Relocating to Fort Knox with special needs child (Louisville, Elizabethtown: rental, school district)

[bobcat98]

Hello,
We are planning to PCS to Fort Knox mid-Summer (active duty). We did spend some time there (about 6 months) living on post 8 years ago so I am a little familiar with Elizabethtown as that was our main shopping area, but because of scheduling we didn't often make it to Louisville.

My son has autism and has just started school. He currently receives ABA and speech therapy outside of school. He is in a mainstream class now, but needs additional supports to get through the day (sensory breaks, etc). I am concerned about getting him into a school district with a good special ed. program. Would you recommend trying to live on post to get him into a DOD school or going to another district? We've been told there's a wait list for housing around 8 months for what we'd need. Transitions are hugely difficult for my son, so moving to another area and waiting for housing then moving again is not a great option for us. We do have the option of staying behind while my husband moves and waits for housing to open up, but he will have just been gone for a year before we move so it will be difficult for the kids to be without him for much longer. With the BRAC people moving in, do we even have a chance of finding a rental off-post if we wanted to?

My other concern is being close to the therapy providers he will need. I don't want to be driving him an hour to go to speech once a week, etc.

I'd be thankful for any input I can get while this is still in the planning phases and I can research my options. Thanks so much!

[Peter1948]

Originally Posted by bobcat98

Hello,
We are planning to PCS to Fort Knox mid-Summer (active duty). We did spend some time there (about 6 months) living on post 8 years ago so I am a little familiar with Elizabethtown as that was our main shopping area, but because of scheduling we didn't often make it to Louisville.

My son has autism and has just started school. He currently receives ABA and speech therapy outside of school. He is in a mainstream class now, but needs additional supports to get through the day (sensory breaks, etc). I am concerned about getting him into a school district with a good special ed. program. Would you recommend trying to live on post to get him into a DOD school or going to another district? We've been told there's a wait list for housing around 8 months for what we'd need. Transitions are hugely difficult for my son, so moving to another area and waiting for housing then moving again is not a great option for us. We do have the option of staying behind while my husband moves and waits for housing to open up, but he will have just been gone for a year before we move so it will be difficult for the kids to be without him for much longer. With the BRAC people moving in, do we even have a chance of finding a rental off-post if we wanted to?

My other concern is being close to the therapy providers he will need. I don't want to be driving him an hour to go to speech once a week, etc.

I'd be thankful for any input I can get while this is still in the planning phases and I can research my options. Thanks so much!

Thats tough. I think it would be worth living in Jefferson County which has an oustanding special ed school. It would be a bit of a drive but worth it.

[tomocox]

I agree with STX, you must, I repeat, you must live in Jefferson County! Jefferson County does an excellent job with special services, in part because when you have over 100,000 students, teacher and program specialization just comes with the volume.

[bobcat98]

Thanks for the input. I will start researching Jefferson County schools.

Does anyone have any experience with the DOD schools?