What Ohio’s Autism Scholarship Program Covers — and How to Use It for ABA Therapy

🧠 AI Summary:

Ohio’s Autism Scholarship Program (ASP) is one of the most powerful — and most overlooked — resources available to families of children with autism. This guide breaks down exactly what the ASP covers, who qualifies, how the application process works step by step, and how it differs from Medicaid waiver programs. Most importantly, it explains how On Target ABA — an approved ASP provider — delivers both ABA therapy and educational instruction under one roof, so families don’t have to juggle multiple providers to access the full benefit of their scholarship.

What Ohio’s Autism Scholarship Program Covers — and How to Use It for ABA Therapy

For families of children with autism in Ohio, the Autism Scholarship Program (ASP) is one of the most valuable and underutilized resources available. Yet many parents have never heard of it — or have heard of it but aren’t sure if their child qualifies, what it actually covers, or how to use it.

This guide is designed to answer all of those questions in plain language, so you can make the most of a program that could meaningfully change your child’s life.

What Is the Autism Scholarship Program?

The Ohio Autism Scholarship Program (ASP) is a state-funded educational scholarship for children with autism who are eligible for special education services under an Individualized Education Program (IEP) in Ohio public schools.

Here’s what makes it powerful: instead of requiring your child to receive their education through the public school system, the ASP allows the scholarship funds to follow your child to an approved private provider — like On Target ABA — who delivers both specialized educational instruction and ABA therapy under one roof.

In simple terms: the state funds your child’s education and ABA therapy together, at a setting built specifically for children with autism.

Who Qualifies for the Autism Scholarship?

To be eligible for the Ohio ASP, a child must:

Be between the ages of 5 and 22
Have a current IEP through an Ohio public school district
Have a disability classification of autism on that IEP

If your child is under age 5, they may be eligible for early intervention services through the state’s Help Me Grow program rather than the ASP. Ask your BCBA or pediatrician about early intervention options in your area.

What Does the Scholarship Cover?

The ASP scholarship provides funding based on your child’s school district’s per-pupil spending amount. This funding can be applied to the cost of:

ABA therapy services provided by a qualified, approved provider
Educational instruction (academics, adaptive skills, daily living skills)
Speech-language therapy
Occupational therapy
Other educational and therapeutic services included in your child’s IEP

At On Target ABA, our approved centers in Ohio provide both ABA therapy and educational instruction for children participating in the ASP — meaning your child gets everything they need in one place, without the need for multiple providers or separate appointments

How Does the Application Process Work?

The process has several steps, but it’s manageable — and we can help guide you through it:
Step 1: Confirm Your Child’s IEP

Your child must have a current IEP through an Ohio public school district classifying them under autism. If they don’t have an IEP yet, contact your local school district to request an evaluation. This process is free and protected by federal law.

Step 2: Apply to the Ohio Department of Education

Applications for the ASP are submitted to the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). There are application windows each year, so timing matters. Applications submitted during the open window are processed for the following school year. Ask your current school district or contact On Target ABA to find out when the next application window opens.

Step 3: Choose an Approved Provider

Your provider must be on the Ohio Department of Education’s approved ASP vendor list. On Target ABA is an approved provider, which means scholarship funds can be directed to us without any additional hoops for your family.

Step 4: Confirm the Scholarship Amount and Begin Services

Once approved, you’ll be notified of your scholarship amount. Your provider works directly with ODE on billing, so you’re not managing the financial administration yourself.

How Is the ASP Different From Medicaid Waiver?
Ohio also offers the DODD (Department of Developmental Disabilities) Medicaid Waiver, which covers ABA therapy among other services for eligible individuals. The key differences:

The ASP is an educational scholarship tied to IEP services. It covers therapy delivered in an educational context.
The DODD Waiver is a Medicaid-based program covering a broader range of community and residential supports.
Some families use both — ASP for school-age educational therapy, and other funding streams for additional support.

Our team can help you understand which funding pathways your child may be eligible for and how to coordinate them effectively.

What Happens Over the Summer?

This is one of the most common questions we hear. The ASP is primarily structured around the school year. However, Extended School Year (ESY) services — summer programming — may be covered for eligible children if their IEP documents the need for year-round services to prevent regression.

Talk with your BCBA and your school district’s IEP team about whether your child qualifies for ESY. For many children with autism, the summer break represents significant regression that takes months to recover — an argument that often supports ESY documentation.

Why On Target ABA for the ASP?

As an approved ASP provider in Ohio, we bring something that most providers don’t: the ability to deliver both ABA therapy and educational instruction in the same setting, by professionals who work as a coordinated team.

Your child doesn’t have to travel to a separate school and a separate therapy center. They come to On Target ABA, where their educational and behavioral goals are designed together, monitored together, and celebrated together.

It’s everything they need — in one place that’s built for them.

→ Learn about our Ohio center locations
→ Read about our center-based ABA therapy
→ Contact us to ask about ASP enrollment
→ Read: ABA at home vs. center vs. school — which is right for your child?

The Autism Scholarship Program can fund both your child’s therapy and education — at On Target ABA, those two things happen in one place.