Autism Scholarship
Fifth Third Center
21 East State Street, Suite 900
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Phone: 6142231555
Fax: 6142231565
Would your child with Autism be better served by a private school or a specialized private service provider?
For more information about the Ohio Autism Scholarship Program, which can provide scholarships up to $20,000, or to receive a list of the private schools and providers in your area, please contact School Choice Ohio:
6142231555
autisminfo@scohio.org
These forms are available online at www.ode.state.oh.us (search keyword “Autism”).
Expanding Options for Families of Autistic Students Across Ohio
If the needs of your child with Autism are not being met in his or her current
public school, the Ohio Autism Scholarship may be the answer.
The Ohio Autism Scholarship:
• Allows you to send your child to a private school or service provider
• Provides scholarship funding of up to $20,000 annually
• Pays for tuition to cover the services outlined in the child’s IEP
• Requires service providers to be approved by the Ohio Department of Education
• Empowers you, the parent, to guide your child’s education
Autism Scholarship Program
On the web at:
www.scohio.org
Preschool Children—Eligibility
Preschool students (ages 3‐4) are eligible for the Autism Scholarship if they have a medical diagnosis of Autism and identified deficits in communication and adaptive behavior. Inclusion of preschool students in the scholarship program is designed to
encourage early intervention. Many current Autism scholarship recipients are preschool students.
SchoolAged Students—
Eligibility
Students with Autism in grades K‐12 (or up to age 21) who have a current agreed‐upon Individual Education Program (IEP) from their resident public school district are eligible for the Autism Scholarship. A child with “pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified (PDD‐NOS)” is also eligible for the scholarship.
A list of approved registered private providers is listed by county on the ODE website:
(www.ode.state.oh.us)
The provider list includes both nonpublic schools and private service providers who
meet the participation requirements. Parents may use more than one approved registered provider to provide the services listed on their child’s IEP. However, the scholarship may not be used for supplemental services if the child continues to
attend their public school of residence.
How To Apply:
• Your child must be enrolled in their public school district of residence and meet all eligibility criteria.
• Fill out the Scholarship Application and District Assurance forms.
• Find a private provider(s) like schools, therapists, or agencies to provide the services listed on your child’s IEP. A list of approved providers is available online
through ODE’s website.
There are no application deadlines for the Autism scholarship, so families can
begin using the private services at any point during the year. To get started, please either call School Choice Ohio or get in touch with one of the approved private service providers in your area who can assist you with the application process.
Interested in learning more? Need help with the application process? Contact School
Choice Ohio today for assistance. 16142231555
Monday, April 13, 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Sensory Friendly Films - Autism Society & AMC Theaters!
AMC Entertainment® and the Autism Society of America Announce Partnership
Organizations Team Up to Promote Social Inclusion for Individuals with Autism in their Communities
Kansas City, Mo. – Las Vegas, NV (April 2, 2009)—AMC Entertainment (AMC) and the Autism Society of America (ASA) announced, on World Autism Awareness Day, a formal commitment to their current partnership that aims to include people with autism in their community through work and play. The AMC Sensory Friendly Films announcement occurred at ShoWest, the movie industry’s largest convention, in Las Vegas at Paris.
For nearly a year, the two organizations have brought a pilot program to communities across the United States, giving families affected by autism a chance to go to the movies together – most for the first time. Now, with the formalization of their partnership, the two organizations will continue to bring the popular AMC Sensory Friendly FilmsTM program to families while planning for a workforce program to address the needs of those children as they grow up. With support from ASA, AMC will begin an employment program that will help individuals on the autism spectrum participate as visible, valued members of the workforce.
“We are proud to expand this partnership into a program featuring multiple ways for our organization to make a difference in the lives of the estimated 1.5 million people in the U.S. living with autism spectrum disorder,” said Gerry Lopez, chief executive officer and president, AMC. “Not only will we continue to offer families affected by autism the chance to enjoy a special movie experience in a safe and accepting environment, but we look forward to launching our employment program, which will offer those affected by autism the opportunity to contribute to the AMC workforce in a meaningful manner.”
Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disability that typically appears during the first two years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. It often comes with sensory sensitivities, which is why for the Sensory Friendly Films program, the lights are slightly turned up and the sound slightly turned down. But perhaps the most significant accommodation for families affected by autism is the suspension of AMC’s “Silence is Golden” policy – guests are allowed to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing, creating a safe and accepting environment for families that might otherwise never be able to attend a movie due to the challenges of autism. With two shows this April, National Autism Awareness Month – Monsters v. Aliens on April 4 and Hannah Montana: The Movie on April 18 – the program will continue to bring joy to families across the country.
