Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship (JPSN)

Supporting students in Ashtabula County and surrounding counties with neurodiversity-affirming occupational therapy.

The Jon Peterson Special Needs (JPSN) Scholarship helps Ohio families get the services their child needs by providing state funding for children ages 3–21 who have a current IEP. With this scholarship, families can choose approved private providers—like therapy clinics, tutors, or specialized programs—to support the goals already written into their child’s IEP.

It’s designed to give parents more options, more flexibility, and more support. Funds can be used for things like therapy, academic support, behavior services, and other individualized needs throughout the year.

What is the JPSN Scholarship?

Who MCC Therapies Serves

MCC Therapies is currently the only occupational therapist provider for the JPSN in Ashtabula County offering neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed care
Mobile, clinic-based, and virtual OT options
Specializing in autistic, ADHD, sensory-seeking, and PDA-profile learnings

Occupational Therapy Services

Who is MCC Therapies?

Your child’s IEP drives the services
Therapy can happen in the setting that works best for your child
OT focuses on real-life skills
Families receive more communication and involvement

Occupational Therapy (OT) through JPSN gives families more choice, more flexibility, and more support.

If your child has a current IEP that includes occupational therapy, the Jon Peterson Special Needs (JPSN) Scholarship allows you to use state funding to receive OT services outside of school with an approved private provider—like MCC Therapies.

How OT Works With JPSN

No.
JPSN funds cannot be used if a student is enrolled in a public school district.
To qualify, the student must be enrolled in one of the following: a chartered nonpublic school, a nonchartered nonpublic school, or an approved homeschool under Ohio’s Home Education Notification.
No.
You only need a current ETR (school evaluation) and a current IEP. Families do not need to get a new private evaluation unless they want additional information.
Families apply through an approved JPSN provider. The provider submits the application to the Ohio Department of Education along with your child’s IEP and ETR.
No.
JPSN funds cannot be used for summer services unless a child has Extended School Year (ESY) written into their IEP.
Even though quarterly payments may include summer months — and even if ODEW approves a year‑round calendar — JPSN funding is only available during the student’s home district’s academic calendar.
Without ESY, there is no JPSN reimbursement for summer sessions.
No.
JPSN services do not replace school‑provided services.
Families who use the Jon Peterson Scholarship take responsibility for securing their child’s services outside the public school system.
The school district is no longer required to provide or monitor IEP services once a student is enrolled in a chartered nonpublic school, non-chartered nonpublic school, or approved homeschool using JPSN funds.
Families often have questions about timelines, paperwork, or how services work. We’re here to walk you through every step and make the process simple and stress‑free.