upstate NY | Autism PDD

Hi,

It's my impression that NY state has some of the best public educational services for autistic kids in the country, and it happens to be a state that I've been to, and like (I'm a native New Englander, so it feels like home).  

I've just learned that I have two AS children (twin daughters, 4), so I am investigating the possibility of relocating.  I do not know if this is realistic or worth the effort, but I want to investigate the possibility.

I think the first step in this investigation would be to locate a 'target' area - a town, city, or county to begin looking more closely.

I would rather live somewhere upstate rather than near the city, due to lifestyle and cost of living factors (I'm a small town guy).  Can anyone recommend some nice, smaller cities or large towns upstate, where the services are good (i.e. enough good professionals to go around, good tax base, good facilities, etc.)?

Thanks! 

fred39058.3368402778

I believe there are several NY'ers on this site... I'd be interested to hear what they have to say as well.  I do know anywhere commutable (even a 2 hr one-way train ride) to NYC is very pricey... housing and taxes both.  I have seen and heard of property taxes being ,000/yr or more (and not on an extravagant house mind you).  My in-laws are on Long Island (western end, very close to Queens) and ex has lived with his folks for the last 9 years, mainly due to housing cost and his fluctuating wage base.

Tzoya has a valid point... higher taxes can mean a much better education base.  But it can be next to impossible for a family to make it on one salary, which a lot of us with multiple children do.  My "autie" son is 12 and the new problem we have is finding adequate after school care for him. 

Personally, we are looking at Delaware.  It may be end of school year before we get there, but that's my goal.  I have read a good bit about the autism program in their schools and talked to a lot of folks about what they are doing for young adults, etc.  And right now, the housing and tax costs are more affordable.

I think I've gone off on a tangent here; I'll be watching this thread closely.

Mary

I live downstate, on Long Island.  Upstate it is WAY cheaper.  Partly because the weather is horrible in winter -- oftentimes way worse than in New England.  However, some poople not only tolerate winter but like it.  My best idea for you would be to see if you can pick a medium sized city or two and google what's going on in that area.  Go to the school's websites.  Investigate what they have their about special education.  Also, NY State has a service called Early Directions Center that gives info about therapeutic preschools.  See if you can get in contact with them. Of course, preschool is your FIRST step, but knowing where there are good preschools is a good start.  If you pick an area with a well-known university (Syracuse, Cornell, Binghampton, ALbany) you will probably do better in the education options.  Fred:

I just PM'ed you about this...
FWIW - I'm one of those winter loving freaks :)My husband is from the Rochester, NY, area, and their schools are wonderful.  My BIL, who is a teacher in Colorado, constantly brags about the NY state education system. 

While the IU services haven't been great here (majot cuts recently), the local school districts, from what I hear, have awesome special ed services.  This opinion comes from teachers and parents we know.  I'll be learning more about that is about 1 year...

Thanks - keep 'em coming.  Some good info.

As we start zeroing on on specific areas, do you think it's best to keep our nefarious plan (moving to a community to access their educational resources) a secret - ie. create a cover story (Geez, I'm getting transferred to Scenectedy, and was just wondering about streamlining our kids transition into the local school system)? 

I wonder if some of the administrative types would see the angle at which we're approaching and throw some diversions at us...  The special ed. equivalent of, "Nope - the fishing's terrible here!  You might want to try about 10 miles downstream!".

Or, is relocation for the purposes of gaining better public services not neccessarily frowned upon and/or discouraged?

fred39058.5466203704You are not likely to get much info if you haven't ALREADY moved there or can show a lease or a phone bill or something.  School districts are already wise to having too many people with spec. ed. kids move into their districts if the districts are good with special ed.  It's the rare district that will let ANY parent know ANYTHING before they can prove they live in the district.  What's more, in NY, the districts can be TINY.  My hometown just north of NYC was one square mile.  So having a family with a high-cost child move in can really put a crimp in budgeting.  Of course, you probably don't want to move into a district so small that they won't have options. However, in NY there is a special education system that his public, but cooperative.  That means that children from ANY district can be sent to classes there.  The system is called BOCES.  Of course, that would mean that your girls would not go to school in your local district but would be bused to a learning center.  But this does not happen until kindergarten age.  ANd if they are higher functioning, they can attend regular classes with support and won't need the sorts of services offered by BOCES.  I know this sounds complicated.  The truth is, it is.

Niskayuna NY is outside of Schenectady NY. Niskayuna is a great school district! I am a transplant to Vermont- but know the Albany area well as that is where I went to school. There are wonderful school districts over in the Capital District. 

Vermont- believe it or not- is good for kids with needs, as well.

Good luck!

Gail

 

I live in Chenango County, which is in upstate NY.  Personally, I LOVE it  here.

The small town atmosphere is terrific.  However, to get to the specialists, I do have to drive either to Syracuse, Binghamton, Cooperstown or Albany, all of which are 1 hour in one direction or another.  This whole diagnosis is new to me, but so far I've found out that there is a nearby school that specifically is geared towards an autistic program for children.  The public schools here are small class sizes and I have all my kid's teacher's home phone numbers.

Real estate is extremely affordable.

 

NYMommyof339062.7702546296I live in the Syracuse area.  Our area is just now introducing ABA in their preschools.  My older son receives the BOCES services Tzoya mentioned.  We are in a very small district.  There are lots of great services in Onondaga County, you just have to find them.  Unfortunately we live in an adjoining county and the services there are very limited.
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