Last month we traveled almost 700 miles going to and from specialist visits, therapy sessions, evaluations, and medical testing. We also attended church regularly, made gifts for family and friends, participated in extracurricular activities, and completed our lessons.

Fortunately, not every month is as busy as that one, but we have several each year that are very similar. Even “normal” months involve weekly therapy sessions, church activities, dance lessons, and, of course, homeschooling. It can be hard to get everything in, but I have learned a few things in the past couple of years that have really helped me relax and enjoy my children while helping them learn!

First, we start early. When I began homeschooling, I started school around the same time the public schools in our area did.  There’s nothing wrong with that, but we found ourselves working on weekends and holidays so we could finish our school year by the end of May. (I love the idea of year-round schooling but have found that my girls and I really need a couple of months off in the summer!)  Now we start the first Monday in August. This gives us about a ten day head start on the public schools in our area, providing us with a “cushion” to use for those weekdays we just can’t get any school work done.

Second, I’ve finally realized that learning doesn’t have to mean books. It took me a while to get past my background as a public school teacher and its focus on standardized testing (in the state I taught in, anyway) and grab the opportunity to teach the way I’d always dreamed of teaching—to take advantage of teachable moments as they occur, not be strictly bound to the curriculum, and have fun!

So that we don’t completely miss too many days of schooling because of out-of-town specialist appointments, we saved our money and purchased a membership to the zoo in the city where the children’s hospital is. We also bought a membership to a hands-on science museum in a town we pass by on the way home from the hospital. We often arrive early for appointments or stay late so we can spend time at one or the other. Those are great ways to incorporate science into our trips, and we put special emphasis on a different exhibit each time we go.

We try to redeem the time spent traveling too. We have worked on geography and map-reading skills while in the car. During one trip I taught the girls about mile markers (to cut down on those “are we there yet?” questions), and that led to a discussion about federal, state, and county highways and how they’re numbered.

My older daughter often reads to my younger one while we travel, and when she gets tired of that, they play on portable game systems. I know what you’re thinking, but those video games have been specifically chosen to meet therapy goals!

Finally, when we’re home, we stay focused. We may have a therapy session to attend or some extracurricular activities or a play date planned, but we work hard before (and sometimes after) those events. We work our way through my younger daughter’s list of skills and objectives, and my older daughter works through a curriculum that allows her to be mostly independent for reading, language arts, and math. We all come together for Bible, social studies, and science.

At the end of each school year, we have completed our curriculum, taken great field trips, logged more days than our local school districts, learned a lot, and had fun. What more could I want out of a year of homeschooling?

Homeschooling a child with special needs can be a scheduling nightmare until you find your way. Don’t give up! It is possible to homeschool a child with special needs, even while spending lots of time on the road, in the hospital, and in therapy centers.  Be flexible and relax. You can do it!

Have you had to schedule school around illness and special needs? Do you have any questions? Use the comment area below!

Jennifer lives in Arkansas with her husband of ten years, two beautiful daughters, two cats, and two pet mice. She is a former classroom teacher in her fifth year of homeschooling. Jennifer enjoys spending time with family and friends, Bible study, reading, writing, and interacting with others through social media. She blogs at JenniferAJanes.com and is a regular contributor at TheHomeschoolVillage.com. You can meet Jennifer in April at The 2:1 Conference, where she’ll be speaking with Heather Laurie about special needs homeschooling.