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OAP Eligible Expenses in Practice
Last verified: April 2026. Always confirm details on the official page.
What expenses are eligible under OAP Core Clinical
OAP Core Clinical funding covers therapy services (ABA, speech, OT, mental health), therapy materials recommended by your provider, assistive devices not already covered by ADP, and travel costs related to therapy. Services must be delivered by a provider who meets OAP qualification requirements (registered and in good standing with the relevant regulatory college). The OAP Provider List is voluntary, so qualified providers may be on it or not on it. You choose your own providers and submit invoices for reimbursement.
Eligible expense categories
- Therapy services: ABA, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, mental health (individual or group-based delivery by a qualified core service provider)
- Materials and supplies: therapy materials and sensory items recommended by your provider
- Technology and equipment: items recommended in writing by your core service provider as part of the treatment plan
- Devices: communication devices and assistive technology not covered by ADP
- Travel: mileage and transit costs to access an eligible Core Clinical service or for the provider to travel to your child (rates set by the OAP guidelines)
This page covers what you can and cannot spend Core Clinical funding on, and what actually happens when an expense is borderline, recurring, or rejected. For how much funding you get, how to register, and the full program overview, see the OAP Core Clinical guide.
What therapy services does OAP Core Clinical cover
Core Clinical covers four categories of therapy. Your provider must meet OAP qualification requirements (registered and in good standing with the relevant regulatory college). The OAP Provider List at oapproviderlist.ca (opens in new tab) is voluntary; qualified regulated providers may not appear on it.
Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)
Designed and supervised by a Registered Behaviour Analyst (, formerly ), psychologist, or psychological associate, and delivered by them or a supervised therapist. Covers assessment, treatment planning, direct therapy sessions, and parent training.
Speech-language pathology
Delivered by a registered Speech-Language Pathologist (). Covers assessment, therapy for communication, language development, feeding and swallowing if related to autism, and AAC training.
Occupational therapy
Delivered by a registered Occupational Therapist (). Covers sensory processing, fine motor skills, self-care skills, school readiness, and environmental modifications recommendations.
Mental health services
Covers psychotherapy and counseling for your child related to autism. Must be delivered by a regulated health professional.
Are therapy materials and sensory supplies covered
Yes, if your provider recommends them in writing as part of your child's treatment plan. Keep the written recommendation with your receipts.
Examples of eligible materials
- Visual schedule materials and token boards
- Sensory tools recommended by your OT (weighted items, fidgets, sensory bins)
- Communication books and picture exchange materials
- Social skills resources specified in the treatment plan
- Fine motor and self-care practice materials
Must be recommended in writing
General purchases without a provider's written recommendation are not eligible. The recommendation should name the specific item and explain how it supports therapy goals.
Are communication devices and assistive technology covered
Communication devices and assistive technology can be eligible under Core Clinical, but only if they are not already covered by the Assistive Devices Program (ADP). Before using OAP funding for equipment or technology, check whether ADP or another public program may cover it. OAP rules may not allow reimbursement of the portion another funding source covers.
Examples
- Dedicated speech-generating devices (check ADP first, many are covered at 75%)
- AAC software and apps for communication
- Tablet used exclusively for AAC (if not ADP-funded)
Are travel costs and group programs covered
Yes for travel related to therapy, when the trip is to access an eligible Core Clinical service or for the provider to come to you. Group-based services may also be eligible when delivered by a qualified core service provider — Ontario's Core Clinical guidelines describe both individual and group-based service delivery. Always verify with your provider and AccessOAP before committing.
Travel related to therapy
- Mileage to and from a Core Clinical service provider
- Mileage when the provider travels to your child or family
- Bus, train, and parking costs tied to therapy visits
- Per-kilometre rates and limits are set by the OAP guidelines — check the official source for current figures
Provider-recommended technology, materials, and equipment
Eligible when a regulated Core Clinical provider (RBA/psychologist, SLP, or OT) documents the item in your child's plan and explains how it supports specific therapy goals. Without that written rationale, technology and equipment are not reimbursable.
Group programs and camps
Group-based therapy delivered by a qualified core service provider may be eligible (the guidelines reference both individual and group-based delivery). General recreational camps that are not facilitated by a Core Clinical provider are not Core Clinical expenses — respite-style camps usually go through SSAH instead. If you're uncertain whether a specific camp or group qualifies, ask AccessOAP before paying.
Verify before you spend
These categories are eligible in principle, but rates, caps, and approval depend on the current Core Clinical guidelines and on your child's plan. When in doubt, ask your provider and AccessOAP first.
What is not covered by OAP Core Clinical
Core Clinical has a clear list of ineligible expenses. Spending on these will not be reimbursed.
Not eligible
- Daycare or childcare fees
- School tuition (public or private)
- Respite care (that goes through SSAH, not OAP)
- Guide dogs or service animals
- Home renovations or vehicle modifications
- Devices already covered by ADP
- Groceries, clothing, or household items
- Supplements and alternative therapies not from a regulated provider
- Services from providers who do not meet OAP qualification requirements (the OAP Provider List itself is voluntary, so being off the list is not the disqualifier)
If you need respite or daily supports, those are covered by SSAH, which is a separate program.
In practice: the edge cases families ask about most
Some expenses are neither clearly eligible nor clearly ineligible. The rule is always the same: the cost must be directly tied to the therapy goals in your child's behaviour plan, and your provider must recommend it in writing. Here is how that plays out for the items families ask about most.
