Schillinger named to autism group
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers NEW RESPONSIBILITIES- Mary Schillinger, Director of Pupil Services for the Las Virgenes School District was recently appointed to the California Department of Education Autism Advisory Committee.

Mary Schillinger, Las Virgenes Unified School District's director of pupil services and special education, has been appointed to the state Autism Advisory Committee by Jack O'Connell, California superintendent of public education.

The committee was established as part of Assembly Bill 2513, passed into law last year to establish a statewide center for the latest research-based information on autism. The committee will work out the details of creating the center, which will identify ways for schools, regional sites and groups to provide consistent services to students with autism.

"This bill and the California Autism Information and Professional Development center will, in my opinion, address one of the most critical issues in educating children with autism," Schillinger said. "Much of the confusion relates to the lack of clear guidelines for educating these students. School districts in California need to have these . . . and a source of training in order to develop comprehensive programs to meet the needs of their special needs population."

O'Connell reported that nationwide, the number of children with autism who require school services has increased dramatically over the past several years. According to the California Department of Developmental Services, the caseload of people diagnosed with autism increased from 4,911 in August 1993 to more than 31,000 by 2006.

Such children generally have poor communication and social skills and often exhibit repetitive behaviors. When overstimulated, some respond aggressively, experts say.

O'Connell asked the committee to study how the state can assist schools with methods to identify and diagnose the varying degrees of autism.

Autism is considered a "spectrum disorder," meaning one child could have mild symptoms requiring a single method of treatment, while children more severely affected by the disorder need completely different medical and educational interventions. A range of treatments need to be identified for children falling in the middle between mild and severe autism.

"I'm glad for Mary," said Terilyn Finders, president of the Las Virgenes board of education. "I think this is an exciting professional opportunity for her."

The 21member committee includes a psychiatrist and psychologist, a principal, neurosurgeon, special education teacher, physical therapist, college professors, a marketing specialist, parents and others. Schillinger is the only director of special education to be appointed.

"I was extremely impressed with the expertise of all members and the range of backgrounds and specialties," Schillinger said.

The first meeting

Schillinger said members at the first committee meeting, held Feb. 26, reviewed the law and work completed to date by O'Connell's office. The group is expected to obtain information on other commissions and groups operating on a state level. Members worked on a timeline and began to identify other areas of autism that warrant further study.

Rick Ingraham, manager of Children and Family Services Department of Developmental Services, gave the committee an overview of the Autistic Spectrum Disorders Initiative, established in 1997 in response to the burgeoning number of children with autism.

A report on the Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism, of which Finders is a member, was presented by a consultant.

"There is an emphasis on collaboration between all of the works being produced in the area of autism so that our committee will not be working in isolation," Schillinger said.

"During the course of the day, I was able to share ideas with experts such as a neurosurgeon, associate dean of special education at a major university, a director of a large Southern California Special Education Local Plan Area, and a clinical neuropsychologist with extensive training in autism, to name a few," Schillinger said. "We all ended the day very optimistic about the potential outcomes of this committee."

"I'm delighted for the students of this state because Mary's expertise is going to improve education services for children with autism throughout the state," Finders said. "Jack O'Connell made a very wise decision when he put Mary on that committee."

Assembly Bill 2513 was championed by Finders and Schillinger and written by former Assemblymember Fran Pavley. The committee plans to meet through the summer.