Ontario Autism Coalition
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ontautism.bsky.social
Ontario Autism Coalition
@ontautism.bsky.social
350 followers 470 following 22 posts
A political advocacy organization in ON, Canada. We run on 💯 volunteer power. Fighting for equitable access to safe, publicly-funded needs-based services, education, & support for Autistics & their families. #50KIsNotOK #onted #ODSP #AutismIsLifelong
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ontautism.bsky.social
Happy World Autism Awareness Day!

Our message is clear: awareness is important, but 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/
April 2, 2025 at 11:53 PM
ontautism.bsky.social
OAC press conference about school safety this morning at Queen's Park. 10 AM. Tune in here: www.ola.org/en/legislati...
Page one of Ontario autism coalition press release - follow this link to read: https://ontarioautismcoalition.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MEDIA-RELEASE-April-1-2025-Student-Danger-Due-to-Lack-of-Resources.pdf Page 2 of press release- read here https://ontarioautismcoalition.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MEDIA-RELEASE-April-1-2025-Student-Danger-Due-to-Lack-of-Resources.pdf
April 1, 2025 at 1:13 PM
ontautism.bsky.social
The @ontautism.bsky.social is proud to co-host the 2025 Federal Candidate Debate on Disability Issues: April 8th at 7:30 PM. Register here: www.eventbrite.ca/d/canada--to...
Poster for the event mentioned in the text of this post including the logos of the organizations endorsing this work. Follow the link to register!
March 31, 2025 at 10:34 PM
ontautism.bsky.social
Here is the Ontario Autism Coalition’s repose to these numbers:
OAC press release: Ontario Autism Program (OAP): Promises Broken-FOI Shows Less Than 1/4 of Eligible Kids Receiving Clinical Core Services. The OAP is a broken promise - one that has left over 61k children abandoned by the system meant to support them. According to data obtained through a FOI request by the OAC only 1:4.5 eligible children/youth have access to core clinical services under the OAP. This indicates that after 6 yrs of waiting for the Ford government to “get it done” the majority of eligible children remain without support. These numbers tell a story of neglect, misplaced government priorities. This is a crisis affecting tens of thousands of lives daily. For yrs families have been forced to fight tooth & nail for services that should have been readily available. Promised reforms have turned into empty rhetoric. Parents are left scrambling to navigate a convoluted, underfunded, unaccountable program while their kids lose precious developmental time they will never regain. Every day a child spends on the waitlist is a day stolen from their potential, independence, opportunity to thrive. Services like speech therapy, occupational therapy, ABA, mental health support have the power to transform lives by teaching communication, socialization, essential life skills. Yet, the majority of children are denied access, caught in a web of bureaucracy & inefficiency. Meanwhile, families are exhausted, financially depleted, left with no answers. The OAP is perpetuating inequality.The OAP was not designed by the community it was imposed upon it by the Ford government. The proof is in its failure to meet the needs of the people it is meant to serve. To the decision-makers: kids can’t wait for your politics as their lives are at stake & futures are being shattered. Immediate action is needed to eliminate the waitlist, cut through red tape, & ensure every child gets the support they need. The OAP isn’t just a failure of governance—it’s a moral failing.
March 21, 2025 at 5:16 PM
ontautism.bsky.social
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
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!
March 21, 2025 at 4:46 PM
ontautism.bsky.social
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).
December 31, 2024 at 4:50 PM
ontautism.bsky.social
To all of our members and allies we wish you well in 2025. Thank you for standing with our community. ❤️💛💜

Enjoy your holidays.
A background of stylized spruce boughs bathed in twinkling and sparkling glow, on top of that is written, in a font that looks like handwriting, "wishing everyone happy holidays". In the bottom right hand corner is the Ontario Autism Coalition Logo (Purple, gold, and red with white lettering).
December 26, 2024 at 3:45 AM
ontautism.bsky.social
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
December 17, 2024 at 5:19 PM
ontautism.bsky.social
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
December 17, 2024 at 1:21 PM
ontautism.bsky.social
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
November 17, 2024 at 3:40 PM