Spotlight on Special Needs: Where Families Find the Best Support in America

September 11, 2024By: VocoVision

Raising a child with special needs is a journey that requires more than love and patience; it demands a supportive community equipped with the right resources, services, and support systems. In the United States, the availability and quality of these essential elements can vary significantly from state to state, making it crucial to spotlight areas offering supportive communities and ideal environments for their child’s growth and well-being.

To help parents understand where these supportive communities are, VocoVision released the Best States for Special Needs report. The index ranks all 50 states based on seven critical factors for raising children with special needs, including access to special education and health services, physical accessibility, bullying prevalence, community support, and state spending.

The comprehensive analysis not only identifies the best and worst states for raising children with special needs, but it also aims to spotlight the areas where improvements are urgently needed. Whether you’re a parent seeking the best place to raise your child or an advocate for change, we invite you to explore the valuable insights into the disparities that still exist and discover the areas that are leading the way in fostering inclusion and care.

The Best States for Raising Children with Special Needs 

State Access to Special Healthcare Access to Special Education Bullying School Support Services Spending Supportive Neighbor-hoods Walkable Neighbor-hoods School Counselors Total 
New Jersey 18.3 12.5 7.6 10.0 5.5 18.1 3.4 75.4 
Massachusetts 15.6 12.9 7.3 7.1 5.7 17.7 3.9 70.2 
New Mexico 20.0 19.0 4.9 4.3 1.1 14.9 0.5 64.7 
Iowa 16.8 13.5 6.7 1.6 6.9 15.2 3.3 64.0 
New Hampshire 13.5 13.6 6.9 5.8 5.6 9.1 9.0 63.5 
Illinois 13.2 11.7 7.6 5.1 6.8 16.4 1.4 62.1 
Pennsylvania 11.2 20.0 6.7 3.3 6.0 11.3 3.3 61.8 
Minnesota 14.0 16.6 7.8 0.0 7.4 15.6 0.3 61.7 
New York 17.3 16.0 6.7 1.6 2.6 15.4 2.0 61.5 
Nebraska 13.1 12.1 6.2 1.3 7.0 17.8 3.1 60.8 

1. New Jersey 

New Jersey emerges as the best state for raising children with special needs. The state ranks first in state education department spending on student support services, including guidance, health, attendance, and speech pathology services, demonstrating its commitment to providing comprehensive care. Additionally, New Jersey ranks second for access to special services, with 39.2% of children with special healthcare needs receiving therapies they need, such as speech, occupational, or behavioral services.  

The state’s commitment to creating a supportive environment is further evidenced by its ranking in the top 10 for the prevalence of bullying, as 97.6% of children have never experienced bullying due to their health condition or disability. In addition, the fifth best accessibility of walking paths and sidewalks in New Jersey neighborhoods ensures that children with physical disabilities can navigate their communities safely and independently. 

2. Massachusetts 

Massachusetts ranks as the second-best state for raising children with special needs, offering robust access to essential services and supportive environments. The state is ranked sixth for access to special services, with 36.3% of children with special healthcare needs receiving necessary therapies.  

Additionally, Massachusetts is ranked ninth for access to special education and early intervention plans, with 36.1% of children with special healthcare needs receiving these essential services. The state’s commitment to supporting children with special needs is reflected in its fourth-highest spending on student support services per pupil.  

Massachusetts also ranks in the top 10 for creating a safe and inclusive environment, with 97.5% of children never experiencing bullying due to a health condition or disability. The accessibility of walking paths and sidewalks, ranked seventh, further underscores the state’s dedication to ensuring that all children can navigate their surroundings with ease. 

3. New Mexico 

New Mexico ranks third in the nation for raising children with special needs, distinguished by its leadership in providing access to essential services. The state ranks first for access to special healthcare services, with 41% of children with special healthcare needs receiving therapies such as speech, occupational, or behavioral services.  

Additionally, New Mexico ranks second for access to special education services, with 43% of children with special healthcare needs benefiting from these services. The state’s investment in student support services is also notable, ranking 12th in spending per pupil on services such as guidance, health, and speech pathology.  

