Relocating with an AS/NLD boy(9). To Boston or Jacksonville?

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We are possibly being relocated to either Boston or Jacksonville, FL. Our son is a 9 yr old with Aspergers. We are wondering if anyone has an Aspie child in either of these locations and would be willing to share their experience with the education system and therapists. Thanks.

boston would be a better place by leaps and bounds. Jacksonville could be the worst place for an aspie; it's probably the most notorious city where vicious cliques dominate the social scene; even more notorious than lagnuna beach in orange county, california...

boston is much more accepting of different kinds of people

I would agree with Alex about Boston if it wasn't forthefact that I'm from Norhtern New England, and am therefore well accquainted with Boston. If it wasn't for the atrociously high cost of living in that area of the country, I would definately recommend Boston, however can't due to the fact that the area in question is a very expensive place to live.

I have no idea of why you would choose either area, but if it's to relocate for a job, I could comprehend the dilemma that you face. If it's for any other reason, the Raleigh/Chapel Hill area of NC would be a good place, just don't move to Durham!

Incidentally, Chapel Hill/Carrboro reminds me somewhat of a medium sized New England College town transplanted to the south. The summers are hotter, and the winters are milder, however the atmosphere of the two twons themselves are very similar to perhaps Burlington, Vt.

I thought Jacksonville was nice, but I am open to consider other opinions. The weather there was nice. My parents dropped me off at a downtown shopping center and I just hung out there for an entire day by myself. I felt safe the whole time, and there were things to do. It is the largest city in America by square miles. It is close to some great beaches too. There are lots of technology jobs in the area. There's a metro that runs through the town which I rode and found to be a quick way to get around.

Are you referring to the social scene for the "upper crust?" Most people, Aspie or not, don't have time or money for the symphony or country club anyway. If you want to find royalty in America, the Boston Brahmin are closest.

Boston due to its size and location is most likely more liberal in accepting alternative lifestyles, minority religions, eccentrics, etc. When it comes to treatment and therapy, though, that could all depend on the school system funding.

I have never experienced Jacksonville, so I can't comment on it.





Boston is somewhat strange in regards of the 'Boston Brahmins'. To most people in Boston, they are literally society separate from the general population of Boston, though the Beacon Hill crowd does have more than a bit of pull in the Politcal sense. They are not really royalty per se, but like the British they interbreed, and due to to set policy. If you are not one of them, forget about trying to become one. The only other Analogue to the Boston Brahmins in the US are the Charleston society families in Charleston, South Carolina.

The Society families in Charleston seem to have a stronger grip on the city, possibly due to the fact that unlike Boston, it didn't see a huge influx of predominately Catholic Immigrants in the decades after the Civil War.

For the average person in South Boston, or Jamaica Plain, or Dorchester, the Boston Brahmins are an unattainable abstraction, and largely ignored in day to day life, whereas in Charleston, their local variant is just as unattainable aristocracy, but their impact is more of a day to day reality.

If moving to the Boston Area, Worcester, (Pronounced 'Woostah'), Lowell, Lawrence, East Boston, South Boston, (AKA 'Southie') Dorchester,Roxbury, Charlestown and Lynn are places that you don't want live, due to drug/gang activity. Providence RI, just to the south, (but still on the Commuter line) is really no better considering the fact that the Mafia is heavily involved in local politics and gang/drug activity is also rampant.

Other than that, Boston is a vibrant, cosmopolitan, city with a multitude of things to do, provided that you can afford to do them.

I've lived in Jacksonville for decades. It has more square miles than Los Angeles, so it all depends where you live. BTW, cost of living is cheaper in Jacksonville.

I'm working with the "Autism Society of America, Greater Jacksonville branch." See their website: asagjax.org and their forum at: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/autismsocietygjax/ . Their base of operations is on the southside. It is a good, helpful network.

I'm also working with the State of Florida Center for Autism Related Disorders (CARD) that offers free professional counseling and services. Their website (as poor as it is): http://www.centerforautism.org/ Their one office is south of downtown.

contact me and my wife if you need more help.
http://www.christheals.org