Autism resources, best school in hillsborough county?

[Aconite]

Originally Posted by TarynFla

My family moved to Florida from NJ in 1989 because we too heard that the school/health system was better in FL than in NJ.

My brother is now 29, with highly functioning autism. He went to Paul B. Stephens ESE Center in Clearwater/Pinellas county as well as Nina Harris school. With the help of a Waiver Support Coordinator, he lives in a small group home with other functioning adults and does community. He's very happy, well adjusted and fortunate to be receiving services from the state. I would recommend both schools, and from what I've read from other comments, recommend Pinellas county ESE programs over Hillsborough.

The bad news is that now the government has really cut back on services for the developmentally disabled - there are waiting lists, budget cuts, and the government is also trying to abolish Waiver Support Coordinators. I fear ugly times ahead.

Best of luck to you and your family.

Paul B is a great school, and I'm glad your brother is doing well. However, I have one quibble-- if he was educated at Paul B and Nina Harris, and lives in a group home, that is not "highly functioning" autism. Kids in mainstream classes with minimal supports, adults who are working in regular jobs and even have spouses and children, people like Temple Grandin and John Elder Robison...that's high functioning.

[artserhat]

We moved to Hillsborough County from Tennessee. I will be utterly honest. I have not been able to find any progressive and inclusive school for my child who has classic autistic disorder. It is very upsetting to see that there are less than a handful autism focused schools and none is inclusive or progressive.
If I could I would love to move to West Coast or other areas up-north with more autism services. It is very difficult to be convinced that Florida offers up-to-date services for individuals with disabilities.

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by artserhat

We moved to Hillsborough County from Tennessee. I will be utterly honest. I have not been able to find any progressive and inclusive school for my child who has classic autistic disorder. It is very upsetting to see that there are less than a handful autism focused schools and none is inclusive or progressive.
If I could I would love to move to West Coast or other areas up-north with more autism services. It is very difficult to be convinced that Florida offers up-to-date services for individuals with disabilities.

It doesn’t. For that matter, it does a lousy job for any child with a disability/IEP. If you had done your due diligence (assuming you didn’t) you would have discovered this.

As we used to say when I was in the schools, “Thank goodness for Mississippi/Alabama/Louisiana.” (Pick one.)

RM