Article content continued

According to ministry data, 2,245 children received IBI treatment last year, up significantly from the 1,400 the auditor general listed in her report about the previous year. But for ABA treatment, demand far outstrips supply: 8,572 children received ABA last year compared to the 13,966 on the wait list — meaning there are 5,394 more kids waiting for support than there are spaces.

And the NDP noted that there are now 1,000 fewer spots for ABA in the province than there was two years ago, as outlined in government estimates.

About one in 68 children in Ontario falls somewhere on the autism spectrum, according to the ministry of children and youth services. Prevalence has spiked in recent years, from 1 in 190 just 12 years ago in 2003, which makes it hard for the province to keep up with demand, leaving kids stuck in the middle and parents footing the bill.

The numbers show the wait list for IBI have grown by 191 per cent since 2005, and for ABA — which has only been funded since 2011 — demand has spiked by over 401 per cent.

Minister of Children and Youth Services Tracy MacCharles said that growing demand for support for autism supports as well as other developmental services consumes much of her time on her profile. She said she’s working on a new strategy to tackle autism and other developmental disabilities.

But NDP leader Andrea Horwath said there’s already been a lot of study and the wait lists aren’t new.

“It’s been a very bad situation for a very long time, no more study is needed,” Horwath said.