Here we offer advice from parents who have found their own solutions to special education challenges. You will also find information about the legal aspects of homeschooling children with special needs as well as listings of helpful books, periodicals, and other resources.
Homeschooling a child with disabilities, special circumstances, unique characteristics, different learning styles, or whatever one wishes to call an unusual challenge, can be done. Many families find that no one 'recipe' stays successful, and that midcourse corrections are the order of the day. Finding resources can be exciting, yet frustrating, because what is true today may NOT be true tomorrow, or in a different part of the state!
The situation regarding special education in California is in a constant state of change. Most districts are interpreting the law to mean that if the local school district is offering an 'appropriate special education program' for your child in the public school, but you choose to send your child to a private school or to homeschool outside the public system, the district is relieved of any further responsibility to serve the child's special education needs. This could mean some families might wish to continue in an established relationship with a district speech therapist, for example, but be denied that service. However, in some cases personal appeals to the district for an exception have been successful. Establishing a cordial relationship with a Special Ed representative as early as possible may facilitate future goals. Keeping a record of all contacts will be very important. It is as yet unclear how homeschoolers will be impacted, if at all, by changes in Special Ed policies, but some districts seem more amenable to performing special ed services on what they call a 'consulting basis' for homeschooling families.
The Internet provides many chances to compare notes, find families with similar problems, and generally get support outside the school district. Wellness sites like Healthcentral.com have pages with basic information on many conditions, and ideas for further research. A fine magazine is Exceptional Parent, which addresses many rare conditions and has discussed homeschooling as one of the answers for many families.
If a child is permanently blind, one can make plans based on that. But when a child's situation never stays the same for any period of time, planning becomes more complex. Along with that comes the evolution inherent in different developmental stages. Adjusting to the constant change can be exhausting.
I began this homeschooling journey searching for the book that would tell me exactly what to do. I searched the web and reviewed materials, and read many books, only to discover there is no one particular book with all the best answers. Since each child has individual strengths and weaknesses, talents and interests, what seems to work best is a "cut and paste" approach. This involves sifting through materials and resources to find what you feel will work best for you and your child. In spite of changes to the law, you might still be able to receive services such as Speech and Occupational Therapy. Feel confident when you attend your IEP (Individualized Educational Plan) meeting, knowing that you are providing a superior education for your child. Remember: you are the person who knows your child best. Follow your intuition, knowing that if something doesn't feel right to you, it probably isn't right. There is support out there as more families choose to homeschool their children with special needs. At times it may seem like it's one step forward and two steps back, but try to be patient with the process and trust yourself along the way.
I began this homeschooling journey searching for the book that would tell me exactly what to do. I searched the web and reviewed materials, and read many books, only to discover there is no one particular book with all the best answers. Since each child has individual strengths and weaknesses, talents and interests, what seems to work best is a "cut and paste" approach. This involves sifting through materials and resources to find what you feel will work best for you and your child. In spite of changes to the law, you might still be able to receive services such as Speech and Occupational Therapy. Feel confident when you attend your IEP (Individualized Educational Plan) meeting, knowing that you are providing a superior education for your child. Remember: you are the person who knows your child best. Follow your intuition, knowing that if something doesn't feel right to you, it probably isn't right. There is support out there as more families choose to homeschool their children with special needs. At times it may seem like it's one step forward and two steps back, but try to be patient with the process and trust yourself along the way.
Many homeschoolers are reluctantly drawn to homeschooling because the schools failed their children. This trend is expanding to include children in special needs programs, resulting in an increasing number of questions from parents choosing to homeschool their children who are interested in continuing or obtaining special needs help from the schools.
Children with special needs often receive services from the public schools they attend because of a law saying that schools must provide a "free and appropriate education" to children; if special services are required to make the education appropriate for that child, then the public schools must provide them at no cost. When public schools identify children who they think need services, they prepare (with the participation of the family) an Individualized Education Program, or "IEP", which is a contract that requires, on the one hand, that the school take certain actions, such as providing specified services at specified times, and, on the other hand, that the family cooperate with this program. People often ask if special needs children who have received services under an IEP are required to attend or continue attending public school. The answer is no.
Parents Active for Vision EducationAn information resource by parents and teachers of children who had once suffered the effects of undiagnosed vision problems.
Lindamood-Bell's Auditory DiscriminationIn-depth program (and other programs) on CD-ROM and in workshops.
Recorded BooksThousands of unabridged titles by favorite authors, narrated by critically acclaimed actors.
Recording for the Blind & DyslexicNon-profit, for those with documented visual impairment, learning disability or other physical disability which makes reading standard print difficult or impossible.
