Decision to move from Bay Area, CA to small town, Pierre, SD

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I am a single mother with a daughter who is 23 years old and has Aspergers and bipolar. I have the opportunity to move from Bay Area, CA to a small town in South Dakota, Pierre. I am apprehensive because it is such a small town and there is only a small trade school for adults, which offers no art classes, which my daugher wants to study further. I am also worried about the lack of "awareness" of Aspergers and/or bipolar. I worry that this could be a step backward and not forward. Any parents out there who live in small communities who can give advice?

Pierre is really out there. We live in a smallish town in a neighboring state. We are a University town so that makes a bit of a difference. I don't know first hand but there is a high likelihood that there is a high degree of poverty in this area. However, it isn't TOO far from Sioux Falls (200 miles) which is a good sized (for this part of the country anyway) city. I think you are right to question the availability of services, understanding, acceptance and opportunities for your daughter. You might be better off where you are. My ASD DS is almost 6 and it has crossed my mind that he might be better off if we moved to a larger city where there would be more services and medical specialists available.

GO FOR IT, SISTAH. California sucks, end of story.

Thank you all for responding! Pierre is the capitol of SD and I read it has an unemployment rate of 4%. Also, any ideas about what kind of jobs are good for adult Aspies with cognitive issues? She is 23 but is more like someone the age of 15 at most times. So, services aren't really an issue, but I think what will be an issue is fitting in and finding out whether others will accept her, especially being "different" and being an "outsider," etc. Those things can really be daunting. What do you think?

How good or bad is your current situation in California? How hard would it be to move back if SD doesn't work out? You might try searching for an autism society in SD, and seeing if you can find someone there to talk to about what things are like.

Also, since Pierre is the capital, it's probably not a small town in the sense where everyone knows and helps each other. Small cities tend to have more of the character of a far out suburb without a big city attached. Although I'm not that familiar with the bay area, Davis would be my best guess for a comparison.

I think Silicon Valley has probably the best resources and community for people like our kids, moving from there is likely to be a huge adjustment. I think the good old positives and negatives list is in order.

That said - Here is a list of SD resources I found - it doesn't look too comprehensive but there are a few parent support contacts that I would want to talk with before I made my list.

http://autismawarenessonline.com/resour ... dakota.htm

wow, kailuamom, you are something else. How did you do that? Was that just one website or did you put that list together yourself?

apparently there are only 13,000 people living there, and the unemployment rate is about 4%. Moving back would be nearly impossible as it will cost everything I have saved up just to move. I did a huge state to state move before and it cost me 10,000. This will be the same because I'm older now and will need to hire help. The more I think about it, the more I think I should spend the money of getting reeducated for a different career, say at another trade school or on line. Court reporting has continually let me down over the past 20 years. Maybe this is a sign I should just get out once and for all. But then, if they offer me the job, now is the time to move, before the savings I have get used up and taking a job out of state, anywhere, is out of the question. I wish life didn't have to be wrought with so huge many decisions.

Aw thanks - I'm just good at selecting keywords when googling! That is a single website.

Good Luck whatever you choose to do. Personally - I think that a quick trip to Pierre is in order before you consider a move too seriously. If you don't have the $$ for a visit -m then I think you don't have the $$ to move. It's mighty cold in the winter!

I totally agree, Kailuamom. You're the best. I don't know how to thank you for your care and support. People like you are truly amazing.