Autism Rates on the Increase

The Ohio Autism Taskforce will hold its third regional forum in Northeast Ohio on Thursday, July 8, 2004, at the Joseph E. Cole Center for Continuing Education, 3100 Chester Ave., on the campus of Cleveland State University. The afternoon session is scheduled from 3-5 p.m. The evening session is scheduled from 6:30-9 p.m. The charge of the Ohio Autism Taskforce (OAT) is to investigate the rising incidence of autism, a developmental disability, in Ohio and to present legislative public policy recommendations to the Ohio General Assembly and the governor to address gaps in the delivery of services to individuals with autism. Parents, educators, practitioners, service providers and other interested parties are strongly encouraged to come to the regional forum to present testimony on how to do a better job in providing services to individuals with autism. Testimony will be limited to the general topic of services for individuals with autism. Written testimony is encouraged, but not required. Depending on turnout, testimony may be time limited.