Honestly, if you're happy enough with your current situation, I wouldn't move. Raising a kid with HFA in this area was a nightmare. Only after around 8 very difficult years in DCPS did we get a private placement for HS. The private programs are around $50K/year at a minimum. It's very unlikely that you'll get funded. Whatever you do, don't move to the District. Montgomery County might serve you decently well if you have to move.

jbarceneaux wrote:OP here - when you say "(helps to have an educational advocate for these programs at your IEP meeting" - is the educational advocate someone you hired, or is it appointed by the school system? I know nothing.

You hire the advocate or attorney and pay.

jbarceneaux wrote:OP here...Thank you so much for the information. I was hoping that by moving to a more progressive area of the country we would find more help. Kids like mine we have often said are in the doughnut hole - not quite the right fit for mainstream schools and not the right fit for special needs schools. We found one here, and are hoping to find one there too. I've seen some that serve ADHD etc, but are so expensive - as much as college tuition. I'll figure out a way to pay for it I guess. I'm not a fan of vouchers, but the scholarship my son has here has made it possible to attend a school that can serve his needs since the public system can't. I wish public schools were better but they just aren't.

Not happening. We spent a fortune on private services. Got almost nothing from the public school.

Hi Op-this is the PP who asked about Florida services. Thank you so much for the info. We had been looking at Broward and Palm Beach Counties and got similar feedback. That’s so discouraging about school options down there. I would consider private in any part of Florida too but haven’t found any either (for elementary age for my kid). That school you sent looks great! Too bad it’s only 6-12.

As for the educational advocate, it is someone private that you hire. It’s tough because they are so expensive (anywhere from $150 to $300 an hour). I have worked with several and they were all somewhat frustrating (not great at getting back to me, giving some misinformation etc) but it’s very helpful to have an advocate for MCPS IEP meetings (and other neighboring counties) because I find that MCPS takes your requests more seriously when you have an advocate. A lot of folks here use the Weinfeld group and they have several folks there. They can also help you create goals, supp aids etc for the IEP.

If you have an anonymous/throw away email, I’d be happy to connect with you to help steer towards resources here! I have two kids with IEPs so I have been really entrenched in this world up here for a while. I also know a bunch of moms whose kids are in high school with ASD up here and could connect you with them if you’d like.

Good luck!

OP here - when you say "(helps to have an educational advocate for these programs at your IEP meeting" - is the educational advocate someone you hired, or is it appointed by the school system? I know nothing.

Op here. Great info regarding Montgomery County. Thanks. Greenwood School in Jacksonville FL serves kids wit high functioning autism and other learning differences. It's wonderful. https://greenwoodjax.org It goes from 6-12th grade. Before 6th grade there is next to nothing for our kids. Florida has the Gardner Scholarship which is about $10,000 that you can use for all medical and educational expenses as described in other's posts, but since health insurance covers next to nothing (or nothing in my case) for autism services and medical expenses it goes quickly. I would not say Florida is a great place for support for autism. I've heard of a couple of good schools near Orlando years ago when my son was in Elementary, but I have no first hand knowledge of them. Public schools are a hit or miss - mostly a miss. I know of one family that's happy with their public school in Jacksonville, but I've heard they generally don't want speccial needs kids -and most families choose private with either the Gardner scholarship or the McKay Scholarship (the McKay is for kids that have been in public school for at least a year I belive - so we did't qualify for that.) In general public school in Florida can't compare to Montgomery Country public schools.

Hi Op-

In case you were looking at Montgomery County (MD), there are a few programs aimed at students with higher functioning ASD including the Aspergers Program at Walter Johnson HS and I think Quince Orchard. There is an organization called Extraordinary Minds and it’s a great resource for students with ASD in Montgomery County. https://xminds.org/secondary-services

You have to advocate (helps to have an educational advocate for these programs at your IEP meeting). Some people really like them and others have mixed things to say but they can often be a good place for the HFA kid who doesn’t fit the bill for any of the special needs privates and also needs more support to be in public. I have heard really good things from several parents about the MCPS Aspergers program. Besides the LISS lottery, there aren’t any funding programs like the Gardiner unfortunately at least in MD.

As an aside, OP could I ask you what school have you found that works in Fl? Or if there are any public districts that do well with HFA? I have spent a few years researching this and talking to a few advocates and they all told me to stay up here with our HFA child! We hope to move to FL to be near family. Thank you!

Thanks. I've done FLVS Flex, so yes, it's always an option. There's no subsitute for inperson socialization though so still hoping I'll find that perfect fit in the DC area.

jbarceneaux wrote:OP here...Thank you so much for the information. I was hoping that by moving to a more progressive area of the country we would find more help. Kids like mine we have often said are in the doughnut hole - not quite the right fit for mainstream schools and not the right fit for special needs schools. We found one here, and are hoping to find one there too. I've seen some that serve ADHD etc, but are so expensive - as much as college tuition. I'll figure out a way to pay for it I guess. I'm not a fan of vouchers, but the scholarship my son has here has made it possible to attend a school that can serve his needs since the public system can't. I wish public schools were better but they just aren't.

While this board is filled with posts about problems with public schools and IEPs, etc., the ones who are happy with their public schools are not posting. And they're the majority.

Op– I'm the Florida p p. Have you consider home-schooling your son, maybe using FLVS Flex? You don't have to live in Florida to enroll.

OP here...Thank you so much for the information. I was hoping that by moving to a more progressive area of the country we would find more help. Kids like mine we have often said are in the doughnut hole - not quite the right fit for mainstream schools and not the right fit for special needs schools. We found one here, and are hoping to find one there too. I've seen some that serve ADHD etc, but are so expensive - as much as college tuition. I'll figure out a way to pay for it I guess. I'm not a fan of vouchers, but the scholarship my son has here has made it possible to attend a school that can serve his needs since the public system can't. I wish public schools were better but they just aren't.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone else surprised that Florida has such a program when
none of our local states do?

Not really. The FL Gardiner grant is $10k so more than MD’s LISS scholarship, but far less than a private school for kids with ASD. You can’t receive a Gardiner scholarship and attend public school. The list of disabilities covered under a Gardiner scholarship are the ones that are expensive for school systems to educate (with the exception of high functioning autism). Downs syndrome, cerebral palsy, intellectually impaired, deaf, visually impaired, TBI. FL likely saves money not having to offer services in public schools.

If your child has a complex needs they can get funded at a higher amount. There's a process for this. We're child doesn't so I've never used that.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone else surprised that Florida has such a program when
none of our local states do?

I live in Florida and my daughter with autism receives this. She has made major gains from Services using this! This year for kindergarten she is in a small private school that, while not a special needs School, is very welcoming of her and she's blossoming.

I can't speak highly enough of this program. Honestly, I think it should be a model.

Yes, and it's filtered all the way up through post high. Florida colleges have a lot of programs for special need students.

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone else surprised that Florida has such a program when
none of our local states do?

I live in Florida and my daughter with autism receives this. She has made major gains from Services using this! This year for kindergarten she is in a small private school that, while not a special needs School, is very welcoming of her and she's blossoming.

I can't speak highly enough of this program. Honestly, I think it should be a model.

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone else surprised that Florida has such a program when
none of our local states do?

Not really. The FL Gardiner grant is $10k so more than MD’s LISS scholarship, but far less than a private school for kids with ASD. You can’t receive a Gardiner scholarship and attend public school. The list of disabilities covered under a Gardiner scholarship are the ones that are expensive for school systems to educate (with the exception of high functioning autism). Downs syndrome, cerebral palsy, intellectually impaired, deaf, visually impaired, TBI. FL likely saves money not having to offer services in public schools.