- more -
Page 2, AMC Entertainment & Autism Society of America Announce Partnership
In addition to the recreational opportunity of AMC Sensory Friendly Films, the partnership will create a new employment opportunity for people on the spectrum. According to a 2008 Easter Seals/Mass Mutual study, 76 percent of teenagers with autism over the age of 16 have never looked for a job, and 76 percent of parents of children with autism are concerned about their child’s future employment. With help from top experts in the field, ASA will support AMC in developing a workforce program in their theatres that aims to change that landscape for families today.
“ASA is thrilled to have AMC as a partner in our efforts to improve the lives of all affected by autism,” said ASA Board Chair Dr. Cathy Pratt. “The new workforce initiative is especially exciting because not only does it offer people with autism a much-needed opportunity for employment, but communities will be able to see that those on the spectrum can take steps toward independence by becoming valued members of the workforce.”
About AMC Entertainment Inc.
Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., AMC Entertainment Inc. is a leading theatrical exhibition and entertainment company. With a history of industry leadership and innovation dating back to 1920, the company today serves more than 235 million guests annually through interests in 309 theatres with 4,628 screens in five countries. www.amcentertainment.com
About Autism Society of America
ASA, the nation’s leading grassroots autism organization, exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism. We do this by increasing public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people on the spectrum, advocating for appropriate services for individuals across the lifespan, and providing the latest information regarding treatment, education, research and advocacy. For more information, visit www.autism-society.org.
Organizations Team Up to Promote Social Inclusion for Individuals with Autism in their Communities
Kansas City, Mo. – Las Vegas, NV (April 2, 2009)—AMC Entertainment (AMC) and the Autism Society of America (ASA) announced, on World Autism Awareness Day, a formal commitment to their current partnership that aims to include people with autism in their community through work and play. The AMC Sensory Friendly Films announcement occurred at ShoWest, the movie industry’s largest convention, in Las Vegas at Paris.
For nearly a year, the two organizations have brought a pilot program to communities across the United States, giving families affected by autism a chance to go to the movies together – most for the first time. Now, with the formalization of their partnership, the two organizations will continue to bring the popular AMC Sensory Friendly FilmsTM program to families while planning for a workforce program to address the needs of those children as they grow up. With support from ASA, AMC will begin an employment program that will help individuals on the autism spectrum participate as visible, valued members of the workforce.
“We are proud to expand this partnership into a program featuring multiple ways for our organization to make a difference in the lives of the estimated 1.5 million people in the U.S. living with autism spectrum disorder,” said Gerry Lopez, chief executive officer and president, AMC. “Not only will we continue to offer families affected by autism the chance to enjoy a special movie experience in a safe and accepting environment, but we look forward to launching our employment program, which will offer those affected by autism the opportunity to contribute to the AMC workforce in a meaningful manner.”
Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disability that typically appears during the first two years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. It often comes with sensory sensitivities, which is why for the Sensory Friendly Films program, the lights are slightly turned up and the sound slightly turned down. But perhaps the most significant accommodation for families affected by autism is the suspension of AMC’s “Silence is Golden” policy – guests are allowed to get up and dance, walk, shout or sing, creating a safe and accepting environment for families that might otherwise never be able to attend a movie due to the challenges of autism. With two shows this April, National Autism Awareness Month – Monsters v. Aliens on April 4 and Hannah Montana: The Movie on April 18 – the program will continue to bring joy to families across the country.
- more -
Page 2, AMC Entertainment & Autism Society of America Announce Partnership
In addition to the recreational opportunity of AMC Sensory Friendly Films, the partnership will create a new employment opportunity for people on the spectrum. According to a 2008 Easter Seals/Mass Mutual study, 76 percent of teenagers with autism over the age of 16 have never looked for a job, and 76 percent of parents of children with autism are concerned about their child’s future employment. With help from top experts in the field, ASA will support AMC in developing a workforce program in their theatres that aims to change that landscape for families today.
“ASA is thrilled to have AMC as a partner in our efforts to improve the lives of all affected by autism,” said ASA Board Chair Dr. Cathy Pratt. “The new workforce initiative is especially exciting because not only does it offer people with autism a much-needed opportunity for employment, but communities will be able to see that those on the spectrum can take steps toward independence by becoming valued members of the workforce.”
About AMC Entertainment Inc.
Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., AMC Entertainment Inc. is a leading theatrical exhibition and entertainment company. With a history of industry leadership and innovation dating back to 1920, the company today serves more than 235 million guests annually through interests in 309 theatres with 4,628 screens in five countries. www.amcentertainment.com
About Autism Society of America
ASA, the nation’s leading grassroots autism organization, exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism. We do this by increasing public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people on the spectrum, advocating for appropriate services for individuals across the lifespan, and providing the latest information regarding treatment, education, research and advocacy. For more information, visit www.autism-society.org.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
