Need a Group

If you live in Harford, Cecil, or Kent County you can join a FREE forum for mom's called www.chesapeakemommies.com
There is a group who homeschools on there. We have a lot of playdates, and fun mommy activities. I am Alynchpyon on there if you want to say hello. Good luck.

I'm a stay-at-home mom of two with another on the way. I'm an Army wife, so my husband is gone more than he's home, and we tend to move at least every 2 years. I homeschool my 7 and 8 year old boys, and my 8 year old happens to be autistic. Like you, I did not like when he was in a public school. It seemed as if I spent just as much time as he did at the school. When I decided to homeschool, it was the best thing I could have done for him, and my sanity :~) I have found over the years that once you find a pattern of learning that is good with that child, work with it rather than against it. We talk and laugh while he's learning, so it keeps his interest. We have made sure to join the local zoos and museums everywhere we move, we go to parks a lot, we do a lot of art activities (he can now make a card for everyone and everything), play board games at least twice a week, and I got him a small pet (a guinea pig). You can get her involved in the things you like to do as well. All of this helps in teaching patience, for the both of you, it helps burn off extra energy, and I have noticed a significant growth in his attention span and desire to learn. I wish you the best of luck with your daughter, and I hope that you find as much joy as I have with homeschooling an autistic child, and don't ever let anyone discourage you from doing what you feel is best for the two of you.

I don't know of any groups, but www.timberdoodle.com has an Autism Center with homeschooling materials, so they might also have means to finding a group. Also, you might be able to check with MACHE (Homeschool Association in Maryland - www.machemd.org); contact them to ask if there are any groups that would specifically relate to you. I hope you find some good support - God bless you!

K. J

Dear E., You may want to check out www.autismkey.com. Good luck!
N. B.

Social stories,picture schedules and even video taping the child going through a routine helped my son so much when he was 4 yrs old. Make everything as visual as you can. In my case my son learned so much more when he didn't know he was learning. Also use what ever your child is really interested in (obsessed with)
to teach skills. Use a favorite character to get your point across. And as much as possible take them out in public for short periods of time to learn how to do all the things we don't even think about. Such as personal space, saying excuse me, ordering food, everyday things. I took my son to the grocery store and took pictures of him doing things the right way and we turned it into a story book. If you would like to talk more send me a message so I can share my email with you.

Best of luck to you. I think what you decided to do for you child is wonderful. Eliminate the negative. I am now homeschooling my son and I am a great supporter of it. My kids are 9, 10 and 13. All three have disabilities so I have been there and back again. LOL B.

Dear E.
I am an occupational therapist with 30 years of experience working with children in the ADD - autism spectrum and doing parent coaching in conjunction with this work. I recommend that you do a thing called "Floor Time" developed by Dr. Stanley Greenspan. If you google it, you will find some good resources for it. I also recommend that you find a person in your area who can help coach you in "Floor Time". If you cannot find a local person to coach you in your home, I can do the coaching long distance. My second recommendation is that you begin a course of treatment of listening at home to electronically altered music designed to promote language, attention, and social development. I can provide this treatment long distance by prescribing the appropriate CD's and instruction through e-mails, phone, and videotapes. The results we get with this sound therapy are phenomenal. For further information on the sound therapy please see my web site at www.insynctherapy.org. This is a challenging journey that you are on. Best of luck to you.

I LOVE my Phil and Ted's stroller. It is perfect for walking around AND in stores. It is VERY easy to maneuver. I'm not sure how it would fit in your car but you could always find a store that carries it and ask if you can see how it would fit. The price isn't exactly in that range. A bit above, but I think it is worth every penny. The extra seat comes off so if you ever want to use it for just one child you won't look like a goof running around with a double stroller for one one kid.

first do a search of homeschool associations in your area, you are going to need support. :) Second, find out what the rules and regs are for your area as far as homeschooling, you may still be able to recieve OT, PT services for her. Then pick a curriculum, there are loads out there, if you are looking for a christian based i recommend going to Cathy Duffy Homeschool Review website. http://cathyduffyreviews.com/ i don't know how high functioning your child is, but you may be able to modify a curriculum for her, or may be able to find an appropriate one.Be flexible with her, she may need a few extra recess breaks where the 2 of you play together. incorporate a lesson in play, like play dolls and mirror good social skills, or do an ABC puzzle. God bless and good luck. Jenn

Have you checked with some local places like Kennedy Krieger? They should be able to help you find some good local resources and certainly have a wealth of experience in that area. Good luck!

Hi E.,
I saw that you live in Newport News, VA so I am not sure if this will be applicable to you. There is a great home educators resource website at http://www.homeeddirectory.com/. They also have a newsletter that you can subscribe to in which people list their support groups and other home education resources.
Thanks!
A. Dolin, M.Ed.
www.anndolin.com
www.ectutoring.com

I don't have a group but I do know a woman who lives in the churchland section of Portsmouth. Her name is Karen and she has a teenage autistic son, whom she homeschooled from the beginning. I don't know her group. But! I do know a terrific website that may give you some answers. It's www.heav.org Home educators association of Virginia. Good luck and I will be praying for your family!

E., I am not sure where you live in Maryland, but I am a Family Navigator with the Maryland Coalition of Families for Children's Mental Health. With that, we have Advocates and Navigators throughout Maryland that may be able to assist you with locating some homeschooling moms in your area; especially as they relate to you child with Autism. Please feel free to let me know where you live in the state and your email address so that I can pass your information on. Maybe they can help.

Try retrieving information from NATTHAN. They are a homeschooling resource for special needs children.

Hi E... have you heard of ABA or applied behavioral analysis? I did it with my almost three year old (5 years ago) and it worked like you wouldn't believe.. If you get a book called LET ME HEAR YOUR VOICE...by Catherine somebody, in the back of the book it tells the whole program. Its very simple.. Can your child say any words? mine said none.. but I swear by the end of the first week he was talking! it was amazing!! he did sound a bit robotic at first but that left fairly quickly, Let me know if you need more info. The power is in your hands :) don't get discouraged. oh and now my son is 8 and wont stop talking- he is in normal classes and in the right grade... having some attention problems but gets many As on his classwork. If you are near me, hampton, VA.. maybe you could come over and i'll show you but by now surely you can order it on dvd.. there is also a website.. reachingpotentials.com I believe... GREAT GREAT Lady!! she lives an hour and a half from me and we've gone a few times.. Fighting autism is her life... she holds certification classes (which I eventually attended).. I'll check the website and send you another note if thats not it.. You can do it!!! Go mommy!!

Hi E.

I have a nephew who is about to turn 7 and was diagnosed around 18 months old with autism. My sister lives in Chicago.
Logan has been in public school and has been fortunate to have a lot of early intervention therapy. However my sister and brother in law are now considering home schooling. Logan is the oldest of 4. This fall I flew out to babysit while my sister and her husband went to a week long conference in Texas on RDI relationship development interaction.
My sister is convinced that this type of learning and interaction is essential for Logans continued growth verses stagnation and regression.
I don't know much about the program I could e-mail my sister and get more info if you are interested and maybe you could talk to her directly. I'll ask her. She has not started the home schooling yet but they are planning to move back to MD this summer and I know she is eager to get Logan on the RDI
plan of learning. Try to see what comes up on the internet about it. maybe you already know about it. M.