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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2003
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Sat, 12-31-2005 - 7:55am

Hi. My name is Amy. I live in Georgia with my husband, Andy and our two daughters. Andy is currently deployed to Iraq, but is due home within the next couple of weeks. My daughter,Kelsey, has Asperger's and Bipolar Disorder. She is currently in an RTC, and it hasn't been easy without her dad here. My youngest daughter, Alyssa has had preliminary diagnosis of bipolar disorder and OCD, but now that things have quieted down with Kelsey, we will be having her evaluated to know for sure what we are dealing with. I was wondering if any of you have ever relocated to find better schooling for your children, and what your experiences were. Are there any areas that have excellent public school resources for children with Asperger's. I really don't want her to go back to the public school here after she gets home. They have really done nothing for her there, and I may be wrong, but I didn't take it as a good sign that the guidance counselor didn't know what Asperger's is.

Amy

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-22-2005
In reply to: lil_amy30
Sat, 12-31-2005 - 9:15am

Hi Amy! My name is Crystal. My son CJ is 9 as has AS. My husband was deployed to Iraq out of Ft. Campbell, KY from 01 March 2003 until 20 February 2004.

We didn't have a diagnosis during that time because the developmental ped we were seeing "saw no signs of Autism." Well, that is a rant all by itself, but I won't go there right now.

But I knew something was different, his teachers knew something was different, and his EYE DOCTOR suggested AS! Go figure!

Anyway, the shcool we were at in Clarksville wasn't wonderful, but we didn't yet have a diagnosis. 4 weeks after DH got back from Iraq, we had orders to move to Redstone Arsenal, AL. The public school here has been wonderful but our Special Ed teacher is retiring at the end of the year. We may transfer schools in order to get into another good spec. ed program, or his current Sp. Ed teacher may tutor him on the side and act as an advocate.

To answer your question, we've never moved to get into a different school system, but we were happy to do so in 2004. But I am willing to transfer him to another school if I think he will be better served.

Crystal

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: lil_amy30
Sat, 12-31-2005 - 11:29am

Well, we once moved cross country when my DH got a job out here. When given the opportunity we made sure to check the local districts and moved into the one that had the better autism program as far as we could tell. But even this district hasn't always met the specific needs of my kids. My daughter is in a middle school Asperger's program that I have been disappointed with, but at least they know what AS is and there is a program set up for it. Without it she would have been failing middleschool miserably.

There isn't an appropriate program for my AS son (9). We have found a fabulous SDC classroom teacher who has modified her class for him but most likely when he gets to middle school we will be getting the district to pay for a private special needs school for kids similar to him.

That is an option. If your district can't provide an appropriate program for your kids you can have them pay for private special ed schools. My friends BP son attended a day treatment program for a while on the schools dime. Maybe that is an option?

Good luck.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
In reply to: lil_amy30
Sat, 12-31-2005 - 12:05pm

Hello Amy, and welcome to the board.

I agree with Renee, you can find a good district with a good program on paper, but kids/teachers needs are so individual, that you can still struggle to get all the pieces in place.

The law is structured to protect rights of special needs kids. They are supposed to get what they *need* regardless of where you live or what the district provides. If this means bussing to a neighbouring district, or paid placement in a special private school, so be it. I would check out local options and start thinking about the program *I* want for my kids, and then present a case for it to the district.

If you are really, really thinking of moving, (and this is unscientific), from feedback and information I have seen go through this board; NYS (not NYC) and CA seem to be pretty good states for Special Ed. TX is not good. But those are gross generalizations, and of course, the most expensive places in the country to live! But there are great and bad places everywere. Moving for just Special Ed is a bit of a crapshoot, IMO.

-Paula

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2004
In reply to: lil_amy30
Sat, 12-31-2005 - 1:17pm

One more state to keep in mind is Michigan....

Here, they are really moving forward with the full inclusion movement for kiddos with ASD and it's the only state that offers special education support through the age of 26 (which means support in college for MANY when if this wasn't available, I wonder how many kids just wouldn't go?)

Katie & Jack 4yo PDD-NOS/Aspergers/HFA....no one can decide grrrr

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2003
In reply to: lil_amy30
Sat, 12-31-2005 - 2:00pm
Thanks. I have thought of the private school option, but there is just nothing down here in south Georgia. We had to go to Florida for a RTC. So, we would most likely have to relocate even for a day school. Boarding School is an option, but I would like to keep her home if we can. I have also been wondering what would be better; to relocate for a private school or take my chances with another public school system.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2003
In reply to: lil_amy30
Sat, 12-31-2005 - 2:08pm
I understand what you are saying, and our choices are rather limited as to where we can go since we are military. I think I will be doing more research. Thanks for the advice.
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2003
In reply to: lil_amy30
Sat, 12-31-2005 - 2:18pm
Hi Crystal. After being here at Fort Stewart through 3 deployments (2 to Iraq), we are ready for a change. Hopefully that can happen, and I can make it a positive change for our daughter as well. Elementary school was great here, but the transition to middle school turned out to be tragic. I just don't know if I can put her back there. But you ladies have helped me to see that I do have some options. Thanks.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2005
In reply to: lil_amy30
Sun, 01-01-2006 - 10:24am

Hi again Amy (been talking to you on the BP board).

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2003
In reply to: lil_amy30
Sun, 01-01-2006 - 3:45pm

Hi. It sounds like we do have a lot in common. We are actually from North Georgia, and the schools are better up there. Since we are military, we are kind of limited to where we can go, though. So, I've been checking out schools around possible Army posts.

Amy

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: lil_amy30
Mon, 01-02-2006 - 4:42pm

Hi Amy,

We are in the Columbia, SC area-- Ft Jackson is on the east side of Columbia. The school districts in SC aren't great, however a couple are good for special ed. We moved here from Wisconsin-- where the schools are good but the special ed isn't great. We have 5 children, one has HFA (DS#2), one w/ ADD(DS #1). Our son w/ HFA has a very specific IEP in place. We have a good working team in place that has lots of individual attention for him. Here, I can usually suggest something for him and it gets done, in WI we fought just to get him speech therapy. In this area, there are also a couple of great private schools for kids w/ LDs or who need a special ed environment that isn't available in their home school. We're trying to get our older son into one right now, however, the SD we're in seems to think he doesn't have a problem so we're fighting (banging our heads against the wall really), and we can't afford the tuition on our own.

I hope you're able to find what you're looking for to suit her needs!

betsy

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