Houston, TX a good area for special needs kids?

[Anonymous]

Our DD is 3 with apraxia of speech. She is in a great preschool program in FCPC and has an amazing private SLP that we just love...

Husband is now considering a job transfer to Houston, TX. He would be in a better place for a promotion... less expensive to live there and we would be a lot closer to our family.. I would love to live closer to my family and I think it would be great for DD... But - Texas isn't exactly known for great public social services...

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with the public or private special needs schools in that area. I did a little research online and found one school that looks nice... at almost $30,000 per year tuition. Outch! I'm starting to think it might not be so much less expensive to live there if we have to pay so much for private school for DD. Also can't find any PROMPT certified therapists in Houston

Anyone from the Houston area have any experience they mind sharing?

[Anonymous]

Don't have personal experience, but have a friend who moved from TX to MD b/c of better services for DS child.

[Anonymous]

The new FCPS superintendent is from TX and there are some thoughts that she was chosen because TX is more advanced wrt dyslexia ... not sure how that translates into Houston or your child's needs. But speech problems often do lead to reading problems and at least some areas of TX have qualified professionals.

[Anonymous]

if nothing else the cost of living is so low, you'll be able to afford all the therapy you want!

[Anonymous]

No experience and kids are younger, but recently moved to Houston and would be happy to ask around for you as we know a number of families in HISD, some with special need kids.

But what area of Houston are you thinking of / where is the job?

[Anonymous]

My sister's husband is in the military and they had to move to Texas from Maryland because of his job. They are liking the change in the school systems. Texas quickly identified her youngest as not being on grade level where Maryland considered him to be meeting state standards. In Texas, this prompted immediate intervention and services she had been fighting for a long time in Maryland. He made so much progress that first year that they are trying to stay in Texas as long as possible. They usually have to move every 2-3 years.

She has another son with ASD and in Maryland, bullying was a big issue. She actually worried about his safety when he went to school because he had been beat up walking home from the bus stop by a group of students. The Maryland school did nothing since it happed off of school property. In Texas, bullying is not tolerated in anyway, shape or form. Her son with ASD handled the transition to a new school better than expected. Kids accepted him with his quirks and he is treated with respect just like a regular student.