Starting late next spring, communities across the province will offer new services and supports for children and youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASD).Approximately 8,000 kids with ASD will benefit annually from new Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA)-based services, which will help them develop communication, social and daily living skills and manage better in school. This is in addition to the intensive therapy already benefiting 1,446 children and youth under Ontario’s Autism Intervention Program.

Ontario is also investing in the future of autism research in the province. A new clinical expert committee will provide advice on emerging research and best practices. Investment in leading edge autism research right here in Ontario will help to improve early detection and diagnosis, and better understand links with other conditions.

• ABA is based on scientific principles of learning and behaviour. It reinforces positive behaviours, reduces problematic ones and helps kids with autism build the skills they need to learn and be more independent.
• Ontario is increasing its annual spending on autism by $25 million. Since 2003-04 the government has more than quadrupled autism investments to over $186.6 million.
• Since 2004, Ontario has committed more than $15 million to autism-related research.
• Ontario helped almost 800 families send their children and youth with ASD to March Break camps and over 1,100 to summer camps last year.