Plz HELP - Moving to OC with 12yr old Special Needs (Irvine: neighborhoods, purchase)

[sweetlime]

My husband finally accepted a job offer in Costa Mesa, CA and we will be moving in 6-8 months. Thankfully the company agreed for us to stay in Atlanta and finish up the school year. . I already know CA is v v expensive than GA, we are fine with it. This move is a little personal as my only sister lives in Bay Area and we can visit more often and not sit on plane for 5hrs. We have 2 kids - 7 and 12. 12yr old is my non-verbal daughter and we want my nephews to know her better as she grows and my son to have cousins closer than the other side of the US.

My daughter is in 6th grade currently. She uses an AAC device for her needs and wants. Georgia doesn’t do inclusion in schools, so she attends a class that is moderate with 7 other kids with same dynamics.

Apart from academics, they have started teaching her life skills at school. For example - They teach them how to shred, deliver mail within school, use vending machine, brush after lunch, laundry, load/unload dishwasher. They have weekly community based learning where they go to restaurants like Burger King or ihop and order from menu (via device), go to Kroger shopping and purchase a snack etc

Based on the above, are there middle schools with similar programs in Irvine? She gets OT - 45 min, Speech 90 min and PT - 30 min weekly and APE - 45 min everyday.

I keep reading east side and west side, what’s the difference? Which places in OC should we target to live that can accommodate her needs? She is very good with her AAC, so need a class that can help her with communication too. She will not do good if it’s a class focused only in academics. She needs structure and a curriculum. She was in an Autism classroom for elementary. She is not autistic but thrives in learning in a structured way. She is just amazing! ❤️

I also have a 7yr old NT son. Need a neighborhood with good schools that can accommodate both. I am hoping, they will bus kids if the schools cannot provide what she needs?

Can someone here please suggest schools, therapists, pediatrician neighborhoods etc?? Leaning towards Irvine as lot of people here mentioned it has great schools.

Thank you very much.

[Lola The yorkie]

Originally Posted by sweetlime

My husband finally accepted a job offer in Costa Mesa, CA and we will be moving in 6-8 months. Thankfully the company agreed for us to stay in Atlanta and finish up the school year. . I already know CA is v v expensive than GA, we are fine with it. This move is a little personal as my only sister lives in Bay Area and we can visit more often and not sit on plane for 5hrs. We have 2 kids - 7 and 12. 12yr old is my non-verbal daughter and we want my nephews to know her better as she grows and my son to have cousins closer than the other side of the US.

My daughter is in 6th grade currently. She uses an AAC device for her needs and wants. Georgia doesn’t do inclusion in schools, so she attends a class that is moderate with 7 other kids with same dynamics.

Apart from academics, they have started teaching her life skills at school. For example - They teach them how to shred, deliver mail within school, use vending machine, brush after lunch, laundry, load/unload dishwasher. They have weekly community based learning where they go to restaurants like Burger King or ihop and order from menu (via device), go to Kroger shopping and purchase a snack etc

Based on the above, are there middle schools with similar programs in Irvine? She gets OT - 45 min, Speech 90 min and PT - 30 min weekly and APE - 45 min everyday.

I keep reading east side and west side, what’s the difference? Which places in OC should we target to live that can accommodate her needs? She is very good with her AAC, so need a class that can help her with communication too. She will not do good if it’s a class focused only in academics. She needs structure and a curriculum. She was in an Autism classroom for elementary. She is not autistic but thrives in learning in a structured way. She is just amazing! ❤️

I also have a 7yr old NT son. Need a neighborhood with good schools that can accommodate both. I am hoping, they will bus kids if the schools cannot provide what she needs?

Can someone here please suggest schools, therapists, pediatrician neighborhoods etc?? Leaning towards Irvine as lot of people here mentioned it has great schools.

Thank you very much.

Irvine does not have bussing

You do know your sister in the Bay Area is many miles from Irvine

You will be trading a 5 hour plane trip for a 5 hour car trip

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by sweetlime

Can someone here please suggest schools, therapists, pediatrician neighborhoods etc?? Leaning towards Irvine as lot of people here mentioned it has great schools.

Did you check into Irvine Unified School District's website with regard to special ed services?

https://iusd.org/department/special-education

[sweetlime]

Originally Posted by Lola The yorkie

Irvine does not have bussing

You do know your sister in the Bay Area is many miles from Irvine

You will be trading a 5 hour plane trip for a 5 hour car trip

I will take flights that will be 1.5 hrs. And she can visit more often too.