I agree that the services are probably more limited to what you are used to. Although, my son's medicaid pays for private ST (and formerly OT and PT) with zero problems. My son only gets ST in school, because it impedes his ability to be successful in the classroom..... he never qualified for PT through school (but did so privately) and he only qualified for OT in K.
My son is in a regular 3rd grade classroom with some modifications/support. He goes to the same school as his sisters. Before K, I looked into sending him to an autism school, but I felt like that separated him too much from his peers. Also it seems like *most* autism schools are for those that are more severely affected, have high anxiety, etc.... My son is minimally affected and is well above grade level in reading (about 5 years) and at or above grade level in math. He only struggles with writing and then some organizational and behavior issues. Like the teacher is working on having him not blurt out the answer.

I moved out of Florida because the services you are going to get are going to be during the school day and they are going to be limited. The Florida schools also would prefer to do inclusion but even the special needs classes are just that special needs, they tell you they are ASD specific but often the teachers only have special Ed training with minor coursework in ASD.

The state pays for nothing and most insurances pay for nothing so you are on your own. The only specialized schools of programs in Florida that are any good are Eden which is in Naples and Ft Myers, and the Dan Marino center in Miami but that is more medically based.

Be sure to find out about the schools in the area you may end up. I am not in that part of Florida but am not impressed with what I have seen in this state. Coming from NH it is a whole new world.

HORRIBLE...don't do it! I've lived in Florida for 20 yrs now and can't believe who much u have to fight for even the basics like EDUCATION

Hello! I am looking to move to Florida, and I was wondering what you found out about the school there. My son has high-functioning autism and is used to a special classroom. He will be entering 7th grade when we move. He's 10 now.