Homeschooling a Special Needs Child?

Updated on October 28, 2008
J.S. asks from Clayton, NC
8 answers

Has anyone ever home schooled their special needs child? We adopted our daughter at 18 months out of a pretty bad situation. She was functioning at about about a 10-12 month old, had rare exposure to walking (kept in a crib or a playpen).

Now, at 6, she just entered kindergarten. She's been in pre-school part time for several years just for the exposure to other children, playing, sitting in groups, etc. Now that she's in K, and I've been able to observe her, she gets a 'deer in the headlights' look a lot when the teacher is teaching. Even when it's one on one, she still gives blank stares, seems terrified, or something is just not clicking.

In talking with her neurologist recently, he said we will have her tested to see what other methods there may be to teacher her, as obviously something is not clicking. So, with that said, although I love our public school, I want to make sure she gets a fair deal.

Update: She has been in OT, PT, and speech pretty much since the day we brought her home. She has come a long way, however her neurologist and I agree that if she's not at least near target developmentally within the 1st 3 yrs of public school, then she will certainly start losing ground, and then self esteem issues come in, etc. thanks for all the responses so far!!!

So, has anyone had experience with homeschooling special needs. She is also adhd.

Thx.

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

Featured Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

T.K.

answers from Louisville on

I don't know about home schooling, but I wanted to let you know there's a few schools in Louisville that use different educational practices to help children that have learning delays (not necessarily disabilities). My son goes to the Summit Academy. He has a sensory processing disorder and would also get that "deer in the headlights" look. He hated school before he even got to kindergarten. Now, he looks forward to going, loves his teachers, and his friends. Summit only takes kids that have problems like ADD, SPD, central auditory processing disorder, etc. They don't take children with behavioral problems like aggression (i.e., they're not the Last resort school for parents with kids that you would send to military school). They adapt their teaching to the child's learning style. It's the first time I've sent my son to school without crying over it.

Anyway, just thought I would let you know this was out there. They offer scholarships too...

T.

1 mom found this helpful

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.S.

answers from Huntington on

i home schooled my son some and then later had the school send someone out to him. and he will be 21yrs the 29th of this month,he can read because he plays on the computer and he also plays x-box game cube and x-box360 games. oh he also plays his games on computer in four different languages.if you home school your child gets more one on one but the school system also offers homebound. if they have good teachers your child would benifit from this also.you can still get the therpies but they will come to you. thru the school.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

D.T.

answers from Greensboro on

The BEST thing you can do is homeschool her...our son also has developmental delays, TBI, ADHD,auditory processing issues, etc. due to being abused as an infant(he's adopted) He did ok in elementary school, but when I began to HS him in middle school , I found he had not learned what we thought he had. Now we are able to go at our own pace and make sure he understands before moving on. He has mad progress every year. There are all kinds of resources for homeschooling a child with SN. Go to any bookstore and go to the HS or SN section. Look up HS the SN child on the web and you will be surprised! If I can help in any way, email me @ ____@____.com't underestimate your ability to do this. I think you'll both be much happier! My son is 17 now...another option is to put her in a self-contained or resource classroom, but if she's in that "middle ground" that may hold her back too much. It's hard to watch your child struggle, believe me I know...

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.H.

answers from Nashville on

J.,
First I am sure that your daughter had brought many blessings into your family's life and will continue to do so. I have not home schooled; however, I have several friends that have done so very successfully. Her three children - one with dyslexia and one with ADHD all received scholarships to a private Christian school (one received $20,000 in scholarships). It is a great option for most children, but check into the homeschoolers association for TN. They can give you many resources and provide socialization activities, fieldtrips and even have specialist in various areas such as a parent that teaches alegebra, one that teaches the chemistry lab etc. Although your dtr is not ready for that just yet, it is a great way to get all the subjects covered. I know that I would struggle with some subjects. You may find that the best method to teaching her is an outside the box way.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.H.

answers from Clarksville on

Yes I have and I have noticed a big difference between the two ways. In public school she goes at everyone else's pace and usually doesnt learn much. In homeschool we went at her pace and learned so much. Plus we modified her work so that she could learn. The key is finding out which way is best for your child to learn.

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

A.M.

answers from Nashville on

I do homeschool but do not have a special needs child....I did look online and this is what I came up with:

www.geocities.com/Athens/8259/special.html

This link has many other links to support groups for homeschooling a special needs child. You may be able to find the information you are looking for here.
Good luck

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

K.L.

answers from Charlotte on

I take Kung Fu, at our school we offer a program for children that are special needs. I have seen firsthand what a remarkable difference this has made with our students. Our school does not charge a fee, when the children come in through an organization called S.A.C.K. the training is slightly modified. Our school also works with the Special Olympics. If there is any other questions that I might be able to help with please do not hesitate to contact me.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

W.M.

answers from Nashville on

In my son's school they have teachers that come in to the classroom with the special needs children. They sit by them and literally read the directions to them, walk them through the entire day. They go to lunch with them, etc They do not disrupt the rest of the class, the teacher just sits with them and helps. I would wonder if home schooling is what she needs, I know nothing about this area but I would assume that home schooling would just make the social aspect of "life" and being around other kids, listening and learninig, even harder. Home schooling is a great thing to do but I would think that your child may need to be around others to learn many other things rather than just the school work. I would just bring that up to her doctor and see what he/she thinks about the social aspect.

Good luck, bless you for adopting a special needs child. It takes someone pretty special to do that.

W.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches