Looking at the statistics for this blog so far, three out of the top ten most-visited posts have been about special needs–thirty percent! I’d say that means we’re reaching an important part of the homeschooling community. We’re thrilled with the responses we’ve gotten to these posts!
Just for a heads-up, we will be having a special needs series on Fridays in April. So far, I’ve lined up someone to write up about autism, Tourette syndrome, and Down syndrome. Make sure you let your friends know what’s coming!
In order to bring you more great posts, I need to know what special needs families want to see on the blog. Are there certain therapies you want to learn about? Do you want more personal stories, so you can feel like you’re not alone? Perhaps there is a specific challenge you’d like to learn how to overcome. Please leave your ideas and thoughts in the comments, so I can keep bringing you the content you want! If you have a blog related to special needs that is current, you can leave a link for that in the comments, too.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
About the Author
I’d love to get more information on the educational strategies used by other special needs homeschoolers for autism. Most of the blogs, articles, tweets I read are about therapies. I want to know how someone is teaching reading comprehension or sentence structure…fractions or division. What do people do for P.E. or music? What are some goals I can set for independence w/ school work and chores? I feel like this is addressed pretty thoroughly w/ NT homeschoolers, but the info I find on autism education seems to be focused on therapy not academics.
Thanks for all you do! I love your blog:)
Allison, I appreciate your taking time to leave ideas. These will help me as I continue to look for great content!
my thoughts exactly!
As above comment, I am open for information regarding educational strategies, resources, and opinions on what has / has not worked. Not to interested on the therapies – for many reasons- unless there is a home based DIY type of information. I would love to hear personal stories.
Good Luck!
Thanks for your feedback, Stacey! It really is helpful.
I’d love to learn ways to help my son struggling with dyslexia. Most of what I’ve seen available to help those with dyslexia is about helping them learn to read starting with their letter sounds (phonograms). He knows his letter sounds but he struggles with his short term memory. He has to sound out every word even if its one he just read a few words ago. If we could help his memory I believe that reading would come so much easier. I’ve found one program, Audiblox, that claims to work with memory. Its so expensive and I’m not even sure it would work. I would like something I could do at home with him that doesn’t cost a small fortune and is proven to work.
Thanks, Rachel. Dyslexia is already on my list, so this helps me know to try to get to it in the next couple of months!
Rachel….Your note is exactly what I would have written last year. I can completely understand your concern and frustration. My son was doing exactly the same thing….sounding out words, but not remembering them, and having to sound them out again. He knew the phonics rules, but couldn’t read. He could only remember a couple of sight words. Through a dyslexia group on yahoo, I found a reading specialist, named Jill Ham, who helped my son immensely. The problem wasn’t his memory like I thought, but it was his knowledge of the alphabet. Honestly, he really didn’t know it like you and I know it, and because of that, there was no automatic letter-to-sound connection in his brain. Here is her website, if you want further information. http://www.k12edconsultant.com/ A letter that I wrote on the yahoo group is included in the testimonials. She is writing a book about her process, which may be of help to you, if you can’t afford her services. We are very strapped for funds, but decided to do it anyway, and I am so glad we did.
Chris, thanks for leaving this suggestion!
Wilson Program is great for dyslexic students. It is a 12 step program, takes around 2 years and from experience I can tell you it is very successful in teaching the dyslexic child to read to around a 5th grade level at the least- although there are other cases that have perservered past that level.
I’ve just discovered this blog today. I concur with the opinions previously expressed. With a 12 year old with ASD, and a 14 year old with milder symptoms on the spectrum, but great challenges with executive functioning, I would love to learn more about proven teaching strategies. Particularly, I would like to hear from a reading specialist about ways to help one child develop reading fluency and improve comprehension. I would love to learn strategies to help the other stay on task and work more independently. With both boys in puberty, I could sure use some advice about addressing personal care (and what sort of incentives could be used to encourage consistency there). Motivation, in general, seems to diminish at this stage. I could use the encouragement of stories of those who have successfully graduated their special needs child, and who have seen him/her integrated into society. Thanks for asking!
Michele,
Thanks for stopping by! Make sure you browse the “special needs” category. The post “The Triple Threat: Single Parent, Homeschool, and Special Needs” will give you some very practical tips, even if you’re not single. The other articles have all been very useful as well, from moms in the trenches like you! I appreciate your feedback!
I would like to see things on nutrition and teaching strategies for children with autism. Thank you for addressing our concerns. It really means a lot to those of us with special needs children.
You’re welcome, Laura! It really means a lot to me that you took time to answer my question.
I’d definitely like to read more about nutrition & dietary programs, especially Feingold and GFCF programs.
I appreciate your input, Melonie!
This is our first year homeschooling, we discovered last year that my son has Aspergers. Every day is a new journey.
Whitney, I’m on the same road. I hope these Saturday posts will be helpful to you. Thanks for stopping by!
