Relocating with child w/ disability (Portland, Eugene: home, rent, work)

[babycoleslaw]

Hello!
I'm going to be relocating to the Portland area next summer with my husband and our three kids the oldest having Down syndrome. He is 5 and is currently doing very well in his neighborhood kindergarten class.
We're checking into the southwest Portland area down into McMinnville. I'm aware that Portland Public Schools don't practice inclusion so that's out right off the bat.
Anyone know about the districts from Sherwood down to McMinnville?? Ideally we want our son w/ his peers as much as possible and obviously he'll be on an IEP. Our daughters are 3 and 1 and are typically developing but I'm interested in a great pre-school situation as well.
Anyone w/ any input?? Great neighborhoods?? Safe??? Inclusive??? Etc????
Thanks so much in advance for any assistance!!!

[Steve97415]

I'm not sure what you mean by "Portland Public Schools don't practice inclusion". If the assessment team determines that mainstreaming would be the least restrictive environment, than the school district has a legal obligation to make that accommodation.

[babycoleslaw]

I went to a workshop a while ago where the speaker was the Director of SPED for the Portland public school system and he was brought on board to change the system there from a self-contained situation to an inclusive one and he was fired after a year and told us that the parents/teachers/admin were against the change....Michael Remus is his name. He is an EXCELLENT speaker...
I've also heard in the SPED community that Portland is a lawsuit waiting to happen. I know this is all hearsay (sp?) b/c I am not familiar with the Portland area. We're currently in a situation where our son is highly welcomed with his peers and is literally thriving. He is reading, counting sets of 30 and is developing friendships.
We're being transferred to your area this summer and are so excited and absolutely love the area but are just a bit nervous over leaving our ideal educational setting for him.
Do you know otherwise?? I do know that by law the IEP needs to be followed but I just don't want to have to fight for placement for him if I don't have to...
Hope that makes sense! Thanks!!!

[babycoleslaw]

My husband is in Portland right now checking out areas...we are being relocated next summer from Nebraska.
So far he has mentioned Canby, Wilsonville, Sherwood, Forest Grove and McMinnville.
Any of you insiders know about these areas??
As I mentioned in a prior post, we do have 3 kids and one of them has a disability so the special education services are very important to us.
We'd love a family friendly place...traffic isn't too much of a concern b/c I'm originally from Houston which is 2nd only to L.A....Very used to traffic!! Of course, we'd LOVE to utilize the transit system in your area!
If you can help in any way I'd very much appreciate it!! Thanks!!!

[Clear2land]

Hi babycoleslaw:

I hope you don't mind my moving your thread to the Portland Forum. You will likely get better answers to your questions there.

Clear2land

[babycoleslaw]

Not a problem...thanks for looking out for me!

[washinton native]

Originally Posted by babycoleslaw

My husband is in Portland right now checking out areas...we are being relocated next summer from Nebraska.
So far he has mentioned Canby, Wilsonville, Sherwood, Forest Grove and McMinnville.
Any of you insiders know about these areas??
As I mentioned in a prior post, we do have 3 kids and one of them has a disability so the special education services are very important to us.
We'd love a family friendly place...traffic isn't too much of a concern b/c I'm originally from Houston which is 2nd only to L.A....Very used to traffic!! Of course, we'd LOVE to utilize the transit system in your area!
If you can help in any way I'd very much appreciate it!! Thanks!!!

Babyslaw - Two words for you ... Carlton, Oregon. You get the best of McMinnville, only you get to live in a town of 1,800, which boasts two art galleries, and are just 7 miles away.

If you like progressive thinking, with the touch of redneckness it takes to make it family friendly, look into this town.

If you'd like more info, let me know.

[ExNYr]

We moved to Oregon for its beauty, accessibility to our kids in CA, its charm and affordable (us us) cost of living. We would not have moved here for its public schools, however. Does it have to be Oregon or do you have some flexibility? Not to put down the state's good intentions but the taxpayers are adjusting to the retraction of timber subsidies from the fed and won't tax themselves for nuthin'. In places like Eugene, the police don't always lock up their deserving criminals or pursue things like burglaries because there's not enough money. More importantly, IT DOESN'T BOTHER THEM, or at least not enough to dig into their pockets.

A few years ago (maybe five?) Oregon schools closed a month early for the summer because there was no money to keep running them.

Heck, some counties are closing their libraries (mentioned by me in an earlier thread).

We really like it here but don't need to depend on any of the services being cut. The irony is that is we newcomers vote 'yes' on proposals which would benefit the locals but the locals vote against them and blame us 'rich retirees' for wanting to change things.

(Tearing hair out). :-)

[babycoleslaw]

Originally Posted by washinton native

Babyslaw - Two words for you ... Carlton, Oregon. You get the best of McMinnville, only you get to live in a town of 1,800, which boasts two art galleries, and are just 7 miles away.

If you like progressive thinking, with the touch of redneckness it takes to make it family friendly, look into this town.

If you'd like more info, let me know.

Thanks for your input! I've been to Carlton a few times and met the owner of The Tasting Room who is from my native Houston...
We're really considering Wilsonville/West Linn at this point but nothing is completely out.
At any rate, we'll be in the wine country whenever possible no matter where we live!!! Again, many thanks!!

[babycoleslaw]

Originally Posted by ExNYr

We moved to Oregon for its beauty, accessibility to our kids in CA, its charm and affordable (us us) cost of living. We would not have moved here for its public schools, however. Does it have to be Oregon or do you have some flexibility? Not to put down the state's good intentions but the taxpayers are adjusting to the retraction of timber subsidies from the fed and won't tax themselves for nuthin'. In places like Eugene, the police don't always lock up their deserving criminals or pursue things like burglaries because there's not enough money. More importantly, IT DOESN'T BOTHER THEM, or at least not enough to dig into their pockets.

A few years ago (maybe five?) Oregon schools closed a month early for the summer because there was no money to keep running them.

Heck, some counties are closing their libraries (mentioned by me in an earlier thread).

We really like it here but don't need to depend on any of the services being cut. The irony is that is we newcomers vote 'yes' on proposals which would benefit the locals but the locals vote against them and blame us 'rich retirees' for wanting to change things.

(Tearing hair out). :-)

Thanks, ExNYer! I have heard some of what you've mentioned. I'm an educator myself (though am a SAHM for now) so worse case scenario would feel fairly comfortable home schooling.
What amazes me is that we currently pay about 5500K in taxes per year in the midwest and out there our taxes will drop signficantly. Taxes for school don't bother me in the least.
I have seen that some recent bonds are passing out there so that's good! And as I mentioned in the prior post we're really thinking now of Wilsonville/West Linn which is affordable (barely! lol!) to us and has great inclusive schools.
My husband 'could' choose to start the office anywhere in the NW but the Portland area makes the most sense....plus, we absolutely LOVE it when we're there!