BOSTON, MA – Representative Barbara L’Italien (D-Andover) today announced that a $2,400,000 increase was appropriated to the Division on Autism and a $2,000,000 appropriation was allocated to Special Education Out of District Transportation. Both were voted on favorably by the House.
The Division on Autism funding, now totaling $5,321,753, includes:
• $4M for the Autism Medicaid Waiver in order to support children with autism at risk of institutionalization in their home and communities ($2M of this will be reimbursed by Medicaid);
• $921,753 in funding to enable the division to provide much-needed services to autistic children;
• $200,000 for Melmark New England to provide training and support to families, educational collaboratives and public school districts on methods for coping with behavioral challenges associated with children who have autism
• $100,000 for New England Center for Children, Inc. to provide training and support to public school districts and families for the establishment of in district partner classrooms to serve children with autism
• $100,000 for Asperger’s Association of New England to provide support services to individuals with high functioning autism or Asperger’s Syndrome.
The $2,000,000 for Special Education Out of District Transportation is a first time spending initiative in the state budget and will help alleviate some of the burden on cities and towns who are struggling to make ends meet.
“This additional funding for special education transportation and autism will be extremely helpful for both the communities and the autism community,” said Representative L’Italien. “Special education transportation is a very costly but needed service and I am glad we were able to assist in covering some of the costs. Autism is a growing epidemic effecting 1 in 122 births in Massachusetts and we need to continue to provide essential services for families in need.”
The budget will now proceed to the Senate for further consideration. Any differences between the House and Senate budgets will be resolved in a Conference Committee before being sent to the Governor for his signature.