Phone and internet bills
A phone or internet plan is not eligible as a general household expense. It may be eligible only if it is specifically required for your child's therapy (for example, a dedicated line or data plan used for virtual therapy sessions during the waitlist). Even then, only the incremental cost tied to therapy is claimable, not the full bill. Ask your provider to document the therapy-specific portion in writing before you submit.
Bundled internet and TV
If your bill combines internet, TV, and phone, only the internet portion may be considered — and only if therapy-specific need is documented. TV and landline portions are not eligible. Your provider should separate the line items in writing.
Pay-as-you-go phone plans
Top-ups count the same way as monthly plans: only the portion tied to documented therapy use. Keep receipts for each top-up and a written rationale from your provider.
Tablets and devices used partly for therapy
A shared family tablet is not eligible. A tablet used exclusively for AAC or therapy activities may be eligible, but only if ADP does not cover it first. Document the dedicated use.
Caregiver-delivered services
OAP does not pay family members to deliver therapy. Parent training sessions run by a qualified provider are eligible. A parent running ABA drills at home is not.
When in doubt, ask before you spend
Submitting a borderline expense without written provider support is the most common way to get a rejection. A one-line email from your RBA, psychologist, SLP, or OT naming the item and the goal it supports is usually enough.
How do recurring expenses work (monthly bills, subscriptions, repeat purchases)
Recurring expenses are submitted the same way as one-off expenses: each cycle, with its own receipt and provider rationale. There is no automatic monthly deduction. If a recurring cost changes (plan upgrade, new device added, therapy hours increase), update the provider rationale so the new amount is still supported.
How to handle a recurring eligible expense
- Get written provider support once, naming the recurring item and the therapy goal
- Keep each monthly receipt or statement as you go
- Submit receipts with the rationale attached when you reconcile
- If the cost changes or the therapy goal ends, stop claiming it
The rationale expires when the goal ends
A written recommendation is not permanent. Once the underlying therapy goal is met, the expense is no longer tied to treatment and is no longer claimable. Review with your provider at each treatment plan update.
What do receipts and invoices need to include
You submit invoices to get reimbursed. Amounts over $25,000 are paid in installments. You need to reconcile the first $25,000 before the next portion is released. Missing or incomplete receipts delay your funding.
Every invoice must include
- Provider's full name and professional credentials
- Provider's registration number with their regulatory college
- Date of service
- Type of service (ABA session, speech assessment, etc.)
- Duration of service
- Amount charged
- Your child's name
What to do if your expense or invoice is rejected
A rejection is not the end of the process. Most rejections fall into four categories and most can be fixed. Read the rejection notice carefully before resubmitting — the stated reason tells you exactly what to do next.
Why expenses get rejected, in order of how often it happens
- Incomplete invoice.Missing provider registration number, date, duration, or child's name. Ask the provider to reissue a corrected invoice and resubmit.
- No written rationale. Materials, devices, or borderline items submitted without a provider recommendation. Get a short written rationale and resubmit with the original receipt.
- Provider does not meet OAP qualification requirements. The OAP Provider List at oapproviderlist.ca (opens in new tab) is voluntary, so being off the list is not the disqualifier. The provider must be registered and in good standing with the relevant regulatory college (CPBAO, CASLPO, or COTO). Verify before the next purchase. A resubmit will not fix this one.
- Covered by another program. Usually ADP for devices. Apply to ADP and resubmit only the portion ADP does not cover.
How to respond, step by step
- Read the rejection notice and find the specific reason given
- If the reason is fixable (missing field, missing rationale), gather what is needed
- Resubmit through AccessOAP with the correction attached to the original receipt
- If you disagree with the reason, contact AccessOAP at 1-833-425-2445 before resubmitting. Ask what evidence would change the outcome
- If a significant amount is still disputed after that call, escalate through the MCCSS complaint process described on the official page
Do not spend more until you have the fix in writing
If a category of expense was rejected, stop buying more of it until you have written provider support or confirmation from AccessOAP. Repeating the same submission will be rejected the same way.
Why do I need to check ADP before buying devices
ADP may cover up to 75% of many approved devices (ACSD recipients may receive up to 100%). Before using OAP funding for equipment or technology, check whether ADP or another public program may cover it. OAP rules may not allow reimbursement of the portion another funding source covers.
How to check
- Ask your provider if the device is on the ADP eligible list
- If ADP covers it, apply through ADP first and use OAP for the remaining 25% if applicable
- If ADP does not cover it, document that and claim through OAP
Full details on ADP in the ADP guide.
Common mistakes with OAP expenses
Common questions about OAP expenses
›Can I claim a family vacation that includes a therapy component?
›What happens to funding I do not use by year end?
›Can I claim a one-off receipt from a conference or workshop?
›Does Healthy Smiles Ontario or OHIP+ coverage affect what I can claim?
Official source
This guide is based on publicly available government information. Always verify with the official page:
ontario.ca: Ontario Autism Program, Core Clinical Services (opens in new tab)Last verified against official source: April 2026
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What to do next
See the full OAP Core Clinical guide
Eligibility, registration, funding amounts by age, and what happens after your invitation.
Read the OAP Core Clinical guide →
Check if ADP covers a device first
The Assistive Devices Program covers many devices at 75%. Check before spending OAP funds.
Read the ADP guide →
Understand what SSAH covers instead
Respite, daily supports, and development activities go through SSAH, not OAP.
See SSAH vs OAP comparison →
Not sure what other programs may apply?
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