[Union63]

My family and I are moving back to the Danbury area and our 7 year old has Aspbergers...after many years away from the area does anyone know what schools would be the best for special Ed? looking at Danbury, Brookfield and Ridgefield. Any information would be great!!

[Stylo]

Ridgefield is significantly more expensive than Danbury and Brookfield.

Brookfield has recently been known for a very good special ed program.

[MaggieC]

I just visited elementary schools in Brookfield and Newtown with my grandson and daughter-in-law. They are moving to the area and need a district with a good program for special needs children. My impressions were:

Newtown has a vibrant, inclusive program. The two schools we visited were welcoming, informative and busy places. The staff went out of their way to explain the programs and to show us the facilities. Everyone in both schools was friendly and said hello when we passed them in the halls. When we looked into classrooms the teachers were very eager to talk to my grandson and so were the children.

Brookfield seemed less interested in us as visitors. Two very nice fourth graders took us on a tour of the building, but were of little help in talking about the special services. They did show us the resource room area which was off in a dark hallway far from the other classrooms. The small rooms were fairly bare and really not a place I would want to be sent. The feeling we got was " keep these kids away from everyone else." The staff we passed in the hall did not say hello and generally looked preoccupied.

These are just impressions. I could very well have misread Brookfield. You really need to talk to someone who has a child in the schools.

[Stylo]

I know that Brookfield has the SAIL program in the high school, and they spend a lot of time with the special needs kids there. Not sure about elementary and middle schools.

[diydesign]

Brookfield has a terrible special ed program. A nightmare. For more info, pm me. Brookfield blatantly disregards the law and the rights of special Ed students and their families.