Hello, I have a 6 year old son whom has been diagnosed with PDD and I a so frustrated! The school system of Essex County New Jersey is pathetic. They give parents with special needs children the hardest time and have limited qualifed instructors in the schools. The private schools aren't any better because they have no qualified instructors for special needs children and none of this is against the New Jersey State Education Policy!!!!!!!!!
I have decided, that in the best interest of my child, to relocate. I am considering the following to states: California and Florida. Can anyone please help me with locating the best school districts in the states. Your help will be most appreciated.
Thanks
Personally, I live in Monmouth County and I have very good services, low crime, and HIGH TAXES! I could see where Essex Co might have some problems within districts, but NJ as a whole has some of the BEST services in the country! I have a half dozen good speech therapists within a 15 minute radius, lots of OT's to choose from, several decent private autism schools and a great school district who are very accomodating to our requests. We're going broke living here, but our daughter in getting what we feel she needs. Please consider moving to another part of the state if you can afford it...
Bill
Hi there - I live in NW Florida and have found the services lacking. We live in one of the better school districts - sometimes I wonder where they would rank if measured by their ESE program. He is in publis school pre-k right now. We are on a waiting list for a school out of state that is specifically for autistic children and has the latest treatments and great ratios. It also has NT kids which is great for our kids. Anyway, it would not be horrible if he had to stay in this system - I think they are just behind the times like alot of other school systems. I've heard Florida is horrible as well. I've heard decent things about California though. I've also heard NY is a top state as well, that wouldn't be a far move for you either. lol Hopefully some people in those states can give you personal experience. Good luck to you!North Florida is pretty bad there are a couple place hiding in the nucks and crannies. I have actually just found one I am looking into that deals more with alternitive meds. But I did find south Florida has a better system. It is just very expeniceve. The Miami and Fort Lauderdale area are pretty good.
Hope this helps....
New York may have better services but living quality for families is shaky. The crime in the NorthEast has risen to sad numbers and it is getting worse due to the high level of gang activity and their (gangs) war on police. Please be very careful in your consideration of moving this way with your child.
Puppy love: Are you speaking of NY as a state or a certain area? I've never been there personally, just heard good things from other people on the board who live there. I also heard one woman say good things about Vermont as well. We don't know where we'll end up since Husband is military.....but he can retire in a few years so we've been thinking about possibilities if we don't go back to Tampa.I personally would NOT recommend North Carolina, at least the part we are in. I have heard if you live near the larger cities (Raleigh/Durham, Charlotte, Jacksonville) that things are better in the schools. We are in a more rural area (about 20 miles south of Greensboro) and services in schools stink. My son is 12 and in 6th grade... so we have a few years experience.
I think there is a shortage nationwide of trained therapists, both in and out of schools. From what I read, services vary greatly from county to county no matter what state you are in. And of course, you have to consider cost of living no matter where you go.
We actually are considering moving to Delaware this summer; I hear great things about their Autism program in the schools and it seems to be pretty consistent state-wide. Granted, the state only has 3 counties so that may be a big reason why.
Mary