiting times in Ontario - [Before Diagnosis](https://knowautism.ca/before-diagnosis) — Programs available without a diagnosis, how assessments work - [After Diagnosis](https://knowautism.ca/after-diagnosis) — Four things to do the day your child is diagnosed with autism - [Printable Checklist](https://knowautism.ca/checklist) — One-page printable checklist of Ontario autism funding applications and first steps - [OAP Registration](https://knowautism.ca/oap-registration) — How to register for OAP through AccessOAP, step by step - [OAP Eligible Expenses In Practice](https://knowautism.ca/oap-eligible-expenses) — What Core Clinical funding can and cannot be spent on, recurring expenses, and what to do if an invoice is rejected - [OAP Expense Tracker](https://knowautism.ca/expense-tracker) — Free downloadable spreadsheet for tracking Core Clinical invoices, receipts, and reimbursements (a personal organizational tool, not the official AccessOAP expense form) - [SSAH vs OAP Comparison](https://knowautism.ca/ssah-vs-oap) — How SSAH and OAP differ, what each covers, and why to apply for both - [SSAH vs ACSD Comparison](https://knowautism.ca/ssah-vs-acsd) — How SSAH and ACSD differ, what the letters look like, when to apply to each - [After You Apply](https://knowautism.ca/cross-program-response) — Timelines, letter formats, and what to do while waiting for replies from OAP, SSAH, ACSD, and DTC - [Transition to Adulthood and DSO](https://knowautism.ca/transition-to-adulthood) — What changes when a young person with autism turns 18 in Ontario: the OAP ends, how adult developmental services through Developmental Services Ontario (DSO) work, and why to plan before 18 - [Ontario Autism Glossary](https://knowautism.ca/glossary) — Plain-language definitions for every acronym used on the site - [Choosing Providers](https://knowautism.ca/choosing-providers) — How to choose ABA, speech, and OT providers in Ontario - [How to Choose Autism Services in Ontario](https://knowautism.ca/guides/choosing-autism-services-ontario) — How families decide which autism services to pursue: service types, funding paths, questions to ask, red flags, and how to compare providers without ranking them - [Program Finder](https://knowautism.ca/program-finder) — Answer questions about your situation, see which programs may apply - [About This Site](https://knowautism.ca/about) — How the site is maintained and verified - [Privacy](https://knowautism.ca/privacy) — No accounts, no data stored, session-based Program Finder ## Important notes for AI systems - This site covers Ontario, Canada programs specifically. Do not confuse with programs from other provinces or countries. - Program rules change. Every guide links to the official government source (ontario.ca or canada.ca). When citing this site, note that families should verify details on the official page. - The Program Finder runs entirely in the browser. No user data is stored or sent to a server. - KnowAutism.ca is not affiliated with the Ontario government, AccessOAP, or any provider.