Heffner Hired as Superintendent of Public Instruction for Ohio
The State Board of Education hired Interim Superintendent Stan Heffner as the permanent superintendent Tuesday, hours after deciding to interview him because two of three finalists for the position had dropped out. Heffner had been slated to leave for a new job in August.
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AMC Entertainment® and the Autism Society have teamed up to bring families affected by autism a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis. With Sensory Friendly Films, the movie auditoriums will have their lights brought up and the sound turned down. Click here to find a location in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.
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Surveys / Studies
Don't forget to check for opportunities to participate in research - click here for more information.
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Effective July 1, 2011 - Management of the Autism Scholarship Program (ASP) recently moved from the Office for Exceptional Children to the Office of Nonpublic Educational Options. The program allows the Ohio Department of Education to award scholarships to parents of qualified students with autism. The scholarships provide for the receipt of specialized services outlined in the child's individualized education program through a special education program outside of the student's district of residence.
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The Rehabilitative Service Commission has recently released it's 2012-2013 Strategic Plan.  RSC's Mission, Values, Goals and Objectives are set for the next two years. Initiatives and performance measures currently identified are executive level initiatives and were developed to support the Strategic Plan. These are subject to change based on resources.

Click here to view the Plan.

Autism Society of Ohio President Appointed to Autism Society National Board
Congratulations to the Autism Society of Ohio President Denise Sawan Caruso who was appointed to the national Autism Society Board at the convention last week in Orlando! We are very excited to have Denise serving on the board and bringing an "Ohio perspective" to our national organization. Denise was serving as a member of the Chapter Relations committee and will take over as Chair of that Committee.
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Proposed Change in Graduation Rate - Important Implications for Students with Autism!
Ohio Department of Education Plans to Apply New Calculations to this Year’s Graduates. The Graduation Rate Calculation is determined by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). The USDE has mandated that all states move to a uniform, four-year, on-time graduation rate. This calculation is to take place regardless of the target date for completion of a free appropriate public education (FAPE) as set by the IEP team. States must use the new calculation in making adequate yearly progress (AYP) determinations for schools, districts, and the state, beginning with the determinations that are based on 2011-2012 school year assessment results (i.e., the graduating class of 2011). The rate is a simple ratio of students in a given class who earn a diploma in four years divided by those students who started with the class four years earlier as freshman (plus the number of students who transfer in and minus the number of students who transfer out, leave, or die). Read more...