Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Julie DelegalFebruary 7, 2016

Last Tuesday night, the Duval County School Board voted unanimously to build a laboratory school on Jacksonville’s west side for children with autism. Parent reaction to the Oak Hill Autism Lab School proposal has ranged from skepticism to outrage. That’s no surprise, given Duval’s record in serving students with disabilities. Even in schools where administrators […]

Scott PowersJanuary 21, 2016

A new program to help students with intellectual disabilities such as autism get into college or other postsecondary schools will be coordinated through a new center to be developed at the University of Central Florida. The center startup money for such college programs and a scholarship program for such students was authorized by Senate Bill 672, a special […]

Guest AuthorNovember 2, 2015

What is your battle? Getting legislation passed? Trying to close a deal? This piece will explore different kinds of battles. Buckle up. I just watched a story on ESPN about the California School for the Deaf that focused on its football team. It detailed the most recent season as its team competed against hearing players […]

Julie DelegalAugust 27, 2014

Just when I thought I had reached inner peace about vaccines and autism, the specter of a link has reared its ugly head again — on Twitter, on Facebook, on CNN’s user-generated “iReport” website. It’s hard enough sorting through autism science. But parents like me, whose children are affected by the potentially devastating neuro-developmental condition, […]

Julie DelegalAugust 3, 2014

Dear Arne Duncan, You’ve taken some flak recently for saying that children’s disabilities can be improved by “high expectations.” As President Barack Obama’s Secretary of Education, you’ve surely developed a thick skin. But as the parent of a child with unique brain wiring, and as someone who once thought autism was “curable,” I understand. I’ve […]

Julie DelegalMarch 24, 2014

It’s been a long time since I’ve written about the long-suspected, but largely disproven, link between vaccines and autism. Jenny McCarthy, the model, actress and co-host for the television show “The View”, is mother to a child who has an autism spectrum disorder. She’s taken some hellish Twitter flack lately for her belief that infant vaccines cause autism. Like Jenny, […]

Julie DelegalNovember 27, 2013

As we approach the anniversary of one of the saddest days in recent history, Adam Lanza, the man who murdered 20 first graders and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School, has reappeared in the news. This week, the Connecticut State Police released a report that compiles odd details about the shooter’s life. But, as […]

Julie DelegalSeptember 23, 2013

Florida’s public schools may be educating up to 30,000 students with autism, given the figures that Autism Speaks has provided. That group puts the autism diagnosis rate at one in 88 children. Some of these children will one day be able to go to college. So far, science hasn’t been able to tell us why […]

Tag: autism
Image via AP.

Julie Delegal: One Duval parent on autism lab school: Show me

Bill creates college-level assistance for students with intellectual disabilities

Blake Dowling: Check into tech to help win your battle

Julie Delegal: Autism, vaccines, science and doubt

Julie Delegal: ‘High expectations’ don’t always solve disabled students’ problems

Julie Delegal: Autism, Jenny McCarthy, and me

Julie Delegal: Not everyone’s joyful, but we can help each other

Julie Delegal: The autism ramp and opportunities for college