The Homeschool Resource

• Many adjustments need to be made to the traditional homeschooling methods when working with a child with special needs. These may include flexibility in schedule, alternative teaching styles, and outside support systems.

• Some steps to take to ensure that your child is successful include knowing what support services your child is eligible for, looking for support groups, setting up an IEP/PDP or equivalent, learning some special education vernacular, and having access to multiple types of resources.

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Homeschooling Children with Special Needs

Many parents of special needs children make the decision to homeschool. No matter the circumstances the decision can feel overwhelming at best. Here are some tips to help you on your journey.

• Know Your Rights – Get legal advice and/or reach out to your local school district as your child may be eligible for support services through the school district.

• Join a Support Group – Support groups can provide valuable information and helpful guidance. Look into support groups for your child’s specific medical diagnosis, general families of special needs children groups, and local homeschooling groups. All of these types of groups can provide both generalized and specific information to help you on your journey.

• Decide on How You Want to Homeschool – There are several options when talking about homeschooling. One option that is available is online schools and classes that are specifically designed for special needs students. Bought curriculum content as well as creating a DIY curriculum are also options. Some homeschooling families do a combination of curriculums, mixing online classes with DIY or bought curriculum sets. Look into each option and decide on what you think would work best for your family.

• Tailor the Curriculum – No matter which approach you take with curriculums, make sure that you tailor the lessons to meet your child’s needs and abilities. One way to do this is to let your child decide the pace of learning. Student-led pace lets your child learn each subject at their own speed and develop confidence along the way. IEP’s and the equivalents are also helpful in creating a realistic approach when it comes to what should be taught and on what timeline.

• Try Different Teaching Methods – There are many ways to teach any given lesson. If you see that your child is struggling to focus while completing worksheets or reading activities, try a more hands on approach. Incorporate online activities, games, and hands-on learning activities. Using a multimedia teaching approach may help your child retain information better as well as have fun while learning.

• Slowly Introduce New Activities – Many special needs children are not fond of changes and function better when in a structured routine. When introducing new programs, classes, tutors, or school in general, taking things slow is key. Try starting with just one class and building from there. When changing curriculum types or adding in additional activities, let your child lead the way in how quickly that you make those changes.

• Have a Flexible Schedule – While some homeschooling families run on a similar schedule to brick-and-mortar schools where they start schooling every morning at the same time and finish around the same time every day, this will not be suitable for everyone. Teaching a special needs student takes more flexibility, more breaks, and the ability to go-with-the-flow. Make a realistic schedule, including time for breaks, appointments, and play. Keep in mind that the schedule that you initially make may need to be modified. And most importantly, don’t stress when the schedule goes completely down the toilet, tomorrow is a new day.

• Learn the Vernacular – IEP, PDP, IFSP, OT, and PT are just a few of the acronyms that you will inevitably come across on your educational journey. Individualized Educational Program, Privately Developed Plan, Individualized Family Service Plan, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy, respectively, are all part of the special education lingo library. It is always a good idea to familiarize yourself with the vernacular used and ask questions about anything that you are not familiar with.

• Individualized Learning Plans – Most students that fall under the special education umbrella need an individualized learning plan. There are several versions, usually determined and written by a combination of specialists and the parents. These include IEPs, which are developed by a combination of the school district’s special education personnel, the student, and the parents; PDPs which are created by a homeschooling student’s parents and the child’s specialists; and the Individualized Family Service Plan which is for children 3 and under. If you are homeschooling or plan to start homeschooling but prefer to have an IEP instead of a PDP you can contact your local school district to find out how to get the process started.

• Have a Library of Resources – This one I cannot stress enough. Having reliable resources including social groups, online resources, and specialists that are willing to answer questions are invaluable. Especially when it comes to navigating your homeschooling journey. A great online resource that offers not only information but legal advice and a ton of resources is the Birth Injury Justice Center. They also have links to support groups and they offer information about financial support options. Another great resource is the Cerebral Palsy Guidance website. They offer information about cerebral palsy and the treatments available, tips for living with cerebral palsy, financial assistance, and legal assistance as well as some overall information about special education. 

Hopefully this blog offered you some helpful tips to help you and your family on your homeschooling journey. If you found this blog helpful please consider subscribing to and liking this post as it will help to grow the community as well as let me know which type of posts are more beneficial for you. If you are looking for FREE resources to use along with your curriculum try my resources page which organizes standards by grade, subject, and sub-subjects and links to worksheets, games, and educational videos.

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Do you have any tips for families of special needs children to help them on their homeschooling journey? Share them with the community in the comments below.