Homeschooling  with Autism

Today, many parents have decided to take control of their child’s education.

Homeschooling is one of the fastest-growing educational options today as it offers the most flexible and personalized learning experience. While there are no official rules to start homeschooling, the information following are simple suggestions for you to consider. With homeschooling, you have the freedom to customize everything by avoiding things that don’t help and adding things that suit your specific needs. There isn’t one right or wrong way to begin homeschooling.  Homeschooling works when it’s done in the right way for your child. Parents who are considering starting homeschooling should consider both the potential benefits and the challenges of homeschooling and how it would impact their daily life for both their child and themselves. It is important to explore all of the options and make a plan.

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How Many Homeschoolers Are in Ontario?

 

It is difficult to get an exact number of homeschooled children, however, through a variety of different statistics and estimations, there are about 60,000 children homeschooled in Canada alone and over 3 million children around the world who are receiving their education with their teacher being their parent at home. Studies have also shown that children who are homeschooled get a far better education and learning experience than those who attend the standard school system.

 

The Cost Of Homeschooling

 

The Ontario Ministry of Education does not provide any funding to homeschooling families. Any materials or resources that you wish to purchase, you will have to pay for them yourself. The cost of homeschooling only has to be expensive if you choose it to be. You can use anything that you already have at home and your homeschooling costs can be tailored to fit your budget. Hiring experts (tutors/therapists) can be expensive. You can save money by searching for things online that help you customize and build your curriculum rather than buying an expensive pre-packaged one. You can also save money by sharing materials with other families. Books can be signed out from your local library and some ebooks are free which you can download directly online. 

If your child was in school and receiving special needs services, you might be told that these services will end, perhaps even in a way to persuade you not to homeschool. Currently, The Toronto District School Board does not provide a homeschooling program or supplies and materials to parents for homeschooling purposes, (including special needs services in some cases.) They are not obligated to provide services for children with disabilities where the parent has decided to homeschool. This is something that needs to be understood and accepted by homeschooling families. Sometimes in a certain case, your child still may be able to receive some special education services through your local school board, but this may be on a very limited basis. Parents who wish to have their homeschooled child with autism considered for special education services provided by the school board should write a letter to the director of special education in the local school district. This may or may not result in your child receiving any special education services. In different situations, some are successful in receiving such services and some are not. If that is the case, please don’t let that discourage you or be the only reason for you not to homeschool. I can guarantee that you can find better support for all of the services and therapies that you need for your child outside of the standard school system. Know that with homeschooling, there is always a way to get what you need in terms of education and learning!

Rich or poor, homeschooling families have all different kinds of annual household incomes. The decision to homeschool your child should be thought about thoroughly so you can plan according to your child’s special needs. You will need to look at all of your priorities and your obligations before starting. As a parent, you have to consider and factor in everything about YOUR life. Keep in mind that there is no right or wrong way about your decision to homeschool, it is all about what works best for your family and your situation, such as, if you have a spouse, other children, a job, housework, recreational activities and of course, personal time for yourself. While homeschooling a child with autism does offer many benefits, there might also be changes that a parent must consider.
 

In some cases, a parent might not be able to provide homeschooling instruction and be employed at the same time. If homeschooling for your situation would mean that you would have to quit your job, then it is important for you to first consider the impact of doing so and what that action would have and impact within your family situation. Many homeschooling single parents DO work full time from home through an employer and/or have their own home business.

 

For more information about the cost of homeschooling and a free Monthly Budget Printout, visit our other page here!

 

Support Systems and Resources

 

When you decide to homeschool, you must have as much access to support and resources as possible. You can select anything that you feel is appropriate to your child’s level of functioning, regardless of age or grade level. You can educate your child with autism whether you obtain an educator degree or not. It is always a good idea to be sure that any outside services of any kind you use are with someone who has experience working with autistic children.

Aside from traditional homeschooling, sometimes there are “co-operative home schools” which is when families come together to provide learning experiences for their children. This can be done in a variety of ways where a parent from one family can be the primary instructor or they can choose to share the teaching duties or in some cases, they also hire outside experts for assistance with teaching. Another popular option among homeschooling families is also virtual schools, also known as distance learning or online schools or e-schools. The advantages of virtual schooling include less instruction by the parents and a set curriculum, however, they can sometimes be expensive and the level of instruction might not be clear enough for your child with autism to understand due to it possibly being too fast-paced or offer little flexibility.

The amount of homeschooling families is increasing every day, but a lack of support can still be a struggle and a barrier for some families. Some parents may hear comments from extended family members or friends who believe that they are doing their child a disservice by having them homeschooled, but it is important to remember that it is not their child, it’s yours. Sometimes the culture of “homeschooling” was thought of as “old-fashioned” or “odd” or “different” and in some TV shows or movies, homeschooled characters are portrayed as “nerdy” or “awkward” individuals who do not fit in the traditional category as “normal” however, realistically, there are many individuals and whole communities who tend to be generally accepting about homeschooling. Don’t worry if someone comments negatively about your idea of homeschooling. You know what is best for your child and really, that is the only opinion that matters.  There also might be a lack of support within the community so it is always best to look up different resources and support that might become available to you.

