Where Your Support Goes
We act as a crucial financial bridge for families in the GTA. Currently, families face a waitlist of 5+ years for core clinical services through the Ontario Autism Program. We ensure children do not lose precious developmental time.
Currently, families face a waitlist of 5+ years for core clinical services through the Ontario Autism Program. We ensure children do not lose precious developmental time and we are proud to partner with Behaviour Innovations, a private provider of ABA services supporting children in Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Toronto and surrounding communities.
How the Bursary Works
ABA therapy has been shown to significantly improve outcomes for children with autism, but the cost can range from $30,000 to $60,000 per year, a financial burden that many families simply cannot bear. While some government-funded programs are available, they often come with long waitlists and do not fully cover the cost of care.
Facilitating Intensive
Early Intervention
Funds are primarily directed toward families enrolled in intensive Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) programs. This ensures children receive 20+ hours of service per week, to maximize their skill acquisition.
Targeting Crucial Developmental Windows
Eligibility is focused on children aged 8 and under. Directing resources to this specific age group allows us to capitalize on the critical early childhood window, where intervention has the most significant long-term impact on foundational learning and overall development.
Financial Relief
The bursary is used to offset 50% of the cost of these intensive services for up to six months. This acts as a crucial financial bridge, preventing disruptions in care for families who might otherwise be unable to afford the out-of-pocket expenses.
Supporting Families Awaiting Provincial Funding
The funds specifically support families currently on the waitlist for government assistance. This ensures children do not lose precious developmental time while waiting for their long-term provincial funding. The last statistic I read was that families are waiting 5+ years to receive the core clinical services funds from the Ontario Autism Program.
"...children with ASD who had received an average of 3 years of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) at approx. 36 hours a week of treatment... costs savings to the education system were projected to be more than $275,000 for each student by their 18th birthday."
-Chasson, Harris, and Neely (2007)
Our
Impact
Our Impact since 2008:
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Total money raised: $2.19 million
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Donations to Autism since 2006: $1.56 million
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Percentage of funds donated to Autism: 73%
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Administration costs: 1.4% of money raised
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Estimated hours of Autism services provided since 2008: 48,459
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Families supported since 2008: 100+
