ASO DIGEST: August 25, 2008

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Dear Friend of ASO:

Visit ASO's website www.autismohio.org for an "easy to read" version if this does not come through clean on your listserv. Or sign up to receive your own copy by "registering" on the "login" section of ASO's homepage.

The ASO DIGEST is "on vacation" this week. Regular publication will resume next Tuesday (Monday is a holiday - enjoy!). Until then - a couple of important reminders:

- Participate in ASO's Website Survey

- ODMRDD Releases Drafts of Phase 1 Deliverables from Futures Recommendations - Your input needed!

- ODE-OEC Updating Autism Scholarship Program Rules - Your input needed!

- NOW OPEN! – 2008 NATTAP Conference Registration, Columbus

If you are interested in participating in research projects, ASO is now posting all research opportunities on our website. For information on available opportunities, visit our webpage www.autismohio.org, click on "Information" along the l eft side of the home page and then click on "Studies/Surveys".

Have you purchased your Ohio Autism Awareness License Plate yet? To purchase yours, visit www.oplates.com and click on "Specialty Plates" or visit our website at www.autismohio.org for more information.Sincerely,The Autism Society of Ohio701 S. Main St.Akron, OH 44311( 330) 376-0211fax: (330) 376-1226email: askASO@...web: www.autismohio.org Please note: This is provided for information purposes only. The ASO does not endorse or recommend any providers, methodologies or services. Providing this information should not be construed as an endorsement by the ASO, either explicit or implied.

News From ASO:

From ASO: Please Participate in Our Website Survey

Please participate in Autism Society of Ohio website survey!

ASO would like your input to improve our website so that we could provide more accurate, up-to-date, and easy-to-read information related to autism to suit your needs.

You can participate in this online survey by clicking here or cutting and pasting the20following link into your web browser:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=re_2bBjbg_2bl4o8mcHjHPlr_2bg_3d_3d

You can remain anonymous during the survey and your privacy is protected. You may, however, opt to sign up to our email list to receive ASO digest and other alerts, at the end of the survey. Your response to the survey questions will be aggregated and will be used only to improve ASO website and not any other purposes.

The results of the survey will be reflected in our website, and a report will be posted on our website.

Thank you very much for your prompt participation!

ODMRDD Releases Drafts of Phase 1 Deliverables from Futures Recommendations - Your input needed!

Note from ASO: ODMRDD is very interested in your feedback! Please note that these "deliverables" are very much a DRAFT! Additionally, the deliverables should be considered as each representing a part of a whole - a plan to implement some serious system change in Ohio - so please consider each deliverable in the context of the others as well. Nothing presented in the deliverables is cast in stone - so please provide input to ODMRDD. Of special interest to the Ohio autism community:

- Deliverable 2: New Flexible Support Waiver including Intensive Behavioral Needs

- Deliverable 5: Transition Pilot

- Deliverable 8: Waiting Lists

- Deliverable 9: Regional Planning and Networks

ASO Co-President Barb Yavorcik is part of Policy Leadership Roundtable and will be working with ODMRDD as these deliverables are vetted and finalized, so after you have submitted your input to ODMRDD, if you have a very specific concern that you would like emphasized, please share that with Barb at byavorcik@... or askASO@.... The next Policy Leadership Roundtable meeting is scheduled for September 17, 2008, so try to have your input in before then.

From ODMRDD E-Newsletter Pipeline:

Last Wednsday, at the third meeting of the Policy Leadership Roundtable, participants reviewed the first group of ‘deliverables’ (products) related to the 31 recommendations of the MRDD Futures Committee. We took those recommendations, identified who would support that work internally, and defined the sequence in which it would be performed. Today we share the work we have completed to-date in Phase One, which includes 17 deliverables.These deliverables are being presented as drafts for the field to review and provide feedback. We hope you will find the process to be an efficient way of moving forward. We continue to manage all of the Futures efforts as transparently and inclusively as possible, and take fresh approaches to achieve positive outcomes. This includes sharing drafts and works-in-progress. I invite the entire MRDD community to review this work, along with members of the Policy Leadership Roundtable. As you review this work, we hope you will note a number of things:· First, we have remained true to the recommendations given us by the Futures Committee. Our work, most definitely, will lead to the implementation of those recommendations.· Second, these recommendations allow us to progress in accordance with the themes and values we stated as important at the outset: 1. Less complex service delivery, with fair and logical payment systems; 2. Good stewardship of limited resources; 3. Quality outcomes, through a combination of people and processes; 4. Service delivery models designed in response to choices made by the people served, in

