Family with a child having autism relocating to NJ (Edison: public school, area)

[NancyM]

You may want to check out Brick NJ as well. Middletown is a much nicer area (higher middle class) but Brick is a nice area, cheaper properties, and alot of autism services there. The schools were rated some of the best in the country, and Brick was named the safest town in the US.

[aas0242]

Originally Posted by mukhers

Hi All,

This is my first post in this forum. I have searched for similar threads here and I have got some valuable input from other email threads. However I am looking for some more information on the same and that's why this post.

Though I have been to NY earlier on 3 different occasions, I know little about the school systems in the state.

Now shortly I have to relocate myself and my family to NJ for my work. My son has just crossed 5y and he has autism. He was studying in an integrated school in India for last 2 years and had coped up quite well with this school and the other therapies we arranged for him. I am worried about how well my son would be able to cope with this relocation, but I am hoping for good as from web I came to know that NJ has very good special education services. Can you please give me answers to the following questions -

1. Will my son get good school and services around Edison or Jersey City? I will most probably be put up here. Approximately how long will it take before I can get him into a good school and proper services?
2. Can I get an idea about the expenses.
3. From some sites, it seemed to me that my son will be eligible to get proper services and public school and this will be arranged after talking to the responsible school district. Expenses will be given by the district. can someone please validate this understanding?
4. Whom should I contact first after reaching NJ? Will there be a fresh set of evaluation done to my son before he can get into a public school? (I am tired of so many evaluations already)
5. I may be asking very basic questions but that is because all these terminologies like county, school districts etc. are new to me and I am really worried by thinking what would happen if after going to NJ I find myself in a situation when neither any school is ready to take my son nor he is getting any services. Also what if the services are extremely costly and I could not afford that high expenses.

Explanations and pointers would really help me.

Thanks

Warren township has a newly opened autism center off mountainview road

[mukhers]

Thank you all for all the information you provided.

As I am trying to get some more information, can someone on this forum tell me some merits/demerits of these three school districts?
East Brunswick
Edison
Middlesex

Thanks,
Saumya

[mukhers]

Hi,

Can someone also give some input on Piscataway school district?

Thanks

[b75]

I have heard that Princeton has one of the best schools for special needs children, including those with autism. I don't have the name handy, but I thought I'd give you a heads up in case you wanted to look into it further, if that winds up being commutable for you. However, given the proximity to NYC, I am sure there are various cutting edge services available in the state.

Good Luck.

[judithexit]

Originally Posted by mukhers

Thank you all for replying. Most of the information are really helpful. From the information available over the net and from your reply, it seems that a child has to wait for a period of approximately 90 days till all the school district conducted evaluations are done and his IEP is completed. Can someone please suggest what services/therapies/school a child can attain until all these activites are done? I mean this may not be a problem from a child who has already completed a year in the school district and the IEP related discussions are going on for the second year, but what for a new student?

Thanks again.

Mukhers , Don't worry I know I can Help here
You are right when you talk about New Jersey, Yes Edison has a school that your child can go to it privet school that will be paid most likely by the school dist. I live in Woodbridge Twp. My son is sent out of dist to a privet school paid for my the dist. he has an iep. there are a few schools in the area your child can go to . You will need to visti each school and the programs after all testing is done. Also there is a programs you get in addition to this thur the state.

[mpc0715]

My girlfriend's son was diagnosed with Asperger Sydrome. She has done lots of research on autism and other social behaviors. It appears that NJ has the highest percentage of autistic cases. Shaler Academy in Ridgefield has a great Autism program. Her son attended that school. The town itself has a great program for child with behavioral disorders. Ridgefield is not too far from Jersey City.

[judithexit]

Originally Posted by judithexit

Mukhers , Don't worry I know I can Help here
You are right when you talk about New Jersey, Yes Edison has a school that your child can go to it privet school that will be paid most likely by the school dist. I live in Woodbridge Twp. My son is sent out of dist to a privet school paid for my the dist. he has an iep. there are a few schools in the area your child can go to . You will need to visti each school and the programs after all testing is done. Also there is a programs you get in addition to this thur the state.

Also East Brunswick has a summer program called camp daisy < as well as woodbridge camp pace but they are extended year programs these are the only Two school Dist. that have this that i know of.

[mukhers]

Thanks Judithexit and all for your feeback.
Can someone give me an idea on the programs available in East Brunswick?
Also one more question, although it may sound little strange. Are North Brunswick, East Brunswick and New Brunswick all three different school districts or they belong to one school district? To begin with, I have to rely upon NJTRansit and I only see New Brunswick among stations in NE corridor lines not the other Brunswicks. I am bit confused here. Thanks.

[syncmaster]

Originally Posted by mukhers

I have to rely upon NJTRansit and I only see New Brunswick among stations in NE corridor lines not the other Brunswicks. I am bit confused here. Thanks.

You can live anywhere and drive to the closest station. For example, many people live in Piscataway and use the train stations in New Brunwick, Edison, Bound Brook and Dunellen.

Also, FWIW, there's another train station in that area - Jersey Avenue.