Homeschooling the Child with Autism

Patricia Schetter, M.A., is an educational consultant and instructor for the Special Studies in Autism program through UC Davis and the M.I.N.D. Institute. Kandis Lighthall, M.A., is an educational consultant and teacher educator with more than 30 years' experience in special education.

The Authors vii

Acknowledgments xiii

Foreword xv

Introduction 1

1 Questions About Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) 3

1 What Is ASD and How Do the Core Areas of Impairment Affect Students in a Traditional School Setting? 3

2 Is There Peer-Reviewed Research That Supports Homeschooling for Students with ASD? 12

3 Why Do Some Families of Children with ASD Consider Homeschooling? 17

2 Questions About Homeschooling 27

4 What Are the Different Types of Homeschooling? 27

5 How Do Parents Choose the Right Type of Homeschool Program for Their Child? 36

6 What Are the Reported Advantages of Homeschooling Children with ASD? 41

7 What Are the Challenges of Homeschooling Children with ASD? 50

3 Questions About Resources for Homeschoolers 67

8 What Supports, Resources, and Curricula Are Available and How Can Families Access Them? 67

9 What Special Education Services Is My Child Entitled to If I Choose to Homeschool? 88

10 How Should a Family Get Started with Homeschooling? 91

4 Questions About Teaching Strategies 101

11 How Should the Core Deficits of Social Skills and Social Thinking Be Addressed? 101

12 How Can Social Opportunities Be Incorporated into the Homeschooler’s Day? 111

13 How Should the Core Deficits in Organizational Skills and Thinking Be Addressed? 117

14 How Can Interests Be Incorporated into Instruction? 131

15 How Should the Daily Schedule Be Designed? 136

16 How Can Parents Address Behavioral Issues? 141

17 How Can Parents Determine the Appropriate Accommodations and Modifications That are Necessary for Curricular Success? 168

5 Questions About Transition 179

18 When Should Parents Consider a Transition Back to Traditional Educational Settings or Programs and How Is This Done? 179

19 How Should a Family Plan for Transition to College? 185

20 What Are Other Postsecondary Options Besides College? 194

6 Questions for Homeschooling Parents 199

Interview with Janelle Lewis 199

Interview with Karen Crum 203

Interview with Connie Ajay 205

Interview with Michelle King 207

Interview with Ann Coe 208

7 Questions for Homeschooled Children on the Autism Spectrum 213

Interview with Ben—Age Eleven 213

Interview with Bobby—Age Thirteen 215

Interview with Katie—Age Fifteen 218

Interview with Ian—Age Seventeen 219

Glossary of Terms and Acronyms 223

Notes 243

Index 253