Hypothetically...

Nava is now 3 months old and the diagnosis and what it entails have had time to sink in. We're been doing a lot of networking and research but it's clear that there just aren't the services around here to match what would be 'standard' back in the States. So we've been trying to think Big Picture and have been mulling over the +/- of moving back to the US (among many other options!). The problem is I haven't lived there in 10 years and don't know where "home" is!

Obviously careers and a 1000 other things would affect the decision besides EI, but just for the sake of discussion...are there any major differences in EI or other important services between OR, NM, ID, and CA?

[We have friends in OR and liked our holidays there. We have family in NM (but we're not close and don't really like the area), and we have family in N ID (will visit soon to see if we like). Oh yeah, and I grew up in CA.]

Would love to hear your 2c even if there is no *right* answer...

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Can't really comment on the best state as I've only lived in one of them, CA. I thought the EI services there were pretty good (LA county), the only service we had a bit of a wait for was ST which wasn't started until around age 2 but once it was started the therapist was fantastic. Callum got PT, OT, swimming and ST and had choices of in home and centre based for most stuff.

However I don't think there was much parent support, as in support groups as the LA group seem to be more about getting the word out about DS rather than organising events.

I also had big issues with the school district once Callum was 3, however this was 4 years ago so things may have changed.

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Naomi
Mum to Callum (DS) 3/03 and Kieran 8/04
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well, i've only been in greensboro, NC and so far i think the services has been great. we had no wait for any services and they started as soon as we wanted them to which was right after the holidays. her therapists are great and our coordinator is wonderful. i have no complaints.

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Maggie, mom to Rachel (9/19/09), duodenal atresia repair on 10/26/09, VSD closed
www.maggiefluck.blogspot.com

From my nine years of special needs parenting experience.... i ca say the following. It not only varies from state to state....but even county to county w/i the state.

We live in St Louis county in MO and have much much easier access getting services than when we lived in Franklin county (15 minutes from my new location)...... we also have much better espite funding and othe options not availiable in franklin.....

and is definetly not available on the other side of the state ..... law suit and other stupid issues!!

And ironically what is there today may not be there to mooroow with budget cuts and changes in programming philosphy.

In the 9 1/2 years I have kids in EI in TN & MO (specifially MO) I have watched it got from multi therapist approach to single therapist teaching me how to play / work the child and bringing in others for consult....... (WHICH I DO NOT LIKE AT ALL...... I actually already do all this and want someone else to make them do it too do to the stubborn or maybe paying more attention to someone who is not me!)

but they do change plans and philosophys with budgets, adminstrations priorities and schools system changes......

my 2 cents!

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Jane
mom to
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Miranda Olivia (2/1/05) DS & Partial Complex Seisure Disorder & iratractable epilepsy
Jordan Alexander(3/17/2007)
Emerson James (1/08/2009) 33 week preemie


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Sorry- wish I could help but I've never lived in any of those states. Good luck!

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Nathalie
Mom to Eden (DS) 4-13-08
Wife to Luciano (the best daddy in the world) since 10-8-2005
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I have lived in CA, IL and MO....we did get decent stuff with CA but I keep hearing from people in CA how they are really hurting nowadays.... I LOVE Missouri, St. Louis area....we get great services and my husband actually makes much more here then he did with the same job in CA.

I also think people also have to keep in mind the quality of their lives along with services.....yes, I want a good state and good services but our our first move into MO was soley based on Russell's needs and services. We didn't take into account a few other things that effected our family dynamics. So, we moved again in MO but still in the ST. Louis area....but different county and school district. This move was based on quality of life over quantity of services and we are MUCH happier because of it. And in the end we learned our services were better too

So, based on my own personally experiences and the only states you offer as a option for your poll, I would be inclined to pick Idaho..... but that probably has nothing to do with spec needs criteria but our family dynamics

You also mentioned EI services but remember, you will only have those until age 3, so I wouldn't use that as a huge factor. Yes, you want good/decent EI services but I'd look more into state/county services, how accessable your services are in conjunction with that state's dept of DD and school districts.

Good luck....and we have a great place out here in St. Louis....we'd love to have you!

a.

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Adrienne - mom to: Regan 17, Russell 12 DS, Autism, Visually Impaired, Reece 9.

DSAGSL 2009 Buddy Walk

Thanks everybody!

What a nice offer I know nothing about MO (except, come to think of it a friend is from there...) so now I'll have to check it out!

So:
Lesson #1- it's not only state, it's county
Lesson #2-it's not only where but when

This is really helpful though may seem painfully obvious to everyone else. Living abroad I already have to remember (and explain to hubby) that things vary across states in America. But I totally forgot about counties. Whoops...

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We're in Humboldt County in California, and we've never been disappointend with our services. It is not a great place if your child has many medical needs, and Humboldt is pretty rural, but we have lots of access to services. It has been cut back some with the poor economy, but I still feel like we receive everything we want and need, in EI and now in school. I don't know about the other states, but it seems that folks are pretty well taken care of here.

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Kim. Wife to Ray, Mommy to Charlie (DS) 1/2006 & Calvin 3/2008
http://charlies47.blogspot.com/

There is more than one way to have a good life!

we live in El dorado County in CA and have wonderful services a group called Pride and Joy but it's only from birth to 3yrs of age, then your turned over to Alta and the school dist,which as been a challenge to say the least at times. I do remember a lady from pride and joy telling me that OR had wonderful services and their early intervention went all the way to 6 years of age. Although in calif we have wonder Med services lucielle packard Children hospital in Menlo park has a down syndrome clinic.

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Lisa Wife to Glenn Mom to Johnathan 24 Allison 21 Chad 15 Greta 14 Sarah 12 Jennifer 9 and Mazie 6 (DS/ vsd repair 8/03)