Where is the best place!?

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I have exhausted all possible resources in Houston, TX! I'm a single mom with a son going into 3rd grade. It's gotten to the point that I know it's time to move states. I've settled on Portland, OR, but I'm starting to have doubts because of a million different reasons.
What would be the best, most accommodating place for a single mom (currently undiagnosed, and waiting on an evaluation, suspect very highly that I'm also on the spectrum) and a "high functioning" child going into 3rd grade. The main concern is school, having proper access to services, but really just a warm cultural environment where we can feel free to be ourselves. He is verbal and very intelligent. Thank you for your consideration! I am extremely nervous, and am pushing to move for this upcoming school year. I will hold off on details of our lives and preferences, since the first and most important detail is having access to care!! !!

At the risk of sounding like a weirdo, I would move to pittsford NY if I could afford it and could find a job there. They have possibly the best public schools in the nation. They also have a top notch special education program and a couple of their schools are set up to handle asperger type kids. Add to this that it's not a huge city, it's relatively speaking small. But housing prices are sky high and heck if I can find a job in my specialty area there.I personally know a family that lives there with a kiddo on the spectrum and they have no complaints.The child has really propered at the public school he is in and they never had to fight or even consider leaving. I also personally know a teacher from the school and she is top notch, excellent.

I grew up about 30 miles away, the whole area is just great if you don't mind just a little snow... and by a little I really mean a lot.

I live in Ohio and while I can't really complain about the schools, they arent spectacular. Also people here are REALLY closed minded. Like I should just take my different kid and put her someplace different meant for different people like her.

that's no weirder than other things i've considered.
my biggest issue is money. i'm comfortable, but poor. very poor. and i want to give my son the best, but realistically how can i? i need a magical place where it's affordable to live, and by affordable i mean very cheap, pet friendly, autism friendly, multicultural, a bit on the liberal side. thank you so much for your comment. how old is your child, what made you choose ohio? i definitely know the feeling of people around us not hiding their disdain. it's like "why are you out here with us normal people?"
i would be willing to live in any climate!

We live in Farmington, MN and have found the school (North Trail Elementary) to be fantastic. They have a wonderful autism program that runs k - 12. There are also several behavioral clinics in the Twin Cities that are nationally know for their services.

I think that the culture here is also very kind. There are a lot of families impacted by autism in the Twin Cities and people generally understand when a child is having a meltdown.

I won't say that every school district in the Twin Cities is as great as Farmington, so do your homework before you move.

Good Luck.

that sounds wonderful to me.
another concern would be my appearance and general lifestyle preferences. even in a big city like houston, it's difficult being a combination of so many minority groups. top priority is my son's education and well being, but i can imagine that mn wouldn't exactly be welcoming, even in comparison to tx. thank you for the great information and first person perspective! i will definitely do some research!

I am glad to help - good luck.

Once you get a diagnosis the school must deal with it. They must give your child the services they need and accommodations. Get a good book on IEPs ins and outs. You must fight for your child, there is not perfect place.

When you say you have exhausted resources what are you referring to and what are you struggling with?
My son has Aspergers and is in Jr. High now. When he first started school the principal reacted to him with punishment. They had never dealt with anyone on the spectrum, so they said! All changed when I had the diagnosis in hand. We go to a small school and I believe that is better than a big school for kids on the spectrum. We are in Rankin county Mississippi.

My son’s true friends are others on the spectrum; he met them at YMCA summer camp inclusive program. One left the area to Tenn., not sure what city, to go to a specialized school. Another one of his friends is attending a private school that tailors the education to the child. My son is in public school in a rural area.

I have worked with special education people that have come from Dallas area and it sounded like they have a lot to offer there. It just might be you are in too big of a city. Find a high rated school with smaller population might work for you.

ceaaa, I only visit the board sporadically, but do live in the Portland, OR area. If you have questions about schools and programs I may be able to help you. I have one child with Asperger's (diagnosed officially as HFASD with ADHD, but her therapists say it's classic Asperger's) who is now in middle school. We went through our neighborhood school with services, a self-contained classroom for communication/behavior, and I homeschooled for two years, as well.

Send me a PM if you are more comfortable and I can chat with you about the PDX area.