Hey all! My family and I are moving back to our "roots" in Michigan. I live now in GA. I've been doing some googling for special need programs in Mi, so I have a little bit of an idea which areas may be beneficial for us. I want to live in an area that focuses on special needs with a good school program, and live with in an hour or so of where I know most of her specialists will be. Here i live an hour from Atlanta, where most of her specialists are now. But how do i go about finding these things out? What should I be looking for exactly besides the obvious schools stuff? And I know nothing about disabiliyt and medicaid. If shes approved for ssi here, does that carry through to MI? or is that a state by state thing? What should I be doing now? Andybody from MI? Or know of special programs they offer?

Where in Michigan? We live in the Grand Rapids area. We have DeVos Children's Hospital here in GR -- personally I'm not that impressed (Noah's specialists are mainly in St Louis Missouri). I have heard good things about the University of Michigan Hospital and their Doctors - that's in Ann Arbor Michigan.

Noah doesn't have SSI so I don't know much about that program. We do have Children's Special Health Care which is an excellent program.

Let me know if I can be of any further help...

Ahhhh, it's great to hear from you!! My family lives in Perry, small town between Lansing and Flint. I lived there for 20 years. So I know exactly where your talking!! but since I didnt have a special needs child back then, I have NO idea where to start. I was thinking within an hour from Ann Arbor, because I know they have LOTS of specialty drs there. Detroit as well. But how do you base your move? She will never be in a regular classroom (or at least that is what I am told) so I was wondering if you've heard of any good schools or programs. Can you give mo more info on the childrens special health care??? Just curious, what kind of specialists do you see in Missourri?

What makes you say no "regular school"? Noah has moderate CP and uses a powerchair -- he's in a 2nd grade classroom with a fulltime aide. Your daughter is still very young so don't let anyone put limits on her future

That said...I have heard good things about the doctors at Ann Arbor. I really haven't heard much about Detroit but it is further away from us. Many people like the doctors in Grand Rapids - we just aren't that impressed.

Noah has been seen at St Louis Children's Hospital since he was about 18 months old. Currently we see Dr Brunstrom (neurologist), Dr Tyschen (eyes), and Dr Thio (neurologist - seizure expert). We used to see Dr Park (neurosurgeon) but we don't need to see him any longer since it's been almost 4 years since Noah's surgery with him.

Children's Special Health Care is "kinda" like medicaid but much easier to qualify. Here's their website to read more http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,...5087--,00.html We have to pay a small copay per year but it's definitely worth it. They pay all the copays on Noah's medications which total over $50 per month. They also supply diapers/pullups for any child over 3 who needs them.

HTH -- if you think of any more questions feel free to ask....

what i mean by regular classroom is that she will probably always need assistance. Around here I've heard there are great teachers in some of the special ed areas and some not so great teachers. I guess you get that anywhere, though. I just didnt want to pick up and move to an area where there are no services or not alot to offer in the way of "special instruction", therapy, specialty drs...So we are looking toward the direction of Ann Arbor, although Grand Rapids gives us another option! Do they offer differnet kinds of therapy up that way??? Gotta go to look in on that health care cux we would be moving w/ no benefits initally. Is this just for special needs kids? Thanks for all your help!!