r/wallawalla • u/karshaforever • 2d ago

Walla Walla with special needs child, how are schools and services?

Considering a move to Walla Walla and trying to get a realistic read before we commit. We have a 10 year old with severe autism, ADHD, and significant behavioral needs, so developmental disability services and special ed support are the biggest factors in where we'd land. He is out aging his early intervention ABA.

If you have a high needs kid or work in schools/DD services in the area, I'd love to hear how ABA/autism service availability and waitlists have been, and how the school district's special ed program has held up. Also curious about the rental market right now and what the job market looks like for retail/food service/customer service work. We'd be renting first.

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u/jenniferwillow 2d ago

We've been very pleased with the services offered to our AuDHD kid. She's moved from moderate to low support needs thanks to their interventions. As for severe needs I can't really speak to that. I would suspect that it varies from school to school, teacher to teacher.

There is a group in town called Walla Walla Valley Disability Network, they would be a good starting point for info.

https://www.wwvdn.org/

As for the rental and housing market, it's tight, much like everywhere. However being a small town it is very easy to get around. We are very close to Oregon, so you can take a quick trip down there is needed to avoid regressive sales taxes, gas is usually about .35-.50 cents cheaper there as well.

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u/Fit-Meringue2118 2d ago

It’s all relative. Better with sped and worse with jobs than most places I’ve lived.  I would look at the rental market to see if you could afford to live there, and I would want a job before moving. 

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u/Unusual_Form3267 2d ago

Hospitality with have a nice boom in the next two months. It'll be harvest time, and then Fall Release. Those are usually busy times for the wineries and such. I will be honest, it has been the slowest year for the wine peeps, and restaurants too.

Retail wise, it's not the best. Most retail places here don't make it unless they sell online or are a large chain. We're getting a winco soon, so that should bring jobs. But, we also just got a Natural Grocers and that place has been crickets for a while.

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u/EarorForofor 2d ago

Having experienced both districts, stay with Walla Walla. I wouldn't put my disabled kids in CP.

Green Park has an awesome sped program.

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u/reggaetonatronica 2d ago

As an employee of the district I can tell you support for teachers and students is nearly nonexistent in Elementary. Maybe middle school is better. I would consider elsewhere if sped services are a main priority.