[P2ParentsChat] Re: Autism scholarship

[Guest guest]

>>>>>> Hi Patty, Thanks for the info. It is a bit confusing. I appreciate all your input. Unfortunately, I am not real thrilled with the school system which is why my husband and I pulled my son out March 2004, so to go there and prepare another I.E.P. that I have done for the last 4 years is kind of a waste to me. They do have a school called the Monarch School here in a suburb of Cleveland, but it costs 40,000 per year; last I checked. I can't imagine other than having an endless supply of money, who could possibly afford that. I am so tired of all these "so called" ways that claim are helping our kids, but it fails to mention all the loop holes they come up with. Are kids are in need of help and services, and the public school system needs to make room for our kids in the classroom, and be educated. It is amazing to me how many teachers get offended when you try to tell them how to help your child. I was informed I am not the educator. I live with my son everyday; that makes me an expert, and anyone that has a child with any type of special needs is the expert of that child. Well, again, thanks for your help. Networking together is great, and I am glad to be a part of this. Donna Divis

>>>>>>>>>>Donna,I believe the info you are referring to is the Ohio Autism Scholarship....it is a pilot two year program offering a "scholarship" for kids with a dx of autism (2004-2005 is the last year and then it is up for re-evaluation.) The scholarship does not have an age requirement as of this point other than the child must be at least 3 years old (eligible for an IEP via the school district) I think there is a little confusion as to enrollment and attendance.....the child needs to be enrolled in a public school to receive an IEP....so essentially you could enroll your son and receive an IEP prior to September if you get moving and at the IEP meeting file the paperwork for the autism scholarship and hopefully get enrolled by October 1. Your son does not have to attend a public school to be eligible ...just have an IEP. The only way to get an IEP is to be enrolled. An IEP spells out what services the school district is willing to offer to help educate your son (such as speech, ot, one on one instruction, etc.) The scholarship gives the parent the choice of allowing the school district to implement the IEP or to have the IEP implemented via private sources...so you a choice as to who is educating your child. The private sources do have to be approved providers to qualify for re-imbursement. Each quarter one can be reimbursed for up to $5000 of billed services from approved providers for a max of 3out of 4 quarters (15000)....so as for being reimbursed for home schooling it would be hard...you could probably get your consultant fees paid for, but as for your own time pretty much forget about it. Some parents took advantage of the program last year and listed theirselves as providers to be able to bill for the full 15,000 over a years period....so now the state is scrutinizing who is an approved provider with stricter requirements. The scholarship was designed to give parents a choice from using their school district or seeking services elsewhere...so if their school district was inadequate they could at least attempt to send their child to something more appropriate....however most of the "autism" schools are very costly (@50,000) so 15,000 is a drop in the bucket...but it is better than nothing. The 15,000 that is allocated to the family choosing to use it is pulled from the school districts funding......the school district is then completely absolved of having to help....their only requirement is supplying an IEP...and the private providers must be able to implement it....so if you want to be re-imbursed for swimming with dolphins it MUST be in your IEP to be able to be reimbursed for it...it only offers a choice of implementation of the IEP...not what is in the IEP. Hope this helps...it is kind of confusing...let me know if you have any other questions. We plan on using it this fall for our daughter who will be turning 3...I think it is a good idea for a preschool level however I feel the scholarship has a lot of holes for older children.Patty

[Guest guest]

Donna,

I believe the info you are referring to is the Ohio Autism

Scholarship....it is a pilot two year program offering

a " scholarship " for kids with a dx of autism (2004-2005 is the last

year and then it is up for re-evaluation.) The scholarship does not

have an age requirement as of this point other than the child must

be at least 3 years old (eligible for an IEP via the school

district) I think there is a little confusion as to enrollment and

attendance.....the child needs to be enrolled in a public school to

receive an IEP....so essentially you could enroll your son and

receive an IEP prior to September if you get moving and at the IEP

meeting file the paperwork for the autism scholarship and hopefully

get enrolled by October 1. Your son does not have to attend a

public school to be eligible ...just have an IEP. The only way to

get an IEP is to be enrolled. An IEP spells out what services the

school district is willing to offer to help educate your son (such

as speech, ot, one on one instruction, etc.) The scholarship gives

the parent the choice of allowing the school district to implement

the IEP or to have the IEP implemented via private sources...so you

a choice as to who is educating your child. The private sources do

have to be approved providers to qualify for re-imbursement. Each

quarter one can be reimbursed for up to $5000 of billed services

from approved providers for a max of 3out of 4 quarters

(15000)....so as for being reimbursed for home schooling it would be

hard...you could probably get your consultant fees paid for, but as

for your own time pretty much forget about it. Some parents took

advantage of the program last year and listed theirselves as

providers to be able to bill for the full 15,000 over a years

period....so now the state is scrutinizing who is an approved

provider with stricter requirements.

The scholarship was designed to give parents a choice from

using their school district or seeking services elsewhere...so if

their school district was inadequate they could at least attempt to

send their child to something more appropriate....however most of

the " autism " schools are very costly (@50,000) so 15,000 is a drop

in the bucket...but it is better than nothing. The 15,000 that is

allocated to the family choosing to use it is pulled from the school

districts funding......the school district is then completely

absolved of having to help....their only requirement is supplying an

IEP...and the private providers must be able to implement it....so

if you want to be re-imbursed for swimming with dolphins it MUST be

in your IEP to be able to be reimbursed for it...it only offers a

choice of implementation of the IEP...not what is in the IEP. Hope

this helps...it is kind of confusing...let me know if you have any

other questions. We plan on using it this fall for our daughter who

will be turning 3...I think it is a good idea for a preschool level

however I feel the scholarship has a lot of holes for older children.

Patty