FAQs Homeschooling Children with Down Syndrome and Other Special Needs

Over the years, I've been asked many questions about homeschooling children with special needs. I thought I would post the most frequently asked questions just in case you needed to know!

Is it legal to homeschool children with Down syndrome and other special needs?

Homeschooling is legal across the U.S. – even for children with special needs. The level of accountability varies state to state so it is good to know the law and level of accountability of the state in which you live.

Why do parents decide to homeschool their child with special needs?

Many families I know are already firmly ensconced in the homeschooling lifestyle when their child with special needs is born. Some are medically fragile. Others research homeschooling knowing their child will face obstacles to learning that may be better targeted at home. Some come to homeschooling because of difficulties they have experienced in the public school system

Don’t you need special training to educate a child with special needs?

Many parents I know that have turned to homeschooling with a degree in special education say that their degree is often a hindrance! In getting their degree, they are often given the big picture but it doesn’t help them homeschool their child with special needs.

Is there a special curriculum for homeschooling children with special needs?

The short answer is - not really. Curriculum choices should be based on the unique needs of each child. I would encourage you to look outside the homeschooling world for those children with significant special needs. There is a great deal out there to choose from.

The longer answer: Many known syndromes and disorders are associated with known behavioral traits. These traits give us a profile of strengths and weaknesses that we can target to create better learning environments. For example, children with autism are known to have communication and social deficits – part of their phenotype. Therefore, they need specific teaching in social skills presented primarily visually to impact learning.

Homeschooling children with special needs takes creativity in adapting what is available to the child's strengths and weaknesses.

How about special curricula for children with Down syndrome?

Down syndrome is the most researched of all causes of intellectual disability. Much is known about the strengths and weaknesses of children with Ds. Therefore, there are targeted interventions known to help them learn. Researchers are working to provide tools and curriculum to aid learning – much of it targeting early learners.

See:
Bob Jones University Press Adapted Curriculum (send me an e-mail for more information)
See and Learn
Numicon
Down Syndrome Foundation of Orange County Learning Program

Where do I go for information and support?

I would suggest you seek out others homeschooling children with the same diagnosis as your child. It is great to have face to face support so check out your local homeschooling association. The internet is also a great place to find others for support. Yahoo Groups has a support for almost anything you can think of! Just type homeschooling and ____ (fill in the blank with your child’s diagnosis) into the search engine and you will most like find a group to provide information and support.

How do I know if my child is learning?

You know your child best and you will become very familiar with what they know and what they are learning as you see them implement the knowledge they have learned. Many families use a developmental and/or academic skills inventory to help them set goals and display learning progress.

See:
VORT (my favorite)
The Brigance

Where do I start?

Right where you child is functioning – then build up the skills he/she has. Many families use one of the above developmental skills inventories to gauge where their child is functioning and choose curriculum that fits their learning style. Learning styles are important in children with special needs in targeting their individual learning needs.

What about professionals?

I believe professionals can be an invaluable resource in supporting homeschooling families – if they are well educated in the child’s diagnosis, targeted interventions….and have the child’s best interests at heart. We have found it most beneficial to search the private sector for professional help. Those within the system tend to be bogged down by the system and not as interested in the individual with special needs and their family.

Have you heard of the neurodevelopmental approach?

Many homeschoolers use neurodevelopmental consultants to develop very specific home programs for their children. Neurodevelopmentalists design a program to build on the neurological framework to support skill development. This in contrast to mainstream approaches which are skills based.

See:
NACD: National Association for Child Development
Hope and a Future Linda Kane
ICAN: International Christian Association of Neurodevelopmentalists

Note: I am not necessarily recommending the neurdevelopmental approach (lack of peer-reviewed research) but many parents of children with Down syndrome and other special needs find their services beneficial - especially in the areas of reading and memory. Having not used this approach, I really have no opinion - just awareness of the support families get using their services.

Do I need legal protection?

Legal protection is a sensitive and somewhat controversial subject. Homeschoolers can become a target of well-meaning public school authorities and social workers. Homeschoolers with children with special needs can be particularly vulnerable. In my opinion the persecution of homeschoolers is pretty rare. Research the need carefully - no one wants to be caught unaware.

Home School Legal Defense Association
Pacific Justice Institute
National Home Education Legal Defense
The Rutherford Institute

What about socialization?

I think what most concerns most people considering homeschooling their child with special needs is not socialization (the process by which the norms and standards of our society are passed from one generation to another) but socializing – the gathering for communal activities where friendships are formed. I have found the homeschooling community THE most inclusive of communities and the opportunities for socializing are endless and not a problem.

Any other questions?