Utah considers closing autism preschools in budget crunch
January 21st, 2009
From the Salt Lake Tribune:
Utah lawmakers are considering closing four state-funded autism preschools in a round of budget cuts, leaving public special education programs to pick up the slack.
Utah has one of the highest rates of autism in the country, with 1 in 133 children affected. The preschools teach 200 children at an annual cost of $1.9 million, and currently have 228 children on the waiting list.
Lawmakers are trying to cut $400 million from this year’s state budget and $800 million from next year’s.
(Salt Lake Tribune photo)
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April 15th, 2009 at 12:04 am
I’d be interested in getting more information about the story on potentially cutting funding for Utah schools for Autistic children.
My son Chandler attended Giant Steps nearly 7 years ago, and was able to begin Mainstream Kindergarten following the 2 and a half years at Giant Steps. This school was a literal miracle in our lives at this critical time in his development.
Chandler is now 12 years old, and will begin Junior High school next year. We are electing to send him to a Charter School that offers smaller classroom size, so that he will have the greatest possible chances for continued success, but I attribute his success thus far to the early intervention received through the care and education provided through Giant Steps.
I look forward to learning more on this issue.
Best Regards,
Matthew Yeates