How to Prepare for the AccessOAP DON Assessment

Executive Summary

The Determination of Needs (DON) assessment is a structured interview conducted by an AccessOAP Care Coordinator to evaluate the individual strengths, goals, and support needs of a child with autism. The outcome of this assessment determines the amount of Core Clinical Services funding allocated to your family each year.

Target Audience: Parents of a child with autism who have received an invitation from AccessOAP for core clinical funding.
Core Takeaway: Preparing detailed information about your child's daily routines, challenges, and support needs helps ensure an accurate funding allocation.

What Is the AccessOAP Determination of Needs (DON) Assessment?

The Determination of Needs (DON) assessment is a standard, evidence-informed evaluation used by AccessOAP to customize core clinical funding for each child with autism. Rather than giving every child a fixed budget, the Ontario Autism Program uses the DON assessment to gather objective information from parents and caregivers. Conducted by a trained Care Coordinator over 3 to 4 hours, this conversation looks closely at how autism impacts your child's everyday life across multiple settings, such as home, school, and community environments.

Which Developmental Areas Does AccessOAP Evaluate?

AccessOAP evaluates a child with autism across ten primary domains to build a comprehensive picture of their daily living requirements and support needs. These ten clinical and functional domains include:

Communication: How your child expresses needs and understands language.
Social Interaction: How your child interacts with peers, family, and new people.
Play and Leisure: How your child engages in independent and group play activities.
Activities of Daily Living: Skills like dressing, eating, personal hygiene, and sleep routines.
Motor Skills: Fine and gross motor coordination used in writing, walking, or physical activities.
Cognitive Skills: Problem-solving, focus, and following multi-step directions.
Emotional Regulation: How your child manages stress, transitions, and daily frustrations.
Behavioural Supports: Specific safety or behavioural considerations requiring clinical supervision.
Community Participation: Navigating public spaces, safety skills, and local outings.
Caregiver & Family Impact: The level of daily hands-on support required by caregivers to maintain family routines.

How Can Parents Prepare for a DON Assessment Meeting?

Parents can prepare for the Determination of Needs meeting by tracking their child's daily routines, listing high-support moments, and gathering existing reports from therapists or educators. To ensure the Care Coordinator gets an accurate picture of your child's daily life, follow these practical steps:

Keep a 1-Week Support Log: Note moments when your child with autism requires extra prompting, physical assistance, or specialized sensory tools.
Document Safety Considerations: Be ready to openly discuss any safety concerns, such as elopement (wandering), self-injurious behaviours, or severe sleep disruptions.
Gather Supporting Documents: Compile recent reports from speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, or Board Certified Behaviour Analysts (BCBAs).
Focus on Without-Support Realities: Describe what happens on your child's most challenging days when extra supports are not in place.

How Are Funding Amounts Determined After the AccessOAP DON Assessment?

Funding amounts are determined by combining your child's age with their overall support score calculated from the Determination of Needs assessment. Once completed, AccessOAP places the child with autism into an assessed need level. Younger children and children with higher assessed needs receive higher allocations to fund intensive early intervention programs, speech therapy, or occupational therapy.

Overview of AccessOAP DON Assessment Domains

Assessment Domain	Focus Area Evaluated	Example of Support Needs Discussed
Communication	Expressive and receptive language	Use of speech, AAC devices, or gestures to express basic needs.
Activities of Daily Living	Self-care and hygiene routines	Level of assistance needed for toileting, dressing, feeding, or bedtime.
Motor & Physical Skills	Fine/gross motor function	Handwriting balance, tool handling, and physical coordination.
Social & Play Skills	Peer interactions and recreation	Ability to share, take turns, and participate in group settings.

Download the Checklist

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Determination of Needs assessment take?

The DON assessment meeting typically takes between 3 to 4 hours to complete. It can be held in one session or split into two shorter meetings depending on family preference.

Can I request a reassessment if my child’s needs increase?

Yes. If your child with autism experiences significant changes in their support needs, health, or behavioural challenges, you can request a DON reassessment through your AccessOAP Care Coordinator.

Do I need to bring my child to the DON assessment meeting?

While the Care Coordinator must interact with or observe your child with autism briefly during the process, much of the detailed questionnaire is completed directly with the primary caregivers.

At Monarch House, we understand that every neurodivergent child's needs are unique and urgent. If your child is struggling with communication, routines, or behaviour, reach out to us today to discuss your specific concerns and explore personalized support options.

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Posted on August 7, 2026 by Monarch House