Homeschool vs Public School for Students with Autism

Autism Programs and IEP in Public Schools

Can children with autism attend regular school? Of course they can, but it is important to have accommodations in place that support the special learning needs of a child on the spectrum. While education is obviously the chief goal of any school, a child’s social, behavioral, and health needs must be taken into account as well.

Even accommodations that prove helpful for one child, though, may not be appropriate for another. That’s where Individualized Education Plans (IEP) come in. The IEP is a written document outlining how to tailor an educational program to a child with special needs. It is usually created as a cooperative effort between parents, teachers, and educational specialists. By law, schools must create individualized educational programs for every child with autism.

Depending on where the student with autism is on the spectrum, the amount of mainstream classroom time he/she receives may vary. Some may be assigned part-time to a traditional classroom and part-time to a special needs classroom. Some may be assigned full time to a traditional classroom with a support, or a shadow (a person who would be working with a child on the spectrum in the classroom). Others may be assigned full time to a special needs setting.

Pros of Public School for Children with Autism

• Some therapies may be available for students meeting the criteria for them.
• If social skills training is available, students will have many opportunities to practice with peers.
• Schools are required to have an IEP in place for students with special needs.
• If a dedicated autism classroom is available, there may be access to specialized software and other supports for learning.

Cons of Public School for Children with Autism

• If a school and/or teachers don’t have training in autism, they can have difficulty teaching students effectively.
• Even with an IEP, it can be challenging for teachers to meet the educational needs of individual students.
• Students who are struggling in school usually have difficulty communicating those struggles to parents.
• Can create safety issues for students with ASD including bullying, wandering behaviors, or logistical confusion such as field trips.

Homeschooling a Child with Autism

Even with supports in place, parents still wonder, “Can I homeschool my child with autism?” More often than not, parents of children on the spectrum are very knowledgeable about ASD. In fact, their knowledge usually surpasses those of typical school teachers and administrators.

The idea behind an “individualized education plan” in a public school is to create a specific program that works best for an individual student.  Interestingly, that’s exactly what homeschooling entails! Homeschool families have the flexibility to choose how, when, where, and what to teach their child, making it a superb option for students who would benefit from a customized approach. And parents are empowered to change those details as needed, without any extra administrative paperwork.

The bigger question for most families is whether they feel capable to handle their own child’s education. The answer to this is personal to each family, but certainly, there are plenty of curriculum tools, online and local support communities, and information available to ease most any family into homeschooling their child with autism.

Pros of Homeschooling for Children with Autism

• The learning environment has fewer distractions and fewer stressors.
• If a student has been dealing with bullies in school, homeschooling provides a safe haven.
• All aspects of education can be individualized to fit the student’s needs.
• Appropriate socialization can be modeled by parents and taught as part of the curriculum.
• Flexible schedule allows plenty of time to go to therapies and take frequent breaks.

Cons of Homeschooling for Children with Autism

• Only some states offer special education services to homeschoolers. Check you state laws to find out if your state provides this service.
• Not every family has the availability or financial ability to homeschool.
• Some families find home education of a child with special needs to be overwhelming or emotionally draining (support systems can help alleviate this stress, however).

How Time4Learning Curriculum Helps Students with Autism

Using an interactive online environment, the Time4Learning educational learning system builds and reinforces the academic skills needed for both traditional and special needs students. It can be used as a core curriculum or as a supplement to other tools. Many families homeschooling a child on the autism spectrum use Time4Learning. Here’s why:

• Lessons and activities are multisensory and work with a variety of learning styles.
• The impersonal nature of computer learning is preferable to many on the autism spectrum.
• It builds on existing skills in reading, math, science, and social studies.
• It allows for the placement of different grade levels in different subjects.
• New learning opportunities are introduced in a safe, supportive environment.
• Learning is balanced with fun!

Choose your subject and grade level to experience lesson demos of Time4Learning’s interactive curriculum.

Have other questions about homeschooling a child with autism? You may find the following pages helpful.

• Homeschooling a Child with Autism
• Teaching Reading Comprehension to Students with Autism
• Teaching Writing to Students with Autism
• Teaching Math to Students with Autism