

YOU'RE NOT ALONE

Brooklyn Special Needs Parent Network
the website for Parents of children with Asperger's Syndrome (ASD Level1) and related Neurobiological Learning Disorders
HOMESCHOOLING
There are many different reasons why parents choose to home school their children. For some it can be medical, geographic, or an issue of emotional health or safety. For parents of children with special learning needs, it can be due to the lack or unavailability of an appropriate school based program, or the "right fit" for their child's unique and specific needs. For others, it can simply be the desire to provide their child with the kind of customized curriculum and enrichment home schooling can provide. If you're considering home schooling, whatever your reason, there are many valuable resources that can provide you with information that can help.
Things to consider:
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Home school associations or organizations- There are many that provide curriculum, materials for learning and testing, report cards, online instruction, online meet up groups for parents and students. Some may even provide opportunities for local clusters of student enrolled in their program to meet.
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Virtual Classrooms, text books and learning resources-Check with your district. On a good day and depending on your district, they can supply you with phone numbers and resources. If your child has an IEP, it will need to reflect home schooling.
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Instruction Time- Instruction hours are mandated. However, homeschooling allows for flexability of how those weekly and daily hours are set up.
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The Instructor- Whether you choose to teach your child yourself or hire an instructor, you should take into consideration your finances and circumstances and most importantly your child. What are your child's needs?, Can I teach my child and not get stressed out?, Do I need to work?, Will hiring a teacher allow me "mommy time" and provide me with strategies to use during non instruction time?
Seek out other home schooling parents. On line groups are great starters. Search Facebook for groups for Homeschool support and resource groups.
Here are some sites worth exploring:
https://www.schools.nyc.gov/enrollment/enrollment-help/home-schooling
https://www.leah.org/parents-instructing-challenged-children-2/