States Lacking Support for Children with Special Needs 

According to the report, the 10 worst states for raising children with special needs include: 

  1. Mississippi 
  1. Alabama 
  1. Tennessee 
  1. West Virginia 
  1. Arkansas 
  1. South Carolina 
  1. Oklahoma 
  1. North Carolina 
  1. Florida 
  1. Louisiana  

Mississippi ranks as the worst state for raising children with special needs, lagging significantly in several key areas. The state ranks 40th for access to special services, with only 26.4% of children with special healthcare needs receiving the therapies they require. Mississippi also ranks 47th for access to special education and early intervention plans, with just 24.9% of children with special healthcare needs benefiting from these crucial services.  

The state’s struggle to provide a supportive environment is further highlighted by its ranking as the state with the highest prevalence of bullying due to a health condition or disability. Mississippi’s spending on student support services is also among the lowest in the nation, ranking 46th.  

Additionally, the state’s infrastructure poses challenges, with the lowest percentage of children living in neighborhoods with access to sidewalks or walking paths, making it difficult for children with physical disabilities to move around safely. 

Additional Findings 

Below are the top-ranking states for each of the categories analyzed in the Best States for Special Needs report:  

  • Best Access to Special Health Services: New Mexico offers children with developmental needs the best access to special services. In New Mexico, 41% of children with special healthcare needs receive therapies such as speech, occupational, physical or behavioral or other services. 
  • Best Access to Special Education Services: Pennsylvania offers children with special healthcare needs the best access to special education or early intervention plans in school, with 44.1% receiving these essential services.  
  • Best for Bullying Rates: Hawaii has the lowest rate of children who have been bullied, treated, or judged unfairly because of a health condition or disability, at 1.3%.  
  • Best for School Support Services: New Jersey has the highest spending on support services per pupil, at $2,403. 
  • Best Supportive Neighborhoods: Utah has the most supportive neighborhoods, where 72.9% of children live in a community where people help each other out, watch out for each other’s children, and know where to go for help. 
  • Best Physical Accessibility: Utah has the most accessible neighborhoods for children in wheelchairs or with physical disabilities, where 93.7% of children have access to sidewalks.  

The Importance of Supporting Special Needs 

The disparities revealed in this report highlight the importance of developing solutions to ensure that education and special services are more accessible to children with special needs across the country. While states like New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New Mexico are leading by example, others, such as Mississippi, still have room for improvement. 

At VocoVision, we’re dedicated to bridging these gaps by connecting schools and school districts with highly qualified educators and therapists, no matter where they are located. Our teleservice solutions offer students the crucial face-to-face connections they need to overcome challenges and reach their full potential. 

Join us in this mission by exploring fulfilling teletherapy job opportunities with VocoVision today. Together, we can help schools, families, and children access the vital services they need, wherever they may be. To connect with a national network of highly qualified educators and therapists, request services here.  

Methodology 

This report is based on an index that ranks all 50 states according to seven key factors. Each factor was weighted based on its importance in supporting children with special needs. The factors include: 

  1. Access to Special Services for Children with Developmental Needs (20% weight): The percentage of children with special healthcare needs receiving therapies such as speech, occupational, or behavioral services. Data Source: National Survey of Children’s Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau. 
  1. Access to Special Education Services (20% weight): The percentage of students with special healthcare needs receiving special education services or early intervention plans. Data Source: National Survey of Children’s Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau. 
  1. Prevalence of Bullying Due to Health Conditions or Disabilities (10% weight): The percentage of parents who reported their child being bullied because of a health condition or disability. Data Source: National Survey of Children’s Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau. 
  1. State Spending on Student Support Services (10% weight): The state’s expenditures per pupil on services such as social work, guidance, health, and speech pathology. Data Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data (CCD), “National Public Education Financial Survey,” 2020-21. 
  1. Supportive Neighborhoods (10% weight): The percentage of children living in neighborhoods where community members support one another. Data Source: National Survey of Children’s Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau. 
  1. Access to Sidewalks (20% weight): The percentage of youth with sidewalks or walking paths in their neighborhoods, essential for accessibility. Data Source: National Survey of Children’s Health, Health Resources and Services Administration, Maternal and Child Health Bureau. 
  1. Staffing Adequacy of School Counselors (10% weight): The adequacy of school counselor staffing based on 2024 supply and demand data. Data Source: Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, Health Workforce Projections.