The Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Community Support for Military Families with Special Needs is pleased to announce the results of a study by Ohio State University (OSU) to review access to and availability of evidence-based educational practices for military dependents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Through a partnership between the Department of Defense (DoD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and its Land Grant Universities, OSU reviewed public education services in the five states with the greatest numbers of assigned military personnel (California, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia).

As a result of the study, we are publishing an Education Directory for Children with Special Needs, which provides useful, practical information about the services for children with ASD. The Directory provides assignment personnel and families of military dependents with ASD the information they need to make informed decisions when considering assignments of military members with children who have ASD to locations in the five states.

The directory provides the following information:

• brief summaries of national and state policies related to ASD, including the latest evidence-based practices for children with ASD
• profiles and contact information for districts that serve military installations in the selected states
• a representative list of effective resources
• suggestions and resources to assist families during the educational transition of their child with ASD

We welcome and appreciate your comments and feedback on our new Directory! 

The Executive Summary and Final Project Report titled Education Services for Military Dependent Children with Autism can be found on the MilitaryHOMEFRONT Reports homepage.