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Protecting School Choice for Autism

23 Comments

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Teresa Steenbergh-Whittum
10 years ago

My sister also has a severly Autistic son who looks forward to his schooling. He is a 21 years old. His education and the help through his schooling has been incredible! Please dont ruin the lives of thousands who had no choice in being born with this disease!!!

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Barbara A Vajen
10 years ago

This is horrendous... All kids need educated in an environment that meets their needs

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Tanya Mish
10 years ago

My child was diagnosed with autism at age 3. Having the ability to chose the right educational provider, the best fit, has been invaluable. Enforcing a surety bond with certainly force the closing of many autism schools. Most exist merely to help our children and are not there for profit. They do not have the kind of 'extra' money lying around that ODE wants them to have. Our children need many services and we need these small schools to remain open. Staff will be forced into unemployment, children will be separated from the only places and people many of them have ever known. I am expecting that Gov. Kasich, who believes that school choice is of utmost importance, will rally behind our families and fight for us. ODE needs to pause and come up with some other way to achieve their goals. Punishing small schools for not having extra, unused monies is not the way to go about proving whether or not they are fiscally sound. So many schools have been doing very well with the Ohio Autism Scholarship. They are doing everything they can to remain open and still comply with ODE. Please do not take away school choice for our children!

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Marc ONeill
10 years ago

I support school choice for autism. All parents need to be able to choose the best opportunities for their child's education.

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PATRICIA Matyas
10 years ago

These beautiful children need the best of everything.

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Teri Beck
10 years ago

My granddaughter is autistic, she is 9. She goes to a school that helps teach autistic children. To do away with these schools would be a sin. We need to support these children.

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Bob Banaszak
10 years ago

Thank you so much Jerry. I know this is near and dear to you.

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Jerry Beck
10 years ago Featured

Lets get this signed and in front of Governor Kasich...then we'll see if he truly holds dear the concept of school choice for all children in Ohio. The fact that this has to be defended is somewhere between sad and ridiculous. We need to stand together as a community and help our kids. These kids need extra support, not abandonment..

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Monica Cook
10 years ago Featured

This is a huge injustice not only to the children that benefit, but to the smaller businesses that are making a difference in their lives.

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Kate Schwartz
10 years ago Featured

This will create hardships on families that already have hardships. It is usually a struggle to make the decision to remove your child from the public school system. The Autism Scholarship was designed to give parents a choice but this will limit the choices available. I implore you to reconsider the decision to suddenly enforce this law. I respectfully request at least a year phase in. We all see the need to protect tax payer dollars but please give the smaller providers that are doing great work time to work this into their budgets.

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Keri Kasza
10 years ago

So important.

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Carol brown
10 years ago

No comments.

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Nicole Cassidy
10 years ago Featured

My 5 year old daughter Cathleen has made so much progress at her autism school. The surety bond could close her school and then we are left with no choice. Please remove the surety bond requirement!!!!

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Cheryl Reed
10 years ago

Help support Autism schools in Ohio. They are such an important part of so many lives!!!

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Heather Eberly
10 years ago Featured

I am a small provider as well and we have given up so much to help support our families happily, this surety bond is sure to hurt us and make it even more difficult to make affordable education and therapy care for our children.

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Cindi Selz
10 years ago

We need these schools for children with autism!

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Beth Osborn
10 years ago

Just remember when making the decision; The children of today are the future of tomorrow.

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Jodie Banaszak · petition starter
10 years ago Featured

I am a determined momma who wants to speak with Governor Kasich ear to ear. I've contacted and emailed his office, Senator Edna Brown's office, and the Ohio Attorney General's office to plead with all of them to intervene and stop the enforcement of the bond. I know, if I were given the opportunity to speak with him, Governor Kasich would understand my concerns as a mother. I am but one mother, but I represent thousands of mothers across the state of Ohio who have children with Autism. We deserve to be heard. Mackenzie deserves the chance to be the best she can be. Doesn't every child?

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Linda Haar
10 years ago

Do not take our choices away

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Mark Banaszak
10 years ago

Give them the money they need. Makenzie is my niece and sweet little girl.