I have two adopted children, one with FASD & the other who was cocaine exposed prenatally. I also have a biological son who always needs more challenges. I would love to hear from parents about how they balance the special needs with their other children’s needs. I would also love to hear from other families with children living with the effects of FASD or prenatal drug exposure.
Thanks for your input, Sheri. It is hard to balance our “normal” kids’ needs vs. special needs, isn’t it.
Hi Sheri! I adopted two little boys – one has pFAS and the other ARND – so both on the FASD spectrum. My 7yo is doing ok with his current school programming, but my 9yo has many complex needs and I am struggling with decisions – really want to bring him home,think it would be best for him, but I’m single again and 24/7 is a LOT!!! Would love to chat anytime!
As for ideas, it would be great to hear more about lifeskills and incorporating movement into the day while learning! Thanks for all you do!
Hi Sheri,
Iam a foster parent to special needs children. I have 3 adopted children with special needs. They also have FAS as well as being multiple drug exposure in- utero. They have had multiple health issues as well. I have found out the hard way, that the public school’s educated teachers are not so educated about the needs that our children require. Even after 48children, you think I would have all the answers. The effects are different for each child.I have found as they grow older and the world becomes more complex, their issues grow as well. Please feel free to contact me. Having community support helps us understand why we do what we do.
I have a son with ADHD and SID as well as eye problems(convergence, tracking, etc.). He has several medical issues as well. I would like some information on diet and supplements to naturally help these issues. I would also be interested in programs and strategies to help with reading fluency. Because he doesn’t necessarily “see” the same letters in a certain order, phonics based programs don’t seem to help much. I would like to have opinions from other parents about what has or has not worked for them. Thanks so much for taking the time to address these issues!
Andrea, thanks for sharing. Could you tell me what SID is?
Jenny, SID is sometimes referred to as SPD as well. It is Sensory Integration Disorder/ Sensory Processing Disorder.
Andrea, There is an amazing community blog called SPD Blogger Network (http://www.spdbloggernetwork.com/) for support. It isn’t about homeschooling necessarily (although some of us who contribute are homeschooling!), but a support for families around the world who are going through similar things.
AH! Yes, I know SPD!
In fact, we are having an informational post on it next Saturday from Marla Rothfisch, author of Sensitive Sam!
I see Kathy answered this question. Also, thank you, Kathy, for the blog address! I had no idea about this resource!
When I was growing up, I had a “lazy” eye. I had weekly vision therapy but the one thing that worked the most that I remember was a balance board (2′ x2′ square with a 2′x4′ in the middle to cause the rocking motion) and I had to stand on it in front of a mirror and wink each eye alternatively 100 days a day. Now that I am trained in Orton Gilingham, I would strongly suggest learning about Orton Gillingham based programs and go to your local office supply company and get some colored overlays. My daughter had the same issues with her dyslexia. We tried 6 different colors and when I put the sky blue over lay on the page, she squealed and said the letters just stopped moving mom. That was the first place we had to start for reading. You can buy a pack of colored overlays usually for less than $20. Next, I would suggest getting the book by James Dobson on raising Boys. He explains that our traditional education system was not set up for boys but for the richest young ladies. Boys need physical activities before education every day. My son blossomed when I changed up his school schedule to start off with running, jumping on the trampoline and then for 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade, he also sat on an exercise ball and chewed gum while he worked. Now as a 10th grader, he gets up, makes coffee, does the Insanity Workout (eek), does his chores and then sits down and does his schoolwork. His attention span is about 2 hours now before he has to get up and move around. I hope this helps.
Thanks for these awesome tips, Kim! It’s so great to see moms helping each other!
My daughter was born with Down Syndrome. She is very high functioning. She’s currently in a 1/2 day Christian preschool, but I am planning on beginning homeschooling in the Fall for her and my 5yr old son. I’m not interested in info on therapies either, mostly ways to teach children with learning disabilities in general. It will be interesting to see how it all works out teaching the both of my children.
Thanks, Diana. Sorry I missed your comment earlier! I appreciate your feedback.
I would love to learn more about homeschooling children with Epilepsy. It seems to be a condition always overlooked in the homeschooling community. Because it is such a neglected condition, I am frustrated as I weed through the ABUNDANT information on homeschooling Autistic children just to find the gem of information that might, MIGHT help my daughter struggling to learn through each moment lost to seizures.
Rachel, thank you for taking time to comment. I will do my best to find things to help you!
I read through the list before commenting and agree with what many are saying – balancing special needs with NT kids; working with different issues (tracking, particular special needs, etc). I’d also like to know more about GF diet as it relates to possible gut-brain stuff, but in layman’s terms. Does this exist?
Another thing that would be great, periodically, is humor. I’m learning how important it really is in the day to day of things. Even if it’s just pulling a pin off Pinterest, or finding a cartoon strip – doesn’t have to be major, but just something to help us remember the lighter side of things. 
