If your child or youth resides in Ontario, has a formal diagnosis of autism, is under 18, and is not currently registered in the Ontario Autism Program, you can apply through AccessOAP. There are documents that you’ll need to provide in order to meet eligibility requirements.
The following article outlines the eligible documents and other submission requirements you’ll need when applying to the OAP including:
- eligible documents for proof of age,
- eligible documents for proof of residency,
- eligible documents for proof of diagnosis, and
- submission requirements.
Eligible documents for proof of age for your child or youth
For your child or youth to be eligible for the OAP, they must be under 18 years of age. You are required to prove that your child or youth applying is under 18. The government-issued documents you provide for proof of age must include the Date of Birth (DOB) and the full name of your child or youth. Note health cards are not an accepted form of government-issued identification.
Eligible documents for proof of age can include but are not limited to:
- birth certificate/statement of live birth
- out of-country birth certificate/statement of live birth
- current passport (or a passport which has expired within the last 5 years)
- certificate of registered Indian status or record
- certificate of Canadian citizenship
- current permanent residency card (or a permanent residency card which has expired within the last 5 years)
- Ontario photo card
- driver’s license (for youth or independent youth who are applying to the program)
Eligible documents for proof of residency for your child or youth
Your child or youth must be a resident of Ontario to be eligible for the OAP. When applying for the OAP, you must provide documentation of proof of residency in Ontario for your child or youth such as your child or youth’s:
- Ontario school report card or school registration document,
- valid Ontario driver’s license,
- valid Ontario Photo Card
- employer record (recent pay stub or letter from employer) or a
- utility bill.
Learn more about acceptable documents for proof of residency in Ontario.
Note that health cards are not an accepted form of government-issued identification.
Eligible documents for proof of diagnosis for your child or youth
For your child or youth to be eligible for the OAP, they must have a written diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from a qualified professional.
An eligible diagnosis must contain your child or youth’s:
- full name;
- date of birth;
- date of assessment; and
- a statement indicating that your child or youth meets the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder.
Out-of-country diagnoses must be in English or French. If a translation is required, the translated document must be accompanied by the original copy, and the document must be translated by a notarized translation company.
If your child or youth requires an official diagnosis, please connect with a qualified professional or visit a diagnostic hub. You can find more information on diagnostic hubs on Ontario.ca.
Submission requirements
When submitting documentation to AccessOAP:
- refer to the eligible documents for proof of age, proof of residency and proof of diagnosis above,
- include a full image of each required document (compatible formats include PDF, JPEG, PNG, GIF, or. HEIC, and must not exceed 10MB),
- note that Ontario health cards are not an accepted form of government-issued ID when applying for the OAP, and
- if your child or youth’s name has changed, you must provide a government-issued change of name certificate.
Need help?
If you have any questions or require assistance with applying for the Ontario Autism Program (OAP), our team is here to support you. You can contact AccessOAP by phone at 1-833-425-2445, Monday to Friday between 8:30 AM and 5:00 PM Eastern Time. You can also reach AccessOAP via email at [email protected]. Our team of care coordinators are ready to assist you.
To protect your privacy and security, it is important to remember not to share personal health information by email.
