Homeschooling is an option for parents of kids with special needs to consider. The decision is personal and depends upon factors specific to each family’s circumstances. Veteran homeschooling mom of kids with special needs, Sylvia Phillips, is here with 4 tips on how to get started if you choose the homeschooling option.

Thinking About Homeschooling Your Child with Special Needs?

The new school year is right around the corner. As much as I love summer and hate for it to end, I still get excited about and enjoy planning new educational activities, experiences, and learning opportunities, even after 29 years of homeschooling. This year I have only two school-aged children to plan for, though at one time I was homeschooling six children.

1. Check out the Homeschool Legal Defense Association: Whether you’re  contemplating homeschooling one child or nine, the first thing that I always recommend new families who are thinking about homeschooling to do is to check out Homeschool Legal Defense Association. Joining HSLDA will guarantee that you have legal representation if you should happen to have any negative  issues with your school district concerning your right to home educate your children. Also check for your state’s homeschooling laws on HSLDA’s My State page.
2. Inform Your School District: The next step would be to inform your school district of your intention to homeschool your child for the next school year. Do not ask permission. Simply let them know that your children will not be attending school in the fall. If your child has any special needs it is your choice if you want to mention it to them or not. If my child with special needs performed at grade level and had no problem proving that on tests, I personally wouldn’t divulge that she had any special needs at all. However, if your child will need special accommodations, does not perform at grade level, or does not perform well on tests then I strongly advise you to inform the school district of your child’s special needs. In most states schools are required to offer your special needs child educational and psychological evaluations,  and any special services your child might need such as speech therapy, physical therapy, or occupational therapy. You will not be required to accept such services even if they are recommended. However, you may be required to prove how you will be providing your child with equivalent services.
3. Complete the Necessary Forms: Upon receiving your letter of intent, the school official in charge of homeschooling should send you all the necessary information you’ll need and any forms you may be required to fill out. In New York we are required to send in a description of our courses of study, also known as the  Individualized Home Instruction Plan (IHIP), attendance records, and quarterly report cards. We are also required to give our children standardized tests every other year beginning in fourth grade and every year beginning in ninth grade.
4. Choose Your Homeschooling Materials: Now comes the fun part:  deciding on your homeschooling method,  searching for curriculum ideas, and planning exciting learning experiences for your family! A great place to start researching homeschooling styles and planning curriculum is the Christian Book Distributors’ Homeschooling Catalog. Here you will find an abundance of the information you’ll need to get started on your exciting brand new homeschooling adventure!

For a brief description of several homeschooling options you might want to stop by Homeschooling Methods Explained. I hope your child has a great school year wherever you decide to educate this fall!

Your Homeschooling Starter Tips?

Are you homeschooling your child with special needs? What tips can you add to Sylvia’s list? Your advice could help another family have a successful homeschooling year, so leave a comment in the box below.

Do you like what you see at DifferentDream.com? You can receive more great content by subscribing to the quarterly Different Dream newsletter and signing up for the daily RSS feed delivered to your email inbox. You can sign up for the first in the pop up box and the second at the bottom of this page.

Photo Credit: www.freedigitalphotos.net