Homeschooling Children with Special Needs

If you are interested in home schooling a child with special needs, here is some information that may help you make the decision from author Lisa Simmons, author of "The Birth of an Advocate."

The reasons parents decide to home school a child with special needs vary:

• They want their child to be able to learn at their own pace.

• They want their child to work at a level that is appropriate to their developmental stage and have the flexibility to introduce new skills and concepts when the child is ready.

• They want to create a more "ideal" learning environment. Children with learning disabilities frequently have difficulty with concentration and focus in a traditional classroom.

• They want to use teaching methods that suit their child's particular learning style.

• They want their child to feel accepted and free from teasing, bullying or humiliation from peers.

• They are looking for an alternative where their children can gain self- confidence - one that includes less criticism from teachers and less comparison with other children.

• They want their children with special needs to reach their full potential and not be limited by the use of "cookie cutter" educational methods or the lack of experience with special needs in their neighborhood school.

• They want to ensure that their at-risk child will not be exposed to gangs, drugs, and guns.

How to get started:

1. Learn the rules. Each state has their own set of regulations for home schooling and you will need to be familiar with yours. Read the regulations and discuss them with current home schoolers in your own state, as many regulations may be vague and open to interpretation. A seasoned home schooler in your home state should be able to tell you how confusing regulations are generally understood. You can find the home school regulations for your state by clicking here.

2. Study the fundamentals. The National Home Education Network offers a "New Homeschooler Information Area" as well as a "New Homeschooler Encouragement Newsletter" to help you get off to a good start.

3. Consider joining a national support network. Frequently parents can gain valuable information and contacts by joining an association specifically for home schoolers.

4. Use online resources to brainstorm lesson plan ideas. There are several excellent informational websites that offer tons of practical tips and ideas when it comes to home schooling a child with special needs.

5. Learn from the experts. For more detailed ideas and instructions that you can refer to frequently, you will probably want to invest in some resource books.

6. Learn from other parents. I always encourage parents to find a place where they can safely exchange ideas and vent frustrations. If there is a local support group of parents that home school, join. Even if they have limited experience with special needs they may still be able to provide general support regarding home schooling regulations and materials.

7. And finally, look for curriculum and daily lesson materials that are from a quality provider and offer true value to your child. More...

RESOURCES

• Homeschooling Children with Special Needs

• Homeschooling Your Special Child: Ten Tips

• Ten Steps to Successfully Homeschooling Children with Special Needs

• Homeschooling the Child with NLD (Nonverbal Learning Disorders)

• Teaching ASL to Homeschoolers

• Ultimate Homeschool

• Homeschooling LD/ADD Children: Great Idea or Big Mistake?

• Homeschooling Kids with Disabilities

• Another Path: Homeschooling Your Deaf or Hard of Hearing Child

• Homeschooling with Chronic Illness

ORGANIZATIONS

• American Homeschool Association

• FamilyHomeschool.Com

STORES

• Special Minds
  

  Carries resources for parents and teachers of children with special needs and learning differences.

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