 

Is this Ideal?

 

The fact of the matter is that homeschooling IS the ideal situation for many parents and it is becoming incredibly popular each day within the autism community for a variety of reasons. The most common reason why parents consider homeschooling is because they see that their child has failed to progress in their current school placement. This has caused many parents to become completely frustrated with the quality of their child’s education and lack of support or services they receive within the standard school system and they feel that they can offer and provide their child with much better services and options outside of the "normal" system when it comes to their education. School violence, crime, and bullying are also some reasons that parents wish to educate their children at home.

The idea of us being forced to wake up early in the morning regardless of how good or bad we slept, get dressed without having to rush around, cook and then eat something, head outside into sometimes horrible weather conditions, every single weekday, while carrying a knapsack with a pre-packaged lunch and supplies, dealing with traffic there and back - is extremely daunting and not how many people truly want to spend their time. In our household, this "ideal" situation isn’t always humanly possible and it sure isn't "ideal" for us.

Our homeschooling focus for a severely autistic student is not a concern about high-numbered test scores as in the standard school systems, but on the educational advantages and opportunities they can be given and experience so they can become an independent individual. You will be amazed and see truly effective and positive changes in your child’s life with learning that takes place while homeschooling.

Parents always want the best for their children and want to help their children succeed in learning. Sometimes parents when starting homeschooling are overwhelmed with the idea of having to try to educate them while at the same time dealing with their learning challenges. Once you begin and get used to the changes, most find that it is not as scary as they first thought it would have been. Homeschooling a child with autism can be challenging at some times, but many families have found homeschooling to be the most effective and appropriate way to educate their child as they have found it extremely rewarding and successful. Of course, every situation is different but this information is provided for you to make an informed decision about whether homeschooling might be the right choice for your child and your family.

Also, it is important to know that many children who have been homeschooled can attend college or university. If you believe that college or university might be in the future for your child, be sure to familiarize yourself with the specifics and ask about admission requirements when customizing your curriculum.

 

Testing

 

In terms of testing, autistic children have generally already have had a huge variety of testing done through the diagnosis process from doctors and therapy services. For a parent who is homeschooling their child with autism, their learning is directly observed and generally, under less stressful conditions which in turn could result in more accurate assumptions. The progress that your child is making can be accurately recorded in your records in terms of their education and behaviours. It is strongly recommended that you create and retain a permanent record for yourself of all progress, challenges, and activities that your child experiences while homeschooling.  

 

Benefits of Homeschooling

 

Please keep in mind that these are only some of these reasons are why the approach to homeschooling is extremely beneficial to a child with autism. There are many other additional reasons why homeschooling would be a fantastic solution for educating an autistic child.

There are many benefits to homeschooling a child with autism. Homeschooling makes it easier for your child to learn things.  Individualized instruction for a child with autism is far more effective than group instruction. You will have total and complete control over your child’s approach to learning and their curriculum which tailors to their unique needs, interests, and abilities. The curriculum can offer to nurture growth in areas that are challenging for them and offer enrichment in their areas of strength. Children with autism often have difficulties with academic development. It is complicated to address their difficulties in a large classroom setting. Homeschooling allows flexibility to match the unique learning style of the child. Many autistic students respond well to visual strategies and other multi-sensory learning techniques. Parents can introduce a wide variety of materials and can pace the instruction to their child’s needs including, but not limited to, accommodating a special diet and using special interests to motivate their child.

The direct instruction of your child homeschooling will be in the hands of someone that they know and trust, YOU! You will be able to customize your homeschooling within your family schedule. Your child’s daily schedule, educational routines, and curriculum can be customized to best suit their individual needs and interests that include life skills and academics while avoiding potential triggers. 

You will avoid situations and generalizations where your child will learn a specific concept that he or she can’t use or relate to in real life. You will be able to individualize each lesson and provide in-the-real-world methods that they will need to know and apply in their daily life. 

Homeschooling gives you the ability to have them avoid sensory triggers and negative social behaviours that could impede their ability to grow and learn, or could harm your child emotionally and physically. It removes and reduces unnecessary distractions, avoidable anxiety, stress, social pressure, bullying, struggles, and frustrations in your child’s life. It enables more family time and you can experience watching your child grow, learn, and succeed.  Your child will always be safe in your care and under your supervision. There are safety and bullying concerns for a child with autism in a public school. Concerns might include the child not being watched and the child running away.  If the child is nonverbal or is minimally verbal, the child is unable to tell the parent about incidents at school, or other issues regarding their safety on school grounds or the school bus. Bullying is a serious concern for students who have autism and is sometimes a primary reason that a family decides to homeschool.

