Homeschooling Gifted & Special Needs Children

There are many reasons for parents to homeschool for your gifted or special needs child, such as:

You can give your child the individual attention and custom program that best suits his or her needs in a safe and comfortable environment.

Spending time together preserves and helps to strengthen the family bond and makes the family the primary socializing agent in your childs life

You can take delight in being with your child to witness and be a part of his or her learning experience

For Children with IEP's
According to the VA DoE's Fact Sheet on Home Instruction, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that is designed to meet their individual needs in conformity with the child's Individualized Education Program (IEP).

Both of the regulations and the United States Department of Education's General Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) make it very clear that public education is not the only option for children with disabling conditions.

However, the children who are being educated in home instruction programs are still entitled to take part in any of the related services that are provided by the school division for which they are eligible to attend.

School divisions have to remain ready to serve these children when parents go in search for these services either through regular enrollment or as nonpublic students.
Of course, each county seems to determine its own interpretation of this law. Some school divisions have become tighter in provision of services to handicapped or disabled non-public students, both for at home and privately schooled.

I know that in Canada, these services are provided for free to the children in Ontario and these children can receive dividends of up to 0 per month to cover educational costs.

Here are some good tips about homeschooling special needs children:

Don't spend any of your money until you have done a lot of reading of what is covered for you or what grants you can apply for.

Read as many books and magazines and browse as many websites as you can for information

Relax: there are no educational emergencies that cant be solved quickly.

Take some time to evaluate your method regularly and make adjustments as you see fit.

Know that you'll have ups and downs--they are part of the process.


Books That Are Helpful for Homeschooling Special Needs Children

Accidental Genius
by Kevin James Kearny and Cassidy Kearney


And the Skylark Sings With Me: Adventures in homeschooling and community-based education
by David H. Albert

Bringing Out the Best: A resource guide for parents of young gifted children
by Jacquelyn Saunders

Choosing and Using Curriculum for Your Special Child
by Lisa Rivero

Creative Home Schooling for Gifted Children: a resource guide
by Lisa Rivero

Gifted Education Comes Home: A case for self-directed learning
by Lisa Rivero

The Gifted Kids Survival Guide: A teen handbook
by Judy Galbraith, James R. Delisle

The Gifted Kids' Survival Guide for Ages 10 & Under by Judy Galbraith, Pamela Espeland

Growing Up Gifted: Developing the potential of children at home and at school
by Barbara Clark

Hitchhiking Through Asperger Syndrome
by Lise Pyles, Tony Attwood

Home Educating our Autistic Spectrum Children: Paths are Made by Walking
by Kitt Cowlisaw and Terri Dowty

Home Schooling Children With Special Needs
by Sharon Hensley

Homeschooling the Child with ADD
by Lenore Hayes

Learning in Spite of Labels
by Joyce Herzog