Dallas, TX | Autism PDD

Hi Shelley,

Thank you very much for your reply and information on the resources in Dallas area.  We are trying to make a decision on where to move due to my husband's job situation.   Seems like a lot of people on the forum have mentioned about the great services in NJ, we will look into whether it's possible for him to find a job in NJ instead.

Thanks again for your help, if we do decide to move to Dallas, I will e-mail you for more details.

Hello

I grew up in Dallas and am now about 20 min. north in Lewisville.  The public school are not what you want at all but they have a very respectful private school called Shelton and a "Callier center" for speech and helping ASD kids with evaluations. There is a center for ABA therapy called "Behavioral Innovations" that is excellent too for preschool age kids in Dallas. Just a warning... Texas is poor for servicesnd our kids dont receive any ABA or speech paid for at all..I am close to the university of Denton so I have great access to ABA therapists here. I grew up in Dallas so leaving to another state isn't an option..all family are here but if I could move I would go to New Jersey where kids get many services for free and not have to fight for all of them. Good luck:)

Hi,

We have a three year old son with Autism, currently we live in the bay area, CA.  We might be moving to Dallas, TX in the next few months.  Does anyone know any good school district near Dallas, TX that offers good service?

Thanks!

Hi Rita.  I'll join this discussion, as I live in Dallas as well.

Of the two choices you mentioned, the Plano/Frisco area will serve your needs better, as there are a number of services in that area, as well as in the Denton and Dallas areas.

What Shelley was referring to (I believe) is the problems obtaining services from any state or federally-funded agency, including our school districts.  ECI is overwhelmed by demand - our personal experience was that my son should have received 20 hours minimum of OT a week and at least 10 hours of speech - we managed only 1 hour of speech a week because they just didn't have the people to provide the services.  There's awesome therapists out there, but as far as receiving hours upon hours of paid-for therapy from either ECI or our school districts, don't bank on it.  School districts in the area also fight to not provide the services our children need, so you need to go in knowing you and your child's rights from the beginning and not be intimidated.

If you're looking at Plano/Frisco, then you need to look at Collin County resources, as that's where it's located - not Dallas County.  There's several organizations and schools in that area.

Good luck to you - if I can help you find something specific, please don't hesitate to ask - and welcome to Texas!

 

Rita,

I have friends that have moved to the Frisco area because you can get much more services and not have to fight so much.  I know they have a special autism classroom actually in a separate building down from the public school but still part of the public school system...Both friends opted out of this because both their girls are HFA or aspergers and wanted them more mainstreamed..both had problems with the girls assimilating the all day kindergarten and have them either in Montisori(?) or private school which both love for their girls..plenty of individual attention compared to public schools.  They do have a center for ABA in plano called "Wayman's learning center" we also have a wonderful doc/dan in plano called Dr. Rao who knows resourses all over town:) I love frisco and it is pretty new and growing drastically with a new mall, hospitals and shopping centers..~Craig Ranch is very nice housing development with it's own waterpark for residents, park and trails~golf course ect...my friends is actually selling her home here because husband it being transferred to Houston.  If I had to choose between Frisco or Plano I'd pick Frisco:) Dont move to Dallas, Irving, Carrollton or Lewisville..services are extremely limited. Good luck:) Let me know when you get here and I can hopefully help you more:)

Shelly - Please please advise me - I am new to the forum. My 20 mos old was diagnosed on Fri with PDD - am still attemtping to grasp the reality and sverity of the situation - don't know what the future holds. Sorry for sounding so depressed.

 I live in NJ (have been working in Manhattan for the last 7 yrs) and I 've heard that NJ does have alot of great facilities for kids with special needs. My hubby secured a job in Dallas 2 months ago and we were going to move doen there - the news of my daughter's diagnosis has put a spoke in the wheel bec I am not familiar with TX and reading your post makes me even more apprehensive.

We were looking into Plano/Frisco and Lantana as possible placxes to live - does the dallas area not offer toomay great services??

I am just so confused and lost at this point - don't want to make any wrong move.

Thanks a lot

Rita

I have heard that Carrollton has a great Autism program that focuses on Autisic children.  Frisco school district just clumps all diagnosis together.  They do separate children by serverity of the delay somewhat.  My son is in a classroom where most students have delay language skills.

Part of the problem in the Frisco ISD is the exponential growth in the last few years.  I think once the growth mellows out and the schools can come up to par they will have  decent programs.

 

UTBcool39185.7753587963Greetings from New Jersey. We are in a similar situation of weighing job
offers from Dallas. While New Jersey does have an excellent reputation
nationally for providing services be careful. Like any other school system
nationwide it comes down to each individual school district and there is a
lot of change going on across the state. With the growing numbers of
children being diagnosed on the rise and the influx of ASD children from
other states seeking services, New Jersey is slowly unwinding many of the
services it once had. Each community is quite different from the rest,
however New Jersey does have quite a large nuber of well established and
respected private programs, but getting in has become increasingly
difficult. Back to Dallas. We have twin boys who are both on the spectrum
both are integrated with support in thier individual classrooms, however
we feel that at some point this placement will become inappropriate. Are
there any reputable private programs in the Dallas area that work with
high functioning students in elementary school age children and beyond?
thanks!Just wanted to welcome Southmelon2003, mfiliault and amity78 to the
boards I have a 5yr old son and I live in Texas close to Dallas and my son just started attending a program called PPCD (Public Preschool for Children with Disabilities) in the Lewisville Independent School District, the schools name is Hebron Valley Elementary. The program is wonderful and I have seen a major difference in my son and he has been attending now for 4months. They start at the age of 3yrs and up....They also provide bus services especially for these children even if they are at a daycare facility in the mornings or afternoon. If you need more info just let me know and I would be happy to provide it for you!Hi, I am new to the boards and I am in the Dallas area too.  I am finding that there isnt very much services around here for children with ASD.  My son was just diagnosed with Aspergers and I am having a hard time finding help.  I live in a very small town in Denton County and the school district hasnt had an Autistic child in years.  So I think its going to be a real challenge to get the services that he needs.  Any suggestions would be helpful.  I am looking to see if there are any Autism programs in school districts around here and may look to transfer.  I cant afford private school so thats out of the question. 
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