Home School And Special NeedsBy Marcie Ciampi 2009 My son has special needs and we home school. (Asperger's Syndrome) 
There are many families with children with special conditions and/or learning disabilities who home school with success. Although, I do not know you personally, if you have found this website and are researching to help yourself learn more about schooling your child, then I know you have a compassion for helping your son or daughter. I assure you, with the proper support, information, dedication, and loving heart you can succeed in teaching your child at home. Homeschooling has many advantages for a child with special needs. Much time can be spent on areas of interest, developing particular skills, and focusing on strengths. There is flexibility in scheduling that allows time for specific diets, supplements, doctors, and appointments to occupational therapy and speech. You can implement a program that best meets your child's social, educational, and health needs. You can personally watch your child progress and obtain goals. Your child can set an individual career goal and make a study plan to reach his or her goal. Often times, a child with special needs, particularly children who are self-conscious, bashful, or have difficulty in social situations, experience less anxiety and fear, and are able to more aptly concentrate on their learning. If you are considering teaching a child with special needs, you will want to follow the same steps as most parents; you can find a tutorial at
Route 66.
But before you follow the tutorial, I suggest the following steps: In certain situations (behavioral and anxiety issues) you may want to observe your child once he or she is outside the public academic environment and see if some of his or her behaviors have diminished. Sometimes a child's learning difficulties can be significantly reduced by a change of environment alone. In other cases, it is vital to have your child evaluated by a professional. Especially if there are health and physical conditions, or your child is endangering himself/herself or others. There are several benefits to a formal evaluation, sometimes including but not limited to: receiving free and reduced educational and medical services from your state; qualifying for respite care; identifying the cause of your child's disability; knowing what aid and resources to utilize to assist your child; preparing for the child's future (estate planning) and finding other parents with common challenges. Evaluation procedures vary from state-to-state. There are a number of different assessment tests, including tests that test for processing deficits. In California, for a school psychologist or other professional in the private sector to classify a child as having a learning disability, evaluations and achievement tests must show the child (1) has at least an average intelligence and (2) has a significant/serious discrepancy between his/her intellectual ability and his/her academic achievement. If your child is currently enrolled in a school district, you have a right to request a team meeting with the school psychologist, teachers, and principal discussing concerns about your child. If you choose to do so, make your request in writing and ask for one-on-one achievement tests. In certain cases, depending on the state you live in and your home school situation (e.g. charter, private tutor, etc.), you can make a request for evaluation tests, even if you are homeschooling. This is an option for some families who otherwise would not be able to afford an evaluation outside of the school district. If your child has already been tested, before you exit the school district, consider retesting for the most up-to-date evaluations. If your child has an I.E.P. (Individual Education Plan) or similar education plan, in the U.S.A., you still have a legal right to home school your child. If you do not have a positive relationship with the school personnel or your child is experiencing extreme school anxiety, and you can financially afford the expense, go outside of the school district for testing. If you have had your child evaluated by school personnel, I still recommend you seek a professional opinion outside of the school district. This can be done in a variety of ways. A family physician is sometimes a good start, depending on your relationship with the physician and his or her medical experience; he or she can refer you to a specialist, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, physical therapist, or neurologist. For health and learning disabilities you may want to consider your child's eyesight, diet, allergies, and other conditions. Some families may want to consider an acupuncturist, herbalist, psychology, and an evaluation of the toxins in your home environment.
Consider searching in local support group sites and online sites for recommendations about specialists. (In Northern California I recommend the U.C. Davis Mind Institute for conditions on the autistic spectrum. You will most likely be placed on a waiting list. Keep calling. Be persistent.) Ask your family, friends, church members and neighbors about specialists they would recommend. Finding a specialist you trust and respect is important. Follow your gut. If you are uncomfortable with a professional, go somewhere else. You do not need the added stress of having to prove your case or defend yourself to a doctor. Know that you may have to go to several professionals before you find the right fit for you and your child. Recognize the initial diagnosis may take months. Keep in mind, many children on the autistic spectrum are initially diagnosed with other conditions, like ADHD or Oppositional Defiance Disorder; don't stop with a diagnosis you don't think is correct. Continue to seek out help. For parents that are uncomfortable with labeling your child, have a discussion and list on paper the pros and cons of obtaining a formal diagnosis. Read books related to your child's suspected condition. Pray and/or reflect and ask other parents of children with special needs for guidance. In some cases, a child can have academic success without any diagnosis. The goal is not to label your child but to assist your child and your family with available support and resources. Contact someone at
NATHAN
an online organization dedicated to helping children with special needs that our homeschooled. 2. Step two involves knowing the laws of your state and the laws regarding your child's disability rights. Here is an example to look at of the I.E.P. requirements in the state of Oregon.
Oregon IEP Laws The following is an advocacy group of attorneys and parents that can also help with legality issues. "Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc. (COPAA) is an independent, nonprofit, §501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization of attorneys, advocates and parents. Our primary mission is to secure high quality educational services for children with disabilities." -- quote from website. 3. Step three is to familiarize yourself with special needs' resources. Become an expert in your son's or daughter's special need, disability, or challenges. Learn techniques that will best help your child. Read books. Attend seminars. Join support groups. Find the help you need. Here is a good place to start learning about disabilities:
National Center for Learning Disabilities (1) Woodcock-Johnson PsychoEducational Battery-Revised Tests of Achievement. This test is useful for children who may not test well in a group setting. (2) Brigance Diagnostic Inventories. These are tests that parents or professionals may administer to determine what skills a child has or has not mastered. These tests routinely used in public and private schools. You can purchase this test at:
Curriculum Associates. You may decide to develop an evaluation plan on your own by using resources such as: One benefit to a charter school for parents with children with special needs, is often, fees for services like occupational therapy and speech are covered by the school district. If a family needs these services for their child and cannot afford to pay out of pocket, than a charter school might be a viable option. In some cases, even if you are not under a charter school, services may be provided by an outside source, such as a regional center or state facility. A family needs to evaluate the cost and availability of necessary services before making any homeschooling decisions. Also, check in with your health insurance provider for deductibles and coverage policies before making any service decisions. 5. The final step in homeschooling a child with special needs is to consider helping others in their home school journey. Become a mentor. Write your own website. Share your journey. Help others know homeschooling a child with special needs is not only possible, but rewarding and positive. This may seem like an impossibility at the moment, but in time you to will have an important story to share. And your journey can assist others. Along your way, you can help by contacting Spectrum Homeschool and sharing your experience or helpful resources. During your path of discovery, know there are many other people just like you homeschooling a child with special needs. You are never alone. And although, this may seem like a lot to comprehend at one time, these steps can be taken care of in a short amount of time, and out of the way, so you can start enjoying the other aspects of homeschooling. Trust in yourself, pray, seek guidance and comfort, and know you are on the right track.
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