Best Western State for Downs Syndrome Kids (schools, child, adult)

[Molley]

Does anyone have input on areas in the Western U.S. which have the best services, schools, doctors for our special kids with Downs? We have been trying to position ourselves to leave California for some time and hopefully will be able to do so soon. It's just too expensive and quality of life is diminishied due to cost of living. We have a 7 year old DS child and are looking for a better way of life for her where she can have more friends and get better education.

Perhaps we're looking for utopia, but there has to be a city/town where there is more inclusion, less attitude from moms of typical kids, better schools and services, and particularly a good place to be once she's older and we're not able to care for her.

Any input? Looking at Boise; Tri-Cities, WA; Prescott, AZ; Salt Lake City, UT. Any experience with these cities/towns or others?

Thanks!

[NewToCA]

I think you will find this too difficult to do without specifically visiting a few areas of interest, and seeing the programs for yourself.

We moved to California for a similar reason, to provide better services for our Down Syndrome daughter, when she came out of the school services and was converting to the adult programs. Like you, we tried to find the best areas for services, but found that the only way to actually do this involved going and visiting the places themselves.

Things like "attitudes" or "inclusion" tend to be very local. We found significant variances within specific cities, and often the "attitude" and/or "inclusion" would change over time based on who was working the programs, and local funding challenges.

We actually have found California to be a good fit, the best we've had in terms of support.

So, if wanting to move I'd pick out three or four places somewhat closely located together and make a week long trip to actually visit the places under consideration. For example, you probably can look at Boise and Salt Lake City in the same trip.

I'd prearrange to meet with folks who run the local program, and perhaps also meet with any Down Syndrome advocacy representative to get a reading on the area.

Good luck, your search will be fairly complicated and difficult.