Hello there!!!! I have experience living in the Bay Area (San Jose). I LOVED it as far as services for my daughter. The San Andreas Regional Center (SARC) is what you want to look into. They coordinate supports all the way until adulthood with a case worker who actually cares. Now the wait list is long as you know what but once you get in it's golden. The cost of living is CRAZY in Cali so be prepared for that and all public school are not equal there. My daughter was in Pre-K when we moved and her first school was a hot effing mess and I don't even want to go into details but if you want just hit me up privately. We got her out of there and into a wonderful head-start program with Ms. Thuy who was a GOD send. Then she went to kindergarten at Sakamoto which was a pretty good school but her teacher retired. She was old school and freaking awesome. Now back to SARC...they have summer camping programs free for your child if you're a member and other social things for school aged kids. My daughter was 5 at the time and too young for those resources. Your case manager will set you up on their email server where they will email you awesome things going on in the Bay as well as Autism studies at Stanford and keep you abreast of any law changes which keeps you up to date. Anything support or questions, you name it they have your back AND THEY PAY FOR RESPITE CARE! So many hours a month for FREE. This was the only way hubby and I got date nights in and when I injured my back at work I needed to go on muscle relaxants and pain meds so the care giver came to cook meals and support us while my hubby worked. It was so amazing because at my lowest I felt like I was failing as a mom!!! My hubby actually wants to move back but we just moved to TN now and learning about supports they have here. Anyways that was super long but Mass might be good but I know Cali is amazing! I am not sure how old your child is but they have a lot of love and support for Autism kiddos! My daughter was there from age 3-5 then we left. Daycare is also expensive and I'm not sure if you work or are a SAHM but don't be afraid of home day cares. Ms. Gina had a home day care and I'm not sure if she still does but she was also amazing.

Thanks and same to you! Keep me updated on what you decide.

You're so welcome!! Cool, yes there is tons of fun stuff for his age range. Yes, we did ABA and it was good. Of course these positions have high turnover but she had a great home therapist that included her brother in sessions too for applying skills learned. The school assigned therapist had to be changed because it wasn't working out but then we got that changed. We paid through insurance (Kaiser) for that though Easter Seals, the provider.

Thanks! Good luck in TN!

Hi! Thank you for your response! My son is 4, so the same age range! This regional center stuff sounds amazing! Respite care, even! Wow! Everything you’re saying already sounds head and shoulders above where we are right now! I don’t know if you did Aba, but my son is doing this full time right now. How hard is it to get that there (if you use insurance)?