Educational Options

Because the options for educating an autistic child are limited -- and in many areas almost non-existent -- a growing number of parents are turning to homeschooling. Homeschooling is a tough row to hoe for many families, since it requires the nearly full-time involvement of one or both parents -- and may also require a significant financial sacrifice when one parent leaves home. For many families, though, the choice makes sense -- particularly if the relationship with the local school district has become very strained.

At this point, quite a few listserves and organizations are supporting parents who homeschool autistic children. And, while it may be tough to find other local homeschooling families with autistic children, it's relatively easy to find homeschool groups, programs and curricula.

One of the biggest issues faced by homeschooling families is the reaction of peers and families. Questions such as "how will you teach social skills?" and "won't you go crazy?" can make it hard to keep up confidence and energy. There are also issues related to finding and funding therapies, sports, and other extracurricular activities.

But the greatest "upside" to homeschooling is its absolute flexibility relative to the individual child. If your child loves trains, for example, you can use Thomas the Tank Engine to teach reading and math skills -- an approach that has a good chance of success!

View the original article here