Hi everyone,
My son is in year 2 but was just diagnosed start of the year with autism. He's been struggling his whole school life and struggles to do anything at school and has regular meltdowns. He refuses to go to school everyday so every morning is a struggle. It doesn't feel like it's getting any better. I just would like advice from other parents who actually saw improvement over time and parents who end up homeschooling. I just worry if things don't improve soon my son will continue his whole school life and learn nothing. Are there programs to help parents homeschool?
Homeschooling - Autism
Homeschooling - Autism
Posted in:
Behaviour, Kids, Aspergers & Autism
8 Replies
We home schooled. My son would have been in a special ed class and back then that was just babysitting. There was zero expectations so we decided it wasn’t worth it.
We engaged the help of a speech therapist, psychologist, and OT. We also applied for home school status and were accepted.
It meant I was responsible for all my sons educational needs and writing his curriculum and adjusting to fit with the state guidelines. The speech therapist was really helpful in showing us different methods for teaching where traditional learning wasn’t always working.
We could have enrolled in distance education (they send out everything, you just make sure the child dies it) but my son would not have kept up.
Some schools are open to a mixed approach. Where you go to school part time.
It’s is so sad that even with all that we know. We are not supporting special ed students and parents needs more! Such a disgrace. I don’t have any experience or advice. Just wanted to wish you love and strength on this journey!
Send him to a special school. I teach in an autism specific school prep to year 12. We follow the Victorian Curriculum. Each student has an individual program and tasks are differentiated to suit student learning levels. I think it’s important for ASD students to attend a school that is staffed by trained professionals who understand all facets of the disability. Also home schooling doesn’t allow for students to learn important skills such as sharing, turn taking and socialising with peers.
The only issue is some specialist schools won’t take an autistic student if their IQ is too high.
We have tried twice to get him into a special class. This was before his autism diagnosis but his IQ was too high to get in. So while I will be looking into autism schools I doubt he will qualify. Even though he refuses to learn and he couldn't finish the testing apparently they want him to rot in a school system built for the average child.
There's a balance. Hard times will happen but if he's supported and in the right place, you'll get through them and it will be wor t it for the benefit of when things are good/ being managed well.
Try looking for a small school or one with a strong focus on meeting children needs and giving them the tools and freedom to cope and thriv, rather than try to push all children through the same channel.
Write down specifically what your son neefs and go to the interview and ask what they do for other students with similar needs.
For example, I had one school laugh me out of the office because uniform is mandatory and they believed that if a child can physically put them on then sensory issues were null and void (regardless of psych, paed and OT willing to advocate).
Whereas another school down the road support us fully and we are now thriving there.
Dont give up, they're not all the same.
He's at a pretty small school compared to others but there isn't any smaller ones in our area. It would help if he would even go to school but there are so many areas he struggles with that make school difficult for him. It's difficult to help him and everything is moving so slow.
I get that it feels like it won't change, and maybe a break is what is needed, but don't give up hope that things can change and can get better - the right support, the right environment and connections, is key though.