(Washington, D.C., April 2, 2009) -In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, the Alliance for School Choice today commended special needs activists who are working to expand educational options for children with autism and other special learning needs.
"Parents of children with autism have been leaders in the fight for school choice and educational freedom since day one," said John Schilling, interim president of the Alliance. "Today, we salute their tireless efforts to ensure that children with special needs are provided with the best education possible."
As a result of a coordinated effort by disability-rights advocates, educational opportunities for children with disabilities have grown dramatically in the last five years.
Currently, five states offer private school voucher programs specifically designed to allow children with special needs to transfer to the private schools of their parents' choice. These programs—in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, and Utah—are serving 24,190 students in the 2008-2009 school year. Enrollment in these programs is up 76 percent over five years.
More than 1,000 of these students are participating in a voucher program specifically designed for children with autism. The Ohio Autism Scholarship Program was created in 2003 and has grown from 300 participants in its first year to more than 1,000 today.
"I think this is a great model," said Lori Peacock, the parent of a child who participates in the Ohio Autism Scholarship Program. "I've been in touch with parents in other states who are desperate for something like this."
Doug Krinsky, whose child also participates in the Ohio program, agrees.
"Any parent I've talked to who uses the scholarship is satisfied," he said. "If the parents are happy and the kids are improving, that's what it's all about."
To help parents like Lori and Doug, more legislators are introducing special needs school choice bills than ever before. In 2007-2008, 32 special needs scholarship bills were introduced in 22 states. Already in 2009, more than 15 special needs school choice bills have been filed in states across the country, with several focusing specifically on autism.
Academic research demonstrates that these programs lead to high parental satisfaction:
- A 2008 study of Ohio's Autism Scholarship Program found that an astounding 100 percent of parents with children who receive scholarships to attend private schools have higher rates of satisfaction with their children's schools than parents with children in public schools.
- According to a 2008 study, 89 percent of parents with children participating in Utah's Carson Smith Special Needs Scholarship Program say their children have made significant academic strides as a result of the program.
- Surveys of Florida's John M. McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program show that more than 90 percent of parents with children in the program are highly satisfied with their children's schools.
