Special Needs Homeschooling: Yes, You Can!

I was recently asked by a parent if it was possible to homeschool a child with special needs. My answer was “absolutely.” I am aware that parents are often told that children with special needs need to be in public school to get the special education services provided there. However, as a parent and the first teacher to your child, you are more qualified than any special education teacher. Special needs homeschooling is not as hard as it sounds. Do NOT think for a minute that you cannot homeschool your own child with special needs. Actually, you should and CAN homeschool your child with special needs.

Homeschooling can be a great way to teach a special needs student. It is also one of the best ways to keep them engaged and interested in their education. Homeschooling is an excellent opportunity for parents to tailor their children’s education to their needs. Homeschooling is a viable option for many special needs students. It can be an effective way to help these students learn at their own pace and get the individualized attention they need.

Benefits of Homeschooling a Child with Special Needs

The major benefit of homeschooling is that it allows the student to control their learning environment, which can be beneficial for those with sensory sensitivities or autism. Homeschooling helps parents monitor their children’s progress more closely and provide more individualized attention than in a traditional school setting

You can adapt your homeschool journey for your child as needed. You know your child’s strengths and weaknesses better than anyone. Use this to your advantage. Depending on what disabilities your child has will lead you to what you need to change. Remember, you are there to help your child. Most states say you only need to show progress. Even children with special needs will make progress over the year. So, do not be concerned that you will hold your child back or put him at a disadvantage. Instead, you are doing what is best for your child.

Homeschooling allows students to work at their own pace and to focus on the subjects that they find most difficult. In addition, parents can tailor the curriculum to meet the specific needs of their children. This flexibility is crucial for students with learning disabilities. It helps to decrease the frustration and feeling of being overwhelmed.

Common Special Needs

There are many different types of learning disabilities, and each student with a learning disability will have different needs. Some students struggle with reading and writing, some have difficulty with math, and others have trouble with organization and time management. No two students are alike, which is why homeschooling can be such an excellent option for students with learning disabilities.

Most Common Disabilities in Children:

• Attention Deficit Disorder, ADD
• Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, ADHD
• Auditory Processing Disorder
• Behavior Disorders
• Bipolar Disorder
• Blindness
• Cerebral Palsy
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Deafness
• Developmental Delay
• Down Syndrome
• Dysgraphia
• Dyslexia
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, FASD
• Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
• Expressive Language Disorder
• Language Disorder
• Oppositional Defiance Disorder
• Rett Syndrome
• Stuttering
• Tourette Syndrome, TS

There are several more but they are not as well known as the disabilities listed above.

I will go more in-depth on many of these disabilities and explain how you can help your child through homeschooling. However, I felt it was important to get this blog post out to you as soon as possible to tell you and reassure you that not only CAN you homeschool a child with disabilities, but it is probably the best thing you can do for your child. As a parent, you know your child best and what you need to adapt the curriculum so that your child can feel successful and not a failure.

Public Schools Not Always Beneficial for Students with Special Needs

I have heard many times that parents have chosen to homeschool one or two of their children and send a child with special needs to public school. The parents did this because the school system had convinced them it was what was best. In this case, the parents thought their child would receive better services and more than they could provide if he went to a public school. This has not always been beneficial to the student.

Results

The student ended up not making the progress he could have been making at home. He felt like a failure since he could not do what his peers were doing for his grade level. The parents’ intentions were good. They found out that the public schools were not meeting the child’s needs. His parents ended up pulling him out of the public school and decided to homeschool him just like the other children but adapt the curriculum. He started to thrive and even caught up to his grade level. This was something the public school had told the parents would not happen. Trust your instincts and do what is best for your child and your family. Finally, only make the choice when you have all the facts, and do not be afraid to change your mind when you do not think it is as beneficial as you had hoped.

Special Needs Homeschooling: Ways to Adapt to Help Student

There are some things you can do to help your student with special needs. Some of these tips will help with a variety of disorders. Some help the most for a specific disorder. Remember, always do what you feel is best for your child and family. These tips will not work with every child or every disorder.

Easy Adaptations for a Student with Special Needs

• Do fewer problems at a time (This is especially true for math): Sometimes only doing 6 problems is enough to see if the student understands the concept.
• Discuss questions orally instead of writing out the answers.
• When practicing spelling words, do them orally.
• Add in more games. As a result, children will learn and retain more information.
• Determine the child’s learning style and adapt the curriculum using that in mind.
• Have the child follow along to an audiobook with an e-book or physical book.
• Take frequent breaks.
• Set a timer and only work for 15-20 minutes at a time (adjust as needed).
• Demonstrate learning/ progress through the use of hands-on activities.

Other Blog Posts of Interest

These are some of my blog posts that are related to this topic. Read them and be on the lookout for my blog posts that will cover specific disabilities.

• Tips on How to Help Your Reluctant Reader
• Tips on How to Help Your Reluctant Writer
• Tips to Successfully Teach Your Child With Dyslexia to Read

Other Resources

• HSLDA: Homeschool Legal Defense Association has a special page on homeschooling a child with special needs. They can help you figure out how to navigate laws, etc.
• PACER: This site is not homeschool specific. PACER provides individual assistance, workshops, publications, and other resources to help families make decisions about education and other services for their child or young adult with disabilities.
• Understood.org: Resource to help parents understand common learning disabilities. Its mission is “To help those who learn and think differently discover their potential, take control, find community, and stay on positive paths along each stage of life’s journey.”
• Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities: It is a nonprofit organization created for parents of children with learning disabilities could encourage their kids to develop talents and use them to overcome their challenges. They work at helping parents become advocates for their children.
• Center for Parent Information and Resources: This site is a hub for each state’s parent centers, which provide training and assistance for parents of children with learning disabilities. The website can direct you to a local center, It provides general and nationwide resource information.

There are many more resources out there. Some are statewide and others are nationwide. Do not be afraid to reach out and ask for help. Learning about the disability and the challenges will help you to understand your child and be able to provide the best environment possible.