Homeschooling will minimize sensory overload, triggers, frustrations, and overwhelming situations that your child would experience at any traditional school. You can manage behaviour issues by using functional tools and by providing positive support. People who have autism are very sensitive. The emotional health of the child and the family is a priority for homeschooling families. You can use a combination of behavioural tools that work for your child and customize them individually to what works best for them.

Providing instruction in the right environment for your child in a comfortable, natural setting makes it easier for them to see and understand how the concept, skill, or idea you are trying to teach them will work in the real world. Traditional homeschooling instruction for a child with autism is where a parent is the primary director of homeschool education and provides the instruction. Homeschooling can greatly reduce anxiety and improve the emotional health of the child because they are in a safe environment. Parents will also find that homeschooling reduces their stress levels over their child’s education and well-being. Many parents feel that their time would be better spent on educating their children than battling with their child’s school. Homeschooling removes the pressures of IEP meetings, appropriate placement, behaviour management, academic advocating, and other issues that come along that could be frustrating. Homeschooling allows the parent to concentrate on other important situations such as therapies or medical treatments.  

With homeschooling, you will never miss a learning moment! There is no such thing as missing out on observing an amazing milestone, or not being able to witness a fantastic goal that has been achieved!

 

Challenges to Consider

 

You will need to keep the important components of your child’s education in mind when creating your educational approach and in your daily schedule each day. Deciding to educate your child at home requires a significant time commitment and investment, even if you decide to use outside additional sources (i.e. therapist, tutor, etc.) It takes time to plan lessons, prepare materials, and work with your child daily. Sometimes parents feel like they never get a break to have any time to themselves. Burnout is sometimes a serious challenge that many families experience who homeschool their children with autism. With the options of field trips, hiring additional experts, or other enrichment activities to change things up once in a while and offer some downtime, you might be able to balance your time spent providing direct instruction to your child while still being directly involved. Since homeschooling mainly requires working directly with your child daily, sometimes this can be frustrating if you and your child don’t work well together. You might have objections from your child directly in regards to homeschooling. If they are consistently uninterested in learning the material that is presented to them, it may bring up conflicts if the child is unwilling to accept your role as a “teacher”.

A parent’s abilities are also important factors in regards to homeschooling. Your health, creativity, patience, time, and organizational skills should also be considered before deciding to homeschool. A parent needs to be honest when it comes to assessing their interest in becoming their child’s primary educator. Many parents do genuinely enjoy teaching their child with autism but some find homeschooling more of a chore than enjoyable. A good way to try homeschooling out is to do a trial run over the summer to see how well it goes for your situation before committing homeschool full time.

 

What if it doesn't work for us?

 

Deciding to educate your child at home requires a significant time commitment and investment, even if you decide to use outside additional sources (i.e. therapist, tutor, etc.) It takes time to plan lessons, prepare materials, and work with your child daily. Sometimes parents feel like they never get a break to have any time to themselves. Burnout is sometimes a serious challenge that many families experience who homeschool their children with autism. With the many options of field trips, hiring additional experts, or other enrichment activities to change things up once in a while and offer some downtime, you might be able to balance your time spent providing direct instruction to your child while still being directly involved. Since homeschooling mainly requires working directly with your child daily, sometimes this can be frustrating if you and your child don’t work well together. You might have objections from your child directly in regards to homeschooling. If they are consistently uninterested in learning the material that is presented to them, it may bring up conflicts if your child is unwilling to accept your role as a “teacher”.

A parent’s abilities are also important factors in regards to homeschooling. Your health, creativity, patience, time, and organizational skills should also be considered before deciding to homeschool. A parent needs to be honest when it comes to assessing their interest in becoming their child’s primary educator. Many parents do genuinely enjoy teaching their child with autism but some parents find homeschooling more of a chore than an enjoyable fit. A good way to try homeschooling out is to do a trial of a homeschooling routine within your family and see how well it goes for your situation before making the change and commitment to homeschool full time.

In some situations, families try homeschooling for a while and eventually decide that it is not the right fit for them to continue or they may feel that their child is now at a stage where they are ready to enter a public school. Whatever your reasons are, you always have the option to re-enroll your child back into your local public school by making an appointment with the principal of your local school. They will schedule an IEP meeting to determine the appropriate placement for your child. Remember that as the parent of your child, you should be considered an equal partner of the IEP team and be able to have the opportunity to advocate for your child’s special needs.

If you find that it does work for you and your family situation, you will see that all of your work and effort will benefit you and your child in so many ways and your homeschooling will be worth every second of it! This whole process of embracing our homeschooling lifestyle to the fullest has been the most positive and rewarding outcome for our family and we wish to encourage others to experience it and do the same!

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The decision to homeschool is a very personal choice.  Each situation is different so you will want to look at all aspects of your life carefully before making the decision to begin.   If you are not sure if homeschooling is right for you, to give you a better idea, download, print out and take our test to find out and determine whether or not the decision to homeschool would be the right choice for you.

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