Best State or Country for Special Education Services?

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[quote="WorldsEdge"]I've heard that Minnesota (of all places) has some of the best programs in the country...but by saying this I'm repeating what amounts to hearsay. As in, a co-worker of my ex-wife has a daughter, son-in-law, and two grandkids on the spectrum. The family wants to move back east to MA or NH to be closer to their respective families but when they did a comparison of services between the states, Minnesota blew both states out of the water. So they're actually staying in MN for that reason alone, maybe revisiting a move when the kids are older."

As a parent who lives in Minnesota I can support this statement. We have some of the best behavior clinics in the country along with some great school systems. However, it is important to investigate not only school systems, but individual schools. We happen to live in Farmington and in grade school our daughter had an angel for an autism lead teacher - she was the best. However we have friends who live in a different suburb and it was like pulling teeth to get any support at all from their school, so they moved to a different school and got services.

No, I think that you’ve just got to be optimistic and believe that if the law says something, its enforcement will take place as a natural consequence.

I found this link, which breaks down what each state legally (supposedly) provides service wise.

http://www.easterseals.com/explore-reso ... files.html

It boils down to where exactly you live. A wealthier school district sometimes fights because they would rather use those monies else where. A poor school district might be much more accommodating with what you suggest.

Have a twice gifted child? All GATE programs are not created equal.

What is the district cultural, principal and staff. You almost have to do actual foot work literally, asking parents what do they think?

Is that principal too nice? Is he/she the type that smoothes over everything, but will never hold his/her staff accountable?

Is that principal ready to play hard ball when you have a concern, so you have to drag an advocate/attorney into everything. You will put up with a ton of grief at the start, but eventually get everything you want.

The states do vary on what is legally mandated, but after that it can change from with in a state, county to country, school districts and even between schools with in a district.