alliance with community supports; 5. A system-wide vision developed with stakeholders.· Third, we hope you will note some creativity in this work – ideas or concepts that one might not immediately connect to the Futures recommendations, but that are imbedded in the intent of those recommendations.

I am very pleased at the participation we have seen from staff and stakeholders as the implementation process moves forward, and am encouraged by the role of the Policy Leadership Roundtable, as it supports the work to implement system changes in Phase One, and looks at the challenges ahead in Phase Two. Thanks to each of you who has been a part of Phase One. – For updated information on the 17 deliverables presented today, please visit http://mrdd.ohio.gov/futures/FuturesImplementationInformation.htm on or after August 7, and respond to feedback@... with any comments. We appreciate hearing from you.

ODE-OEC Updating Autism Scholarship Program Rules - Your input needed!

The Ohio Department of Education's Office for Exceptional Children is in the process of updating the Autism Scholarship Program Rules. The current rules (3301-103-01 through 3301-103-08) of the Ohio Administrative Code define how the Department administers the sc holarship program. The rules have been in effect since the beginning of the Autism Scholarship in January 2004.

Rule updating is part of a five-year review plan required by Ohio Law. This requirement gives the department an opportunity to make changes and any necessary clarifications to reflect the current language of the Ohio Revised Code regarding the Autism Scholarship. For example, the original law referred to the program as a pilot program. (The current law changed the name to the Autism Scholarship.) Also, the maximum amount of the scholarship was $15,000 and is currently $20,000 in law. The rules must be updated to reflect these changes.

The process to update the rules is lengthy and requires the input of all interested parties, including such groups as parents, providers, school districts, an d autism-related organizations and interest groups. This is the public’s opportunity to provide feedback to the proposed draft rules that will govern the scholarship program. The Department is seeking and welcomes any input from the public.

The proposed draft rules are listed on the Department of Education’s website under the Autism Scholarship Program section. Any input can be submitted by email to oec_asp@.... U.S. mail is also appropriate.

The rules must be approved by the State Board of Education and the Joint Commission on Agency Rule Review (JACARR), a committee within the General Assembly.

The proposed rules will be reviewed for public comment on:

Date: September 15th, 2008

Time: 10:00 AM/ div> Place: The State Library of Ohio

Directions: http://www.winslo.state.oh.us/publib/libdir.html

Please confirm if you will be attending this session by sending an email to the following link:

oec_asp@...

NOW OPEN! – 2008 NATTAP Conference RegistrationThe Autism Society of America (ASA) and Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) present the 2nd annual international conference on autism training and technical assistance. The objectives of the conference are to review current systems models for addressing the needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), promote use of best practice in research and intervention and provide methods for capacity building – all of which contribute to the ultimate goal of improving outcomes for individuals ages 3-21. Join the estimated 1,500-2,000 attendees from across the national and around the globe.NEW for 2008! Pre-Conference Sessions - November 18, 2008Pre-Conference sessions are provided by leaders and recognized experts in the field and provide attendees with a valuable opportunity for in-depth discussion and learning.What: 2008 NATTAP ConferenceWhen: November 19-21, 2008Where: Greater Columbus Convention Center | Columbus, OHRegular Registration (July 1 - September 22, 2008): $250Late Registration (September 23 - October 20, 2008): $300On Site Registration (October 20 - November 21, 2008): $315Parent/Family Member Rate: $100Pre-Conference Session Rate: $100Conference registration and information available at: http://www.nattapconference.org

The Autism Society of Ohio has provided a grant to OCALI reducing the registration rate for parents from last year's $185 to $100 for all three days of the conference! Register NOW!

It's only a deal if it's where you want to go. Find your travel deal here.