Pediatric therapy is costly. Most Ontario families don’t know about half the funding they may qualify for. This page lists the programs, tax credits, and charities that help parents pay for speech, occupational, physiotherapy, and behaviour services for their child.
If any of this feels confusing, call us. Our admin team helps families with intake paperwork and can point you toward programs you hadn’t heard of.
Where should I start?
- Check your insurance — call your plan administrator and ask about speech, OT, and physio coverage
- Apply for OAP — if your child has an autism diagnosis, register through AccessOAP
- Apply for SSAH — if your child has a physical or developmental disability
- Explore the DTC — a federal tax credit that can be claimed retroactively
Then browse the sections below:
Check your private coverage first
Most employer health plans in Ontario cover some speech, OT, and physiotherapy — but session caps and lifetime limits vary. Call your plan administrator and ask specifically. Parents often under-use this coverage because they don’t realize their plan has it.
Government programs
For most programs below, funding is set individually and ontario.ca does not publish a fixed figure. Where we could verify a specific amount, we’ve included it.
Ontario Autism Program (OAP)
Who qualifies:
- Children and youth under 18 in Ontario
- With a written autism diagnosis from a qualified professional
What it covers:
- Foundational family services
- Caregiver-mediated early years programs (ages 12–48 months)
- Core clinical services
- Entry-to-school program
- Urgent response services
Funding is set for each family through Core Clinical Services. Register through AccessOAP (info@AccessOAP.ca or 1-833-425-2445), not through ontario.ca.
KickStart Therapy is a registered OAP provider — see how we deliver OAP services.
Special Services at Home (SSAH)
Who qualifies:
- Children under 18 in Ontario
- With a physical or developmental disability confirmed by a regulated health professional
What it covers:
- Daily activity support (self-care, sensory supports, tutoring)
- Growth-and-development activities (hobbies, social skills, skill-building)
- Respite for caregivers
What it does not cover: Basic living expenses, or services already funded by another government program.
Funding is worked out for each family during the eligibility review. Once approved, families have one year from the funding end date to submit expenses for reimbursement.
Assistance for Children with Severe Disabilities (ACSD)
Who qualifies:
- Parent of a child 17 or under who lives at home
- Child has a severe disability
- Household income is $76,920 or less
What it covers: Extra disability-related costs — travel to appointments, special shoes/clothes, respite, assistive devices, prescription drugs, dental, hearing, and vision care.
How much: $25–$665 per month (ceiling updated each July; $665 is the 2025 figure).
ACSD is income-tested — check the household income ceiling first. Families who are denied can ask for an internal review within 30 days.
Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
Note: ODSP is an adult program (18+). It’s listed here for families planning for a child aging out of OAP — not as a pediatric therapy funding source.
Who qualifies:
- Ontario residents 18 or older
- Who meet the legal definition of “person with a disability”
- And can show financial need
What it covers: Monthly income support, health benefits (prescriptions, vision), and transport to medical appointments.
How much: Rates vary by situation. As a reference, the 2025 rate for a single person was up to $1,408/month. Check current rates before applying.
The disability decision is a separate 90-business-day review after the initial financial application. Start the ODSP process months before your child turns 18, not on the day of.
Looking ahead: Passport Program. For adults 18+ with a developmental disability, Ontario’s Passport Program offers up to $5,500/year in baseline funding. Start exploring it before the transition.
Tax credits
Disability Tax Credit (DTC)
Who qualifies: A person with a severe and lasting impairment (12+ months) that markedly restricts one or more daily living activities at least 90% of the time. Cumulative significant limitations can also qualify. Eligibility depends on the effects, not the diagnosis.
What it is: A federal non-refundable tax credit. A supporting person can claim it if the child has no tax payable. There is also a provincial portion.
How much: The 2025 base federal amount is approximately $9,872, plus a supplement of up to $5,758 for children under 18. Confirm current amounts at application time.
Prepare specific examples before the certification appointment — like “cannot dress without help” or “cannot follow a two-step spoken instruction.” The DTC can be claimed retroactively for prior tax years through a T1 Adjustment.
Form T2201. Part A is filled out by the applicant. Part B is certified by a qualified health practitioner within their scope of practice. Ask your child’s healthcare provider who is the right certifier.
KickStart Therapy cannot complete your tax return or tell you whether your family will qualify. This is general information, not tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional.
Navigating funding feels overwhelming
Our admin team helps families with intake paperwork for OAP, SSAH, and other programs on this page. Not sure which you qualify for? Book a free 15-minute call.
KickStart Therapy is a registered OAP provider and accepts OAP direct funding for eligible services.
Charities and foundations
Charity grants fill gaps that government programs don’t cover — usually for equipment, one-time costs, or families outside government income thresholds.
The Carson Foundation
Who qualifies: Individuals with special needs seeking funding for services or equipment.
What it covers: Services or equipment that improve quality of life.
How much: Up to $500 per request, no more than twice per year.
The Foundation replies in two to three weeks and invites the family to a meeting or open house. The decision is shared at that meeting — expect to travel in person.
