Do you have a child/family member with autism in Arizona???

[Beautybelle43]

Hello,

I'm sure this is very off topic and I apologize for that, but I thought this board might serve as a good resource for me.

I work with children with autism in the MA area and we are thinking about relocating to AZ (either Flagstaff or Phoenix area).

I tried doing a search online, but did not seem to find very many schools or agencies who work with the autism population.

For anyone who has a child/family member with autism in AZ, could you tell me about the services offered out there? Special schools, behavioral agencies, etc...?

Thanks!

 

[Kaler131]

Hi,
I am not in AZ...but I have two sons with Autism (I live in Ohio). I would say to check with the local school districts and/or colleges. They often have programs for special needs. Good luck! You have chosen a GREAT profession!

 

[belle&beast]

I am not from Arizona eother, but my sister has lived in Tucson and Phoenix and I visited Flagstaff to look at Northern Arizona University for grad school in speech pathology (granted that ws 12 yrs ago). Flagstaff is very rural and it seems like the clinical population for the SLP students came from reservations in the area, so they seemed somewhat limited just because of the location. In fact I am not an outdoorsy girl, so I could not go to school there, although it was absolutely beautiful.

The Phoenix area should have many opportunities just because of its size and the outlying suburbs. I do know that a colleague of mine moved from AZ and to be an early intervention provider in AZ, the state required more education specific to the birth to three population. Good luck with your move and finding more info!

 

[Beautybelle43]

Thank you both for your replies!!
yes, Kaler131, I absolutely love my job! Definately found my nitch in life

I will take that advice and check out the local school systems.

I thought about doing EI, but with the high prices of gas these days (and future days ), I'm trying to get away from driving so much which you tend to do alot with an EI job.

I'm actually a behavioral consultant (kaler131, I'm guessing you are familiar with BCBA's?), but I'm also a certified sped teacher. I'd love to find a behaviorally based school, but I wonder if the public schools out there offer ABA classrooms. Where I live now, there is an abundance of these classrooms and services in public schools, but there are way less people in my field in AZ.

Thank you both again!

If anyone has anymore advice-please let me know!