Re: How are Autism services in Florida after school years

[Guest guest]

,

From my experience, I can tell you that services in Fla. aren't great. After

high school there are some school programs that your child can stay in until age

21 that can prepare him for a job. Atlantic Vo-Tech in Pompano Beach has one of

these programs. Then if you have the patience to deal with the Voc. Rehab

people, you can get a job for your child and have them job coach him. Friends

who stuck with V.R. ended up finding a job for their child and then the job

coaches did little or nothing to coach them. I found a job for my son and job

coached him myself, because after a month of being told by V.R. no one is hiring

I became frustrated. I fired the coach on a Tues. and on Wed. found my son a

job. (I had taken two classes ref. job coaching and gotten the certificates for

them.) As to housing, that is a difficult subject in Fla. There are group

homes, but depending on the type of home and who runs it etc. your child may

lose APD benefits if he goes into one. There is a very, very long waiting list

for APD benfits, unless there are exigent circumstances. Currently there are

groups in the state who are looking to start supportive communities that will be

paid for by private funding, donations, and money ALREADY allocated or APD

funding. The communities would have living facilities, job training , stores,

and recreational facilities. There is a wonderful group facility in central Fla.

called Noah's Ark. http://www.noahsarkflorida.org/

I hope this info is helpful to you.

Glenda

>

> Hi, my family is looking to relocate to Central Florida. I have a 16 year old

autistic son. He's moderately affected - can talk, somewhat conversational, is

social and friendly but also can be behavioral. He's currently attending a

specialized school for autism (due to the behaviors).

>

> I've been trying to find out about the services available in Florida, but I'm

getting confused. What happens to the children after they are out of the school

system? Are there waiting lists for living arrangements and if so how long on

average is the wait? Is there a wait to get help with day care/work programs

right after school?

> What is everyone doing with their kids?

>

>

> Thanks for any and all info

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

From my experience, I can tell you that services in Fla. aren't great. After

high school there are some school programs that your child can stay in until age

21 that can prepare him for a job. Atlantic Vo-Tech in Pompano Beach has one of

these programs. Then if you have the patience to deal with the Voc. Rehab

people, you can get a job for your child and have them job coach him. Friends

who stuck with V.R. ended up finding a job for their child and then the job

coaches did little or nothing to coach them. I found a job for my son and job

coached him myself, because after a month of being told by V.R. no one is hiring

I became frustrated. I fired the coach on a Tues. and on Wed. found my son a

job. (I had taken two classes ref. job coaching and gotten the certificates for

them.) As to housing, that is a difficult subject in Fla. There are group

homes, but depending on the type of home and who runs it etc. your child may

lose APD benefits if he goes into one. There is a very, very long waiting list

for APD benfits, unless there are exigent circumstances. Currently there are

groups in the state who are looking to start supportive communities that will be

paid for by private funding, donations, and money ALREADY allocated or APD

funding. The communities would have living facilities, job training , stores,

and recreational facilities. There is a wonderful group facility in central Fla.

called Noah's Ark. http://www.noahsarkflorida.org/

I hope this info is helpful to you.

Glenda

>

> Hi, my family is looking to relocate to Central Florida. I have a 16 year old

autistic son. He's moderately affected - can talk, somewhat conversational, is

social and friendly but also can be behavioral. He's currently attending a

specialized school for autism (due to the behaviors).

>

> I've been trying to find out about the services available in Florida, but I'm

getting confused. What happens to the children after they are out of the school

system? Are there waiting lists for living arrangements and if so how long on

average is the wait? Is there a wait to get help with day care/work programs

right after school?

> What is everyone doing with their kids?

>

>

> Thanks for any and all info

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Glenda. In Florida, do kids leave the school system at age 18? In NJ

they can be in it until age 21. There's waiting lists here too, I'm told it can

take up to 20 years unless there's an urgent need, (but even then it's years).

I'm really wondering what's going to happen in this country in another 5 to 10

years when the " boom " of autism kids are out of the school system.

> >

> > Hi, my family is looking to relocate to Central Florida. I have a 16 year

old autistic son. He's moderately affected - can talk, somewhat conversational,

is social and friendly but also can be behavioral. He's currently attending a

specialized school for autism (due to the behaviors).

> >

> > I've been trying to find out about the services available in Florida, but

I'm getting confused. What happens to the children after they are out of the

school system? Are there waiting lists for living arrangements and if so how

long on average is the wait? Is there a wait to get help with day care/work

programs right after school?

> > What is everyone doing with their kids?

> >

> >

> > Thanks for any and all info

> >

> >

> >

>