Moving to Chicago area with Special Needs 3 year-old - where would you live?

[Anonymous]

Ideally, we would live near family in Riverside.

But our driving factor is to move where we can get the best services for our child, who will turn 4 in the fall.

Our child has an IEP and currently receives cost-free special education, occupational therapy, and other services in his public school. Do all areas in and around Chicago offer Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 classes for children? If not, where do we need to move to be able to get these services? And which area offers the most high-quality services?

Thanks for any info and recommendations you can provide.

[Anonymous]

Riverside and many surrounding areas have strong special education programs. LaGrange, Brookfield (D95 not 103), Elmhurst, Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale, Burr Ridge are good too. I do not recommend Berwyn, Lyons, Villa Park, Maywood or Chicago public. And no matter where you go, it is likely you will still need to supplement through private insurance or out of pocket to truly give your child what they need. That's the entire country.

[Anonymous]

There is an organization called Neighborhood Parents Network and you have to be a member but asking this question there will get you a LOT of information. I'm in Chicago but haven't had to navigate what you describe. Most preK is private and very few CPS schools offer school before K (there are a few, I think only Montessori and I think there are only 4 of those in the city). K was a while ago for us so there could be changes I'm unaware of. If you're moving to Chicago you might fine NPN helpful for a lot of things related to school, kids, etc.