Ohio autism scholarship program - permanent!

[Guest guest]

This is from a parent who is using an autism scholarship in Ohio.

Congratulations to Ohio!

Re: [autismparentsupport] Ohio autism scholarship program - permanent!

Woo-hoo! I'm all for that :-) We're moving onto a

year of using the scholarship and I'm so thankful of

the option of sending Gus to the school he's been

going to. They are specifically focused towards

autism and have the staff trained accordingly. Best

of all, we're able to carry over his home ABA to his

programming at school to work on the same targets and

goals.

I know there's been a lot of discussion lately about

the effectiveness and appropriateness of a scholarship

or voucher program in Texas and I can only give my 2

cents as a parent using the program in Ohio. It's a

fast answer to a lengthy problem...schools not

equipped to handle the complex issues that autism

brings. As much as we want our schools to improve and

be able to provide the education we feel is adequate

for our kids, I know it's not going to happen any time

in the near future. And after waiting so long for our

" official " diagnosis and another long wait list for

services which are few and far between in our

community, the scholarship has filled the void in a

very quick and efficient manner. The first line you

hear in most articles re autism is " the earlier the

treatment, the better chance that child can be

integrated with typical kids " . Isn't this what we all

dream about for our kids? The approved providers are

approved for a particular reason...well researched and

trust-worthy providers. I have yet to have any

problem with my son's IEP process...I don't feel like

I'm any more responsible for upholding his goals and

seeing that they're met than when he was in the public

school district. As parents, we're all responsible

for this portion of our child's education regardless

of what school and what funding you're using for

education.

Our public school district is just now getting in line

with autism services and developed a specific autism

classroom but it's only for preschool and

kindergarten. If I stayed in that district instead of

using the scholarship, what happens after kindergarten

with my child...he goes back to the special needs

classroom where the teachers aren't trained for the

specific behaviors and problems associated with autism

that make my son's school day so nerve-racking? I'd

love to stay in the public school district and not

have to worry about the extra paperwork,

transportation and responsibilities associated with

the scholarship and going to a special school but I

would be short-changing my son. This program allows

for the best education I can get for him in our

community given his disabilities. The $1400/month

tuition would prevent us from ever being able to

afford it on our own. The scholarship has allowed us

to attain a quality education for our child, where

he's not sitting in a corner of a classroom being

ignored and where I'm not being called every other day

to come pick him up b/c of his behavior meltdowns.

Anyway, my support of the scholarships to the state of

Texas and I hope you all can enjoy the benefits of it

very soon. It has been such a positive change for us

and I think every parent should have that option. And

that's what it is...an option. Best wishes,

--- Liz and Troy wrote:

> Way to go Ohio!

>

> Gov. Taft signed HB 699 yesterday, which contains

> language to move the

> current autism scholarship program into permanent

> law in the Ohio

> Revised Code under chapter 3310.41.

>

> This is great news, as there will no longer be a

> need to have the

> program reauthorized every two years!

>

> The language still retains the $20k cap and will be

> the same program as

> the current one. The only difference will be noticed

> by the resident

> school districts, because there is a change in the

> way preschoolers

> using the scholarship are counted in the state ADM

> for funding.

>

> Liz

> tscillian@...

>

>

>

>