Douglas Huntt is a commissioner for the Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission and is the executive director for Assistive Technology of Ohio, located in Columbus. In his role as commissioner, Huntt has provided leadership in ensuring strong and accountable linkages between transitions from school to work. He has also worked to bring assistive technology into the special education classroom by facilitating funding for computer Internet labs.

Huntt, a disabled Marine Corps veteran, received his bachelor of arts in secondary education from Asbury College in Wilmore, Ky., a master's in social service administration from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, and a doctorate in social work from the Ohio State University. He has direct teaching experience with students with severe behavioral disorders and has formerly served as director of a children's mental health agency. He was also chair of the Ohio Governor's Council on People with Disabilities from 1991 to 1997.

Huntt believes that there should be equal accountability-academically and behaviorally-in special education classrooms as there is currently in mainstream classrooms. Special education teachers should be held to the same high standards and expectations as mainstream teachers. Huntt is a nationally known disability advocate who supports President Bush's New Freedom Initiative, which will provide continuity between IDEA and other disability policies.

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