Moving with a Special Needs Child

As anyone who has done it knows, moving is a stressful experience, and a very time-consuming one. It requires research, hard work, expense, and often causes hours of worry and unease. How much harder can it be, then, when you have to consider a child with special needs? The quality of education for children is often a high priority when families are moving, and for a child in need of special education, the quality of a school can become paramount. Information is also, distressingly, often very hard to find. Here is some information and advice on how to make the most of your move, and to help find the best possible program for your special needs child.

The minute you consider relocating, before you even start to look at homes, you should begin to think about school districts. When you are making a move to another part of the country, this can sound very difficult, but it doesn't need to be. In the early stages of planning a move, email and a ready phone can be your allies. Look up the state department of education for where you're planning to move, and let them know your intentions. If possible, explain to them the type of special education you need. Is it a speech and physical therapy problem? Is your child on the autistic spectrum? Does he or she have a developmental disorder? Not all districts are equally able to provide for all children, and you can save yourself a world of headaches down the road if you take a little time now to find the best possible school districts for your child now, and not after you've moved.

Once you find a district, it's time to start looking for your home. If you can't find one in that school district that you like, or if there are other considerations that make it undesirable, do try to look as close as you can. Public schools are required by law to provide a Free, Appropriate Public Education to every child in their coverage area, and if they lack the facilities, they can transport them to a neighboring district at no cost to the parents. Ideally, you will want to be in-district to begin with, but if this is not an option, the closer you are physically to your district of choice, the better your chances of having your child educated there.

Once you've found a home and started the process of buying it, you should immediately contact the department of special education in the school district where you will be living. If this is not the same as the district you wish your child to attend, you should still contact your residential district first. Ideally, you want to give them as much notice as possible of your move. If you've been through a special education evaluation process before, you know how long it can drag out. In order to give your child as little of an upheaval as possible, you will want to make sure your new school district has plenty of notice of your move. Make friendly contact, explain your child's current educational situation, and include diagnoses if appropriate. Ask them what information they would like to have regarding your child, and ask for a specific person's name and address to receive your child's school records. This is very important! Schools do NOT have to release a full series of school records when you relocate, and many will not do so unless they have a signed release from the parents. Moreover, they need to know where to send those records. Getting a specific name is also extremely important, because it helps to ensure that those records will be read and not just filed away and ignored. Having that name is also important for you, because it will be a primary contact person for you. It's much easier to make sure your child's case is being handled if you know the person who is supposed to be handling it, and check in regularly.

This is also a good time to speak with your case worker in your current district. Special Ed programs like to have warning that your child will be leaving them. They can help prepare your child for the transition and make your departure easier. They can also help make sure that you have all the information you need to be sending to your new district, including past evaluations and IEPs (Individual Education Plans). If you're not sure who your case worker is, you should send a letter in to your child's teacher, asking for the information.

Your new district may tell you that your child will need a new series of evaluations, and that they have a certain number of days in the district before beginning the process. This can be difficult for your child, not to mention for you! If this is the case, there are several things you should do. First, make sure the new district has received the full school records for your child, including diagnoses and past evaluations. This gives them something to work with, and may help speed up the process. Also, ask your child's current teacher if he or she will send a letter to your new district, explaining your child's needs, strengths, and current educational situation. If your child is nowhere near ready to be mainstreamed into a regular classroom, it can be disastrous if your new district attempts to place him or her in one. If they know in advance what the results would be, they might be more amenable to speeding up the process. They are also more likely to listen to an educational professional than to a child's parents, despite saying that parents know their child best. If your attempts do not work, you should attempt to contact someone at the state's department of education. If nothing else, they can advise you as to the laws in that state, and send you information to that effect. They may also give you advice on how to expedite the process. You may also be able to find organizations for parents of children with special needs in your new state, who will be able to help you make the transition as smooth as possible. In many cases, these parents have been through the same things, and can help you as parent advocates. They are also more likely to be aware of the laws and procedures in your new state, and how to best make use of them to your child's advantage.

Remember that while the teachers who work with your child are likely to be truly dedicated and loving individuals, many administrators, even in education, are focused on factors like the bottom line, and are unlikely to have much direct interaction with your child. Special education is expensive, and these administrators are paid to keep an eye on making the most of their budget. The average national cost of an autistic program is over fifty thousand dollars a year per child. By delaying even one month, the school district saves almost five thousand dollars, which might be half what they spend per year on a child in a mainstream program. It looks best for them to keep their budget down, but it's best for your child's future to be in the appropriate program as soon as possible. By being placed correctly, your child stands a better chance of being mainstreamed into a regular education later on, and a much better chance of becoming a successful adult. This is in everyone's best interests in the long run. Remember, you are your child's strongest advocate, and it's up to you to follow up and make sure your child gets what he or she deserves!