Many parents whose children have special needs consider home schooling. There are many advantages, but making this choice requires consideration of many factors. This checklist provides a starting point from which you can evaluate whether home schooling is right for you. If you can answer yes to each one, a home schooling education is likely a viable option for you and your special needs child.
• Do you have the time and patience to devote your energies full-time to your child, with few breaks?
• Have you investigated your state’s regulations regarding home schooling programs, and can you meet all applicable requirements? Every state has different regulations. Some states have no requirements at all, while others require extensive record-keeping and regular evaluation.
• Can your household function without the income of the adult who will be the primary educator? Home schooling education is a full-time job and more.
• Have you reached out to the resources and support groups available to home schooling parents and parents home schooling special needs children? First-hand advice is an invaluable tool for making this choice.
• Are you able to provide opportunities for your child to socialize and make friends while learning at home?
• Are you physically capable of meeting the needs of a growing child with special needs full time, with or without reasonable assistance from other family members or professionals hired to assist in the home?
• Have you discussed the home school education choice with a respected professional familiar with the needs of your child and family, such as a pediatrician or child psychologist?
• Have you put in writing the reasons you would like to undertake a home schooling education for your child, along with a list of pros and cons for each educational option available to your family?
• Are you prepared to take on the responsibility not only of teaching and parenting, but of researching and obtaining educational materials and continually renewing and expanding your own knowledge base as your child learns?
Home Schooling? Think Stamina, Patience, Curiosity, and Enthusiasm
Bottom line: Choosing to home school special needs children can be a great choice for parents of kids with disabilities, but it’s not for the faint-hearted. It takes a tremendous amount of commitment and patience, not to mention time and energy.
But, for parents of children with disabilities able to manage the challenges of home schooling, it can also provide the best learning environment for their special-needs children.
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