Relocating with autism and asperger's in mind (schools, therapy, child)

[leavingGA]

For those researching where to relocate, this might help you narrow choices or define what is needed:

Best States with Services for Autism - LoveToKnow Autism

Yes, the needs will be different for every child and the needs are also different for every family.

Do your research well before you move

Connect to a parent to parent group before you go

Good luck to everyone needing to relocate for their kids' sake. I am doing it too!!!!

[GypsySoul22]

Thanks, I am beginning to look for good schools and we feel the best place to move is where the education is the best for our son, then where the jobs are.

[leavingGA]

I am in a similar spot. I have homeschooled in the past because my college was online.

If kids are not comfortable and/or progressing well in school, then it will not allow time to concentrate on a job or keep a job. Once the employer knows you have special needs kids, they often look to fire you anyway.....Ironic...

Do not move to GA under any circumstances. Autism and Asperger's are not considered real unless they are severe (multiple dx's) and support can be HUGELY lacking depending on what county you land in. I have some dumb jerks who are trying to bully me into staying here forever despite no job outlook, poor quality of education and no support services for autism and aspergers'. :-(

Good luck, gypsysoul22, but just know that in GA, they seem to want to kill off people who are gypsy at heart. Don't even risk a larger county because often the teachers live in smaller counties with similar attitudes.

[leavingGA]

Yup, I like NC. A college there (forget which one) created an adapted behavior therapy program for use by classroom teachers. My youngest son got excellent preschool help in Tacoma, WA that incorporated that program. I can't live in NC because of family disputes that have nothing to do with me but are being taken out on me. That's the way it goes in big family families like both my parents came from. I learned that lesson in GA.

[stepka]

As I suspected, MO is one of the top five, and I think it's because St. Louis is the only city in the US that still has a Special School District, and some of the schools "specialize" in autism.