Re: Article: State autism education program flawed, Policy Matters Ohio says

[Guest guest]

My husband participated in this survey/study. He got the distinct impression that the interviewer was strongly predisposed to find faults with the ASP. My husband also inquired who was funding or who was behind this study. There was no straight answer but the impression he got was that it was the governor's office and certain unions "like the teacher's union" -- in other words, those who may want to try to do away with the program and force parents to use the inadequate services of their local school districts. I'm angered but not surprised by this report.

-----Original Message----- From: Pattison Sent: Mar 19, 2008 10:47 AM autismNE , autismbiomedcleveland , biomedohio , Naa-neohio , NAA NEO Board , ASA Greater Akron , Greater Cleveland Aspergers Support Subject: [ ] Article: State autism education program flawed, Policy Matters Ohio says

http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2008/03/state_autism_education_program.html

[Guest guest]

Maybe this group, , needs to take an initiative to write a letter to the editor of the PD that this report is flawed in itself. It sure seems like there is some agenda to this report and I agree that someone is behind this.

Funny the Cleveland think tank did not mention in the report that the pubic school base cost of educating a student with autism is over $30,000.00 (catagory 6). Seems the public school is getting away cheap at $15,000.00, which is the average cost of a scholarship per the report.

I am going to write a letter because doing nothing but complain about this bothers me. I hope others will join me.Best,Sandee

[Guest guest]

Sandee,I fully intend on writing a letter. I am so angry right now, though, that I can't put words to paper. I just emailed my DH, telling him of how we were going to write the letter. Great job of fact-checking, PD! NOT! I am just so sickened over this report. The ASP enables our preschool son to attend a wonderful school which does NOT discriminate on the basis of religion or disability. Where in the heck is Policy Matters getting this stuff? If I had to depend on my local SD, my son would be in a much different place (think moderate vs. high functioning). I sure hope everyone else voices their opinion on this to BOTH the PD and Policy Matters.AmySandee <jswinky@...> wrote: Maybe this group, , needs to take an initiative to write a letter to the editor of the PD that this report is flawed in itself. It sure seems like there is some agenda to this report and I agree that someone is behind this. Funny the Cleveland think tank did not mention in the report that the pubic school base cost of educating a student with autism is over $30,000.00 (catagory 6). Seems the public school is getting away cheap at $15,000.00, which is the average cost of a scholarship per the report. I am going to write a letter because doing nothing but complain about this bothers me. I hope others will join me.Best,Sandee

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[Guest guest]

I plan to write an op-ed on this report and story.I will post mine here to share with all of you. OhioSchoolWatch101.com is also doing something as well. You may want to post your letters there for all to read.

Best,Sandee Winkelman

[Guest guest]

As a follow up I spoke with Piet van Lier (this is the correct spelling) who is the person that researched and created the report on the ASP.FYI: I asked him how he obtained the parents names (FERPA protected) and he said he joined several list serves and attended autism support groups? I never saw anything posted to contact him? Did I miss something?

I have not seen his name on any of the groups I belong to. I wonder what name he goes by? Just so you are aware he may be a member of this group or another group you may belong to. I will report any new information that may come my way.

Best,Sandee Winkelman

[Guest guest]

I don't agree with the article completely.. but there are SOME flaws

with the program IMO, which I know there are some who will disagree

with me, but it is my opinion and come on.. no program is without

flaws. The major flaw I see with the program, is that it is just not

enough money.. when the tuition of good programs (school age not

preschool) is anywhere from $5,000 - $40,000 above what the scholarship

covers.. families who are already struggling, trying to make it

paycheck to paycheck, not qualifying for any sort of assistance, and

already have mounting expenses can not afford those types of

tuitions.. so it's not helping those types of families... and they

are stuck in their school districts fighting and battling to get the

best care and education for their child in that environment... but

maybe it's those parents who do have to struggle and fight that will

change the system... I dunno..

Also.. more providers and private schools are needed.. although that's

a shortage in every area when having a child with special needs.. there

never seems to be enough facilities, therapists, and good doctors that

you can trust. We are limited in the whos and wheres of the providers

that can serve our children. There should not be a 6+ month wait to

get into a good doctor or therapist or specialist.. but that's another

subject...

Anyway.. just my 2 cents... hope no one got flooded out today..

J

Brook Park

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http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2008/03/state_autism_educat

ion_program.html

>

[Guest guest]

You know we have been waiting to hear whether Lake Center Christian will accept us on the scholarship since January.If they dont accept Matt i fear our only other option is pursueing a g.e.d, as we've tried 8 diff school settings. A friend of mine loaned me the money to cover the app fee,as ive had to stay home to care for him full time. His father died several years ago so we have no child support coming in. Even if we do get accepted i fear i might not be able to swing it if its over the cost of the scholarship.

a

-------Original Message-------

From: If you want to know.. Ask!

Date: 3/19/2008 9:25:58 PM

Subject: [ ] Re: Article: State autism education program flawed, Policy Matters Ohio says

I don't agree with the article completely.. but there are SOME flaws with the program IMO, which I know there are some who will disagree with me, but it is my opinion and come on.. no program is without flaws. The major flaw I see with the program, is that it is just not enough money.. when the tuition of good programs (school age not preschool) is anywhere from $5,000 - $40,000 above what the scholarship covers.. families who are already struggling, trying to make it paycheck to paycheck, not qualifying for any sort of assistance, and already have mounting expenses can not afford those types of tuitions.. so it's not helping those types of families... and they are stuck in their school districts fighting and battling to get the best care and education for their child in that environment... but maybe it's those parents who do have to struggle and fight that will change the system... I dunno.. Also.. more providers and private schools are needed.. although that's a shortage in every area when having a child with special needs.. there never seems to be enough facilities, therapists, and good doctors that you can trust. We are limited in the whos and wheres of the providers that can serve our children. There should not be a 6+ month wait to get into a good doctor or therapist or specialist.. but that's another subject... Anyway.. just my 2 cents... hope no one got flooded out today.. JBrook Park>> http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2008/03/state_autism_education_program.html>

January 2007

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