School officials champion changes in state's approach to autism
'This work is one important step in our statewide effort to narrow the achievement gap between students with special needs and their peers.' - Superintendent Jack O'Connell
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers ADVOCATES- Mary Schillinger, assistant superintendent of education for Las Virgenes Unified School District, right, and Terilyn Finders, LVUSD school board president, celebrate progress made on the statewide Autism Clearinghouse. Schillinger recently met with State Superintendent of Education Jack O'Connell with recommendations for the clearinghouse.

Finding appropriate help for children with autism has been a daunting task for families, teachers and healthcare providers because research, successful treatments and educational methods have been scattered in hospitals, schools and colleges across the nation, say experts in the field.

The rough road is about to be paved, now that California Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell has accepted recommendations from an advisory committee he convened earlier in the year.

Mary Schillinger, assistant superintendent of education with the Las Virgenes Unified School District and a member of the superintendent's Autism Advisory Committee, said O'Connell accepted their recommendations Oct. 26, clearing the way for the creation of an information clearinghouse, consistent training for professionals who work with autistic children and a "seamless" system for early intervention from infancy to age 5.

The clearinghouse will also provide technical assistance and training to people at schools so local programs and strategies can be implemented, Schillinger said.

The recommendations have been forwarded to the Legislature and governor, she said.

"This is a high-profile issue," Schillinger said of the dramatic rise in autism throughout the country, but especially in California.

Recommendations from the advisory committee stemmed from Assembly Bill 2513, a law championed by Terilyn Finders, president of the Las Virgenes Board of Education, and the California Association of Suburban School Districts.

The bill was written by former Assemblymember Fran Pavley of Agoura Hills.

"This work is one important step in our statewide effort to narrow the achievement gap between students with special needs and their peers," O'Connell said.

"The committee's thoughtful recommendations are aimed at improving services, raising awareness and better assisting schools in coping with the rapidly growing incidence of students with autism spectrum disorders," O'Connell said. "They will guide my work with the Legislature, governor and my staff in the coming year as we seek ways of providing schools with evidencebased information, best practices and professional development to help these students succeed academically."

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by mild to severe deficits in social interaction and communication, a limited range of activities and interests, and repetitive behaviors, Schillinger said.

According to the report, autism is the fastestgrowing special education eligibility category for public education in California and the nation. Between 1998 and 2002, the number of pupils with ASD receiving services in California nearly doubled, going from 10,360 to 20,377. "These numbers continue to climb," Schillinger said. In 2004, 4,427 additional pupils were diagnosed with autism, represented an 18 percent increase. During a three-month period ending in June 2006, 3,717 3- and 4-year-olds were diagnosed with ASD, according to the California Department of Developmental Services.

Schillinger said the committee grappled with the prospect of a tighter state budget and its impact on education funding.

"We also discussed options for seeding the establishment of a clearinghouse using grant funding and the possibility of funding training, using some newly available federal money," she said.

The committee will apply for a grant to pilot the clearinghouse in January, she said. The group will also participate in drafting further legislation on autism in conjunction with the Blue Ribbon Commission, California Association of Suburban School Districts and the office of state Sen. Jack Scott (D-Altadena).

For information on the Autism Advisory Committee, visit cde.ca.gov/sp/se/as/saac.asp.