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Understanding the Key Leadership Roles at Autism Ontario and Their Distinction from OAC
- Janelle Meredith
- Feb 16
- 4 min read
Autism Ontario plays a vital role in supporting individuals with autism and their families across the province. As of early 2026, the organization’s leadership includes distinct roles that guide its mission and operations. Understanding who leads Autism Ontario and how this leadership differs from other autism advocacy groups, such as the Ontario Autism Coalition (OAC), helps clarify the organization’s focus and approach. This post explains the key leadership positions at Autism Ontario, highlights the important distinction between Autism Ontario and OAC, and explores how these differences affect their work in the autism community.
The Leadership Structure at Autism Ontario
Autism Ontario operates with a clear leadership structure that separates volunteer governance from professional management. This distinction ensures the organization benefits from community input while maintaining consistent, expert oversight of daily operations.
President of the Board: Kim Moore
Kim Moore serves as the President of the Board of Autism Ontario. This role is a volunteer position focused on governance, strategic direction, and oversight. The board president works closely with other board members to ensure the organization stays true to its mission and meets its goals. The board also provides accountability for the organization’s financial health and policy decisions.
Kim Moore’s leadership involves:
Chairing board meetings and guiding discussions on key organizational issues
Supporting the CEO and executive team in implementing board decisions
Representing Autism Ontario at community events and stakeholder meetings
Ensuring the board fulfills its legal and ethical responsibilities
Chief Executive Officer: Margaret Spoelstra
Margaret Spoelstra has led Autism Ontario as Executive Director and CEO since 2001. Unlike the volunteer board president, the CEO is a paid professional responsible for managing the organization’s day-to-day operations. Spoelstra’s long tenure reflects her deep experience and commitment to the autism community.
The CEO’s responsibilities include:
Overseeing program development and delivery
Managing staff and volunteers
Handling budgeting and financial management
Building partnerships with other organizations and government bodies
Leading fundraising and public relations efforts
This division between volunteer governance and professional management allows Autism Ontario to balance community representation with effective organizational leadership.
How Autism Ontario Differs from the Ontario Autism Coalition (OAC)
It is common for people to confuse Autism Ontario with the Ontario Autism Coalition, especially since both organizations advocate for people with autism. However, they have different leadership, goals, and approaches.
Leadership Differences
Autism Ontario is led by Kim Moore (Board President) and Margaret Spoelstra (CEO).
Ontario Autism Coalition is led by Alina Cameron, who serves as its President.
These separate leadership teams reflect the distinct identities of the two groups.
Focus and Mission
Autism Ontario focuses primarily on programs, support services, and information for individuals with autism and their families. Their work includes:
Providing resources and workshops
Offering community support groups
Running educational programs
Connecting families with service providers
By contrast, the Ontario Autism Coalition concentrates on political advocacy and lobbying the provincial government. Their efforts aim to influence policy changes, funding decisions, and legislation affecting autism services.
Impact of the Distinction
Understanding this difference helps families and stakeholders choose the right organization for their needs:
Those seeking direct support, resources, and community programs often turn to Autism Ontario.
Those interested in advocacy and policy change may engage more with the Ontario Autism Coalition.
This separation allows each organization to specialize and serve the autism community in complementary ways.
Examples of Leadership in Action at Autism Ontario
The leadership at Autism Ontario has guided the organization through many initiatives that have improved support for people with autism.
Under Margaret Spoelstra’s CEO leadership, Autism Ontario expanded its online resource library, making information more accessible to families across Ontario.
Kim Moore, as Board President, has helped steer strategic planning sessions that prioritize inclusivity and outreach to underserved communities.
The board and executive team worked together to launch new workshops focused on employment skills for autistic adults, responding to community feedback.
These examples show how the leadership roles work together to create meaningful programs and services.
Why Knowing the Leadership Matters
Knowing who leads Autism Ontario and how it differs from other groups helps clarify where to turn for specific needs. It also builds trust in the organization’s transparency and accountability.
Families can feel confident that Autism Ontario’s programs are guided by experienced leaders who understand community needs.
Stakeholders can appreciate the clear governance structure that separates volunteer oversight from professional management.
The autism community benefits from having both service-focused and advocacy-focused organizations working toward shared goals.
Moving Forward with Clear Leadership
Autism Ontario’s leadership team, with Kim Moore as Board President and Margaret Spoelstra as CEO, provides strong guidance for the organization’s mission. Their roles complement each other and ensure the organization remains responsive and effective.
At the same time, recognizing the Ontario Autism Coalition’s separate leadership and advocacy focus helps avoid confusion and supports collaboration between groups.
Families, professionals, and advocates can use this understanding to engage with the right organization for their needs and contribute to a stronger autism community in Ontario.
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