Applied Behavior Analysis therapy, by its very nature, is likely the therapy that has the highest documentation of success for children with pervasive development disorders. There is no question that it has helped our daughter learn useful skills, such as getting dressed, feeding herself, identifying objects in everyday life, learning the calender and written language, and so forth.

It is also among the most expensive. A parent can do the therapy at the expense of other house functions not getting done or a second salary, or a therapist can be hired to perform the instruction. We are also in dialogue with college psychology students who benefit from spending time with atypical children. They will be able to help for free, but someone will always be with them, either a parent or our professional instructor.

Part of the expense of an instructor comes from billing. The state, county, and school district, by autism scholarship/voucher programs and other support, only pay to certain registered agencies. The money goes to them, then the agency pays the instructor. The agency gets a nice cut: one agency charges $20 per hour taught by the instructor to handle billing services. The agency we would have had to use charges $5 per instructor hour, which is still ludicrous when considering their work occurs once a quarter.

These companies benefit from a restriction of supply mandated by government. Performing ABA therapy certainly does not require a college degree, yet the state requires the instructing companies to have certain degrees and certifications. The agencies do not teach how to do the ABA. All they do is handle paperwork and sign checks.

The legislators who provide for autism scholarships and vouchers should be rightfully incensed that the money taken from the taxpayer pays these agencies, leaving less to the instructors who actually do the teaching. Unless, of course, said legislators are in the pocket of the billing agencies.

Thankfully the market has stepped in to help us out. A mother of another atypical child in the Columbus area did have a Special Education degree, and just last month she got her certification to perform the billing. Obviously, she is undercutting the competition significantly. Good for her, good for us, and good for Ohioans whose Autism Scholarship money is being used more efficiently.