Greensboro, NC | Autism PDD

Hi Everyone.  I found this website by accident, but I am glad that I did.  I currently live in Southern New Jersey.  My husband and I want to move with our soon to be five year old son, to Greensboro.  We had a list of places we wanted to move to and started narrowing down according to the resources that we were able to find online.  We considered the Chapel Hill area, but we think that Greensbor is the perfect sized area for us.  I know that peoiple think that New Jersey is supposed to be SOOOO great for autism services, but it isn't for us.  We have a very hard time and I fight all of the time with districts!  We also want to move because the cost of living is become outragous and we would like to be able to own a home in an area that is reasonable for us.  We don't plan on moving for at least two years, but I would like to start preparing now.  Every so often, I look online at the news-record website to find out about things going on in the area.  I would like to know what you think about the area and the schools and services in the Triad area, especially in Greensboro.   THANKS!!!!
My son is in pre-k he is bused out of district to a "special autism school" that I feel does absolutely nothing for him.  He has regressed from what he got from public school from the old district that I used to live in and I had to take that one to NJ superior court to get half of what he needed.  NJ is supposed to be SSOOOO great but I'm sorry- my husband and I don't make the kind of money to live in these wealthy school districts where everyone supposedly gets what they need for their child. 

Hi...

I don't know what it is like in the triad area, but we are near Charlotte, and my son is not getting what he needs. He is in his last year of pre-k, is in a developmental day program, and gets speech 2X a week for 30 min each time, and only 15 minutes (!!!) of OT a week. Sometimes speech is in a group, which does nothing for him. His transition meeting for kindergarten is next month, I can't wait to see what kind of nonsense they try to pull on us. We moved from NJ in 2002 before we knew my son had any issues, but is now dx w/autism and SID. I have heard NJ is a lot better. We moved because our home in NJ was too small and the price for a larger one was more than we could afford. Nicer homes are definitely cheaper in NC, as are property taxes and of course car insurance. We are having a hard time finding therapists near us, w/out having to travel a ridiculous amount for a session that would probably last less than an hour. We are now on a waiting list for the nearest one. Truthfully, I am not impressed with this area, but I do like our larger home. Charlotte is horrible. All I hear about is how people are getting shot when I turn on the local news.  We were in a nice area in NJ (Point Pleasant), I guess part of me is still used to being able to not have to travel any length of time for whatever I and my family want or need. Everytime TEACHH is brought up, I am told there is a HUGE waiting list, and "occasionally" they have someone from TEACHH visit the school. Just FYI. I don't know how this compares to what you are getting in NJ.        

   

I moved from New Jersey and it was a mistake.  Don't make that mistake!  There is a reason many autism experts say NJ is in the top 5 states to live. 
What area are you in?  What aren't you getting that you think you'll get in the south?  What services outside of the school district are you getting?  Will you get them elsewhere?
I can't even tell you how many services our son lost by moving and how much money it has cost us to pay for those services now. 
Good luck, but really think about this before you decide.
Cecelia

Nick's mom-

why did you move from NJ?
I grew up in Jamestown (Guilford county) and there are some nice schools. When I was there where you lived determined which school you would go to. Literally a street over and you were going to a different school. Just be careful before you decide exactly.

Just Kay,

You may want to start a new thread about the NJ/NY schools.... your question may get buried in this thread.  Or use the search feature; there are several threads regarding schools in both states.

Mary

We live about 15 miles south of Greensboro in a neighboring county.  We have been here about 14 years (my ASD son is 12).  I would suggest contacting the Autism Society of NC, Greensboro chapter, for more detailed information.  You may also contact the Exceptional Children's department of the school board.

One thing I would warn about... be careful moving over county lines.  I have read and heard about services being so much more available in Guilford County (where Greensboro is) than in our county.  However, Greensboro/Guilford county schools, are also feeling (like many areas) the growing pains of the tremendous increase in number of children with autism. 

Let me know if there is anything I can look into for you.

Mary

Hi,

 

My son is pre-k, going to K this fall, but we are considering moving to NJ ( currently in Asheville, NC area), does anyone have an idea of which ones are the best public and private schools in NJ / NY?   

I currently reside in Guilford County after relocating here from NYC three years ago, and the only thing I can say to you is PLEASE DO NOT MOVE HERE!!!!  There is absolutely nothing here for children with DD, as autism is defined here; if a "mental" disorder is present - ADD, ADHD or LD, then u can get some of the skimpy services they have here.  I have been here for three years and have nothing from the county; still on some CAP waiting list for the poor services they do provide.  I've exhausted all of my resources paying for service providers and supports myself and am broke.  Plus, there is only one school in the entire county that serves children with autism (its called the McIver Edcuational Center), and it is horrible; so much so that I am home schooling and looking to relocate out of here in the Fall before I strangle passersby in Walmart out of frustration (I'm kidding, of course). 

Again, please dont move here because not only will you be sorely disappointed, but you will also go bald from pulling your hair out in abject horror at the state of the educational and mental health system here.

I definetly know the feeling... We have lived in expensive SW FL for a couple of years, but it was always our dream to move to western NC and live comfortably.  When our son was dx, all that changed, and we started to research different parts of the country and what they had to offer ASD kids... availability of private therapists, autism awareness, good schools, doctors, etc., We finally decided on NY, where I'm from originally.  We probably won't be able to afford a home any time soon, but we're determined to get better services for our son.  We will be downsizing BIG TIME.  Everyone has to do what they feel is best, not just for their child w/autism, but for the entire family.  We are thankful we will have seasons, a better quality of life, etc.. we'll just have to live frugally.  I mean, we just moved out of a new construction 1800 SQFT townhouse, now most likely going into a small apartment in a Victorian house or something!  I'm just so relieved that I will finally have a chance at getting respite and better quality care for our son!  I don't know what it is about the South, I can only speak for FL, it is all sports, tourism, and retirement here, the developmentally disabled children are last on the priority list!  Now I'm rambling!  Go to www.city-data.com forums for info. I love that site.Thank you everyone for your responses.  Thanks to Pat and Matty for their input.  Just to keep everyone posted, my husband, son and I ended up moving to New York. My mother in law is under treatment for a brain cancer tumor and we moved into her house last month to help take care of her and get her where she needs to go.  My son is registered to go to school here and we are having the meeting for his IEP this week.  This would not be my first choice in places to move to because I think Long Island is expensive, but I can't complain because there are services and we are living in a four bedroom house rent free that has been paid off since my husband was fifteen years old( he is 34 now).  I am slowly starting to meet some great people here.  It's not like being home in Jersey, but I'll settle.  where in NY were you from Matt?  I guess I'll be living in the Northeast where there seem to be more resources for a while.
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