Feds tell Ohio it must provide autism therapy

The U.S. Department of Education notified Ohio last week that the state must provide an intensive treatment program for children with autism (Source: “Feds: Ohio must provide autism therapy,” Cincinnati Enquirer, Sept. 13, 2014).

The federal directive comes as the state continues a court case against a Clermont County couple over whether federal law requires Ohio to provide applied behavior analysis, or ABA therapy. he couple sued the state last year after the Ohio Department of Health refused to provide ABA therapy for their son through the state’s “Help Me Grow” program.

The letter from Melody Musgrove, director of the U.S. Department of Education’s special education programs, said the state must make available early intervention services that “include applied behavior analysis.” The letter also warned that the department is monitoring the litigation in Ohio and that the state is responsible for following the rules related to early intervention services.