Becky–great comment about humor! I find that humor and focusing on gratitude–even if it’s just a really basic thing like being alive–can really help us a lot. I am working on a gut-brain connection for you.
This seems to be very hard to pinpoint information about and share (understandably!), but there’s a whole sub-culture of special needs families where the kids are considered “undiagnosable.” Certain signs point to life-changing or even life-limiting conditions, yet the children’s presentations are atypical and unable to be formally diagnosed. (Test results may come back “normal,” yet things about development and/or health are abnormal, etc.)
Any information here would be great! (But again, I understand how hard that is to write about!)
Thanks for doing this special needs series in April!
You’re welcome, Caroline. I understand what you’re saying, too. I’ll see what I can find.
Make sure you stop by on Saturdays, too. We have a special needs post every Saturday!
I am interested in how families with physical special needs homeschool. Two of my four have cerebral palsy…we have to be creative in science labs, math, etc and I would love to know how other families are doing it! Thanks!
(Attempt #2…with the correct blog addie.)
Thanks, Carol. This is very helpful!
I would love to read about homeschooling your blind child. It’s a low incidence disability, but there are a lot of us homeschooling because schools are failing to provide appropriate instruction for our children. Thanks!
Thanks, Kris. I will definitely look into it, and when I find something, please help me spread the word!
We are currently using an online program for the curriculum and I am doing some of the teaching. I am considering switching to just doing homeschooling because the curriculum isn’t exactly what we need. I don’t know my specific question but I guess I feel overwhelmed with the idea. He is in high school and gifted in math. I am doing fine working with him with geometry when we watch the classes together but not sure I could teach him Algebra II next year or what we are supposed to do for homeschooling at that level. I could figure out how to get him biology and reading/english would be much better. They have him reading shakespeare and he hates it. He devours 700 page novels when he enjoys them and I would have him just work on his books that he enjoys. He also wants to do foreign language and I have heard there are programs out there.
Sorry to just be babbling but I just feel a little lost with how to handle math and other subjects the high school level if we go out on our own. (he has asperger’s so if he is motivated and enjoys it the sky is the limit, if he hates it or is struggling we don’t even get started!)
Hi, New Aspieside, My son is much younger than you, but . I believe you can do this. If you run into subjects that you feel are above you, you get a tutor. We actually have a post coming in a couple weeks about “Yes, you CAN homeschool your child with autism”, so be watching! There’s also a special needs homeschooling group on FB that’s very helpful. Just ask to join and tell them what you told me.
The person who moderates that group contributes to this blog every other month. https://www.facebook.com/groups/180010098690511/ (That’s the link for the group.)
My youngest son has a multitude of learning issues. 17 months ago we started working with an NILD therapist. She comes twice a week and uses a variety of educational therapies to help him. He has gone from a kindergarten reading level to second grade. An article on educational therapies such as this would be valuable.
Thanks for stopping by and taking time to comment, Marilyn. Could you tell me what NILD represents?
Would love to hear about other families personal experiences with epilepsy. Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one!!
Thanks for leaving your feedback, Stacey. I will definitely be working on this and see what I can come up with!
Dyslexia and apraxia. Dyslexia can uniquely be greatly improved and even remediated in milder cases by using the philosophy/teaching style from the 30′s known as Orton Gillingham. How cool is that? Apraxia is not as well known but affects alot of kids. It is a frustrating and fascinating disorder that calls out parents in a unique way because there are limited therapists with the skills to treat them. Parents often have to “treat” at home. Speech therapists in Arkansas have not been trained in dyslexia and have limited training in apraxia. I know. I am a mom of a dyslexic, a friend to a parent with a child with severe apraxia and a speech therapist that had to seek out continuing education and specialized courses after graduation and there is still so much to learn. 22 years of being a therapist only seems to teach me what I don’t know. lWell you asked, so there’s you two more.
Thanks, Kim. These are good suggestions.
Auditory Processing Disorders……they go hand in hand with several other LDs. APD, VPD, AND DYSLEXIA!! ALSO— how about discussion on Expressive and Receptive Language Disorders- I know of HSers who have children with these disorders.
Shallon, thank you very much for your feedback. These suggestions will help guide content in the Saturday special needs posts!
Sensory Processing Disorder and the therapies and home based sensory diets that are available to help our type of children. I think you might already have this one covered. Also childhood bipolar disorder and anxiety are two other topics that are great to learn more about when it comes to homeschooling these children.
Thanks for taking time to comment, Jill. You are right–anxiety is a big problem for our kids! I appreciate your feedback.
Special needs that we deal with are: Vision Therapy, Auditory Processing Disorder, Autism specifically Aspergers, anxiety, ADHD, and ODD. We also deal with fine and gross motor skills being “behind”.
I would really be interested in is how other parents deal with reporting to the school systems on children that are not up to grade level. I feel like they are blaming homeschooling when I know that in school my children would actually be further behind.
Thanks, Jennifer! I’ll see what I can do.