Moving with an Autistic child (Pittsburgh, Bethel Park: best neighborhoods, real estate, apartment)

[Chunkymama]

My husband might be stationed at the MEPS in Pittsburgh, and we are looking for help with schools (best with special education), and the best neighborhoods or suburbs for our family.

Schools: I have 3 children, K, 5th and 6th grades. The K and 6th graders are special ed. The 6th grader has autism, but is high functioning. Here, we run into the problem that "education" is defined only as academics, and (since she is honor roll student) she receives no services despite her diagnosis (we live in a very rural part of Louisiana). I need a school for her that is very accommodating when it comes to special ed. She will need classroom modifications and pull out OT services at the very least. We can't do private.

Housing: In addition to the school district, safety is the highest priority. Would prefer a single family home. Autism meltdowns and my youngest (who dances and sings everywhere she goes) makes apartment living painful for any downstairs neighbors. A town home might also work. We'd prefer 4 bedrooms. Commute for my husband should be no more than 45 minutes (he works on liberty avenue).

Budget: We have a rental budget of $2000, but would like a couple hundred for wiggle room. I am sure there is going to be a huge cost of living adjustment.

Additional concerns: We are an interracial couple. I'm not sure if that's even an issue there, but obviously tolerance is key. We don't need to live in a racially diverse area, but it must be accepting of everyone in our family.

[spitale22]

There is a local Pittsburgh chapter of Autism Speaks on McKnight Rd. Try googling for their info and contact them. They might have the info you are looking for! Good luck!

[Hopes]

Autism is taken very seriously in the PA education system. It gets better attention from the school districts than learning disabilities.

I do know a teacher who purposely moved to the North Allegheny School District (she works at a different school district) because she felt North Allegheny provided better services for her high functioning aspergers teen. North Allegheny is a huge school district so you should have no problem finding a house within a 45 minute commute.

One problem you're going to have is that rentals are scarce around here since real estate prices are so low it's cheaper to own. 2k is a decent budget but don't expect to find the largest house. You should be able to find a single family home though.

The suburbs are not diverse but the population is tollerant. Pittsburghers have a live and let live mentality. It's one of the things I loved most about Pittsburgh.

[Chunkymama]

Thanks for all of your help!

Some of the places we've been looking at are South Fayette, Bethel Park, and Aspinwall. I haven't found any homes in the Northern area that fit our needs. I was trying to find a home near Cranberry Township because her ABA provider is near there. No luck yet.

[Hopes]

North Allegheny School District is McCandless, Franklin Park, Marshall Township and Bradford Woods. Wexford is one of the zip codes but Pine Richland School District shares the Wexford zip code. So be careful because you do NOT want Pine Richland schools.

[Retiredcoach]

Not too long ago, Pine-Richland was considered among the best school districts for students with special needs. They had (?) full inclusion classes that allowed the the special needs child to completely participate with his/her chronological peers to the fullest extent possible. Right now, however, I have to agree with Hopes. For a district having so much potential, there is continual controversy coming from that area of Gibsonia/Wexford at a very high cost (in terms of the taxes and relative educational quality), but the buildings and stadium are amazing!