Autism Ontario — March Break Funding
Who qualifies: Ontario families with a child with an autism diagnosis, up to their 18th birthday.
What it covers: Reimbursement for a support worker, March Break camp, or program fees. The family pays first and submits receipts — this is not an upfront grant.
How much: Up to $350 per child.
The fund is lottery-based — families apply in December–January and are picked randomly. The 2026 window has closed; the next opens December 2026 for March Break 2027.
Ausum Charity — IBI Grant
Who qualifies: Children with autism 17 or under, from households earning less than $50,000/year.
What it covers: Intensive Behavioural Intervention (IBI) therapy costs.
How much: A one-time grant of up to $1,000 per family.
The application is a downloadable PDF — contact the charity directly to confirm the window is open. Plan around it as a supplement, not an ongoing source.
Jennifer Ashleigh Children’s Charity (Jenash)
Who qualifies:
- Ontario residents under 19 (Canadian citizen or permanent resident)
- Family experienced a major medical event requiring a 2+ week hospital stay
- Household income $99,999 or less
What it covers: Hospital accommodation, transport to appointments, housing support, uncovered medications, medical equipment, therapy sessions, sibling childcare, and respite — all tied to the qualifying medical event.
Applications need a hospital healthcare worker’s letter on official letterhead plus the previous year’s Notice of Assessment. Jenash processes complete applications in two to five business days, and there is a lifetime funding limit — contact them for details.
Easter Seals Ontario — Equipment Funding
Who qualifies: Children and youth under 19 who are Ontario residents with a physical disability and are registered clients of Easter Seals Ontario. (Health card and disability requirements apply to client registration — contact them about registration as a first step.)
What it covers: Mobility aids, orthotics, communication aids, accessibility aids, ramps, van lifts, bathing/toileting aids. Does not cover installation, labour, repairs, or delivery.
How much: Up to $3,000 per child, per calendar year.
Families must apply to all other funding sources first (especially ADP) before Easter Seals Ontario considers the application. Funding is donation-based and can run out mid-year. Follow up if you haven’t heard back after eight weeks.
Device and equipment programs
Assistive Devices Program (ADP)
Who qualifies: Ontario residents with a valid health card and a physical disability requiring equipment for 6+ months. Income is not considered.
What it covers: Mobility aids, communication aids, hearing devices, and other listed categories. For children, the most common are communication and mobility aids.
How much: ADP usually pays 75% of the approved price. Families on Ontario Works or ODSP may receive up to 100%.
ADP does not cover repairs, batteries, or replacement parts — budget for ongoing maintenance.
For Indigenous families
Jordan’s Principle
Who qualifies: First Nations children living in Canada, on or off reserve.
What it covers: Health, social, and educational services — including speech therapy, medical equipment, and mental health supports — to cover gaps between federal and provincial systems.
There is no income test, and the national call centre is 1-855-572-4453.
Finding your way into the system
Not sure where to start? Ontario’s SmartStart Hubs are the single entry point for children’s special needs services — no diagnosis or referral needed. In Peel Region (Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon), the SmartStart Hub is run by ErinoakKids.
If your child is in licensed daycare, ask about Special Needs Resourcing — an Ontario program that funds inclusion supports (staff, equipment, training) so children with special needs can participate at no extra cost.
How KickStart can help
KickStart Therapy is a registered OAP provider. We accept OAP direct funding for services the program covers, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, autism therapy, and behaviour therapy.
Our admin team helps families complete intake paperwork for OAP, SSAH, and other direct-funding applications. We cannot promise approvals — no clinic can — but we can tell you which program fits your child’s situation and what documents to have ready.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use OAP funding at KickStart Therapy? Yes. We’re a registered OAP provider and accept direct funding for services the program covers.
Does KickStart accept SSAH funding? Yes, where the services match what SSAH covers. Our admin team can help with the reimbursement paperwork.
How long do funding applications usually take? Government programs (OAP, SSAH, ACSD) can take several weeks to several months. Charity grants are usually faster. Easter Seals Ontario typically takes about eight weeks. Confirm with each program directly.
Can I combine multiple programs? Often yes. Programs that fund the same service (like OAP and SSAH for the same therapy hours) usually can’t be stacked. But programs covering different things can generally be combined — for example, OAP for therapy, ADP for a device, and Jenash for travel. Ask our intake team if unsure.
What if we don’t qualify for any of these? Start with a SmartStart Hub (in Peel, that’s ErinoakKids). Check your employer health benefits. Try charity grants if your situation matches. And talk to our intake team — we regularly help families find a combination that works.
Ready to talk?
A 15-minute call with our intake team is the fastest way to figure out which programs fit, what paperwork you need, and how soon we can start.
KickStart Therapy is a registered OAP provider and accepts OAP direct funding for eligible services.
Disclaimer. This page is for general information only. It is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Funding programs change their rules, amounts, and eligibility criteria without notice. Always verify details directly with the program before making decisions. KickStart Therapy is not responsible for the accuracy of third-party program information listed on this page.
Programs and funding amounts were last verified in April 2026.
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