Judge: State to provide therapies for autistic toddler

CINCINNATI - The parents of an autistic toddler sued the Ohio Department of Health and others, accusing them of denying what the parents say is federally mandated treatment for their son in a case that could affect how other autistic children are cared for in the state.

The lawsuit was filed in December in federal court in Cincinnati by Robert and Holly Young of Williamsburg. Their son, Roman, has been diagnosed with moderate to severe autism.

On Monday evening, U.S. District Judge Michael Barrett agreed with the couple that the state should provide their 2-year-old with 40 hours per week of speech therapy and other services.

The lawsuit said the state discriminated against Roman and other autistic children in Ohio by refusing to provide intensive treatment known as applied behavioral analysis.