Why You Want Cheri Kay for Your Event

  • Cheri Kay has a passionate and energetic personality.
  • She has 17+years of experience as a pediatric physical therapist, special needs advocate, educational consultant, and homeschooling mom.
  • Along with her training as a Physical Therapist, Cheri Kay is also trained to provide trauma-informed care and is fluent in American Sign Language. 
  • Cheri Kay has experience in navigating the school system, the community mental health system, and the health care systems as both a parent and a professional. With her unique understanding of how these systems work, she is equipped to advocate for families that also need to access these services. 
  • Cheri Kay received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island in Physical Therapy, and a Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree, with an emphasis on pediatrics from Southern California. 
  • She enjoys traveling and has spent three years living overseas in the beautiful country of Haiti, serving the Haitian people through various medical and therapy clinics.
  • Cheri Kay’s four amazing children were all adopted and have a variety of unique needs.
  • With her variety of experiences as both a parent and a professional, she has a unique perspective of the needs and desires of homeschooling families. 
  • Cheri Kay’s passion is to come alongside other families with resources and encouragement to help them soar into their own success.

Travels from

Washington D.C.

Honorarium

HSLDA Educational Specialists are happy to offer their speaking services and expertise in support of the homeschooling community. In return for speaking at your event, we request that hosts cover all travel and related expenses and, if applicable, provide a complimentary exhibit booth/table for HSLDA. Honorariums are greatly appreciated but not required.

Sessions

Developing and Drafting an SEP (Student Education Plan)

Have you pulled your child out of public school where he or she used to have an IEP (Individual Education Plan)? In this workshop, you’ll learn the purposes and benefits of an SEP, the homeschool version of an IEP. You’ll receive guidance on drafting your own SEP, explore sample plans, obtain your own template, and leave with a resource list of books to set you and your student up for success.

You Can Homeschool Your Neurodivergent Learner—and We Can Help!

Unpack the frequently asked questions of how to homeschool struggling learners and those who learn differently. Be encouraged and equipped as Cheri Kay shares diagnostic checklists for struggling learners, discusses common roadblocks homeschooling parents face (and how to navigate around them), and gives strategies for achieving success with your children who learn differently. 

Motivating the Reluctant Learner

Could you use some encouragement and strategies to help reignite your student’s love of learning? If so, this session is for you! There are many factors that impact a child’s motivation level—stress, executive function, nutritional needs, media usage, and more. With a little bit of theory and a whole lot of practical application, Cheri Kay equips parents with the tools they need to tap into their child’s God-given gift of curiosity.

Accommodations: What Every Homeschooling Parent Needs to Know 

This workshop addresses a crucial but frequently misunderstood topic related to special needs homeschooling. In this content-rich workshop, Cheri Kay explains the difference between accommodations and modifications, describes 504 Plans, and answers homeschooling parents’ most frequently asked questions regarding the best ways to support learners who benefit from accommodations.

Tricky High School Issues: Homeschooling Teens with Special Needs

This workshop addresses some of the challenges associated with teaching struggling or atypical learners at home in the high school years. Do you have questions such as “How do I award my teen with special needs a diploma?” or “What do I do when my teen with dyslexia can’t read high school-level material?” Cheri Kay discusses alternative coursework, specialized curricula and learning materials, assistive technology, transcript options, possible graduation guidelines, high school programs for special learners, and post-high school options. She also offers tips for navigating the process of applying for testing accommodations for College Board tests.

Teaching Struggling Learners at Home: Nuts and Bolts for Success (Part 1)

This workshop offers practical resources, lists of materials, and curricula to equip you as you homeschool a struggling learner. Cheri Kay presents ideas for designing a unique home instruction program tailored to your child’s specific challenges.

Teaching Struggling Learners at Home: Nuts and Bolts for Success (Part 2)

In this second half of “Nuts and Bolts for Success,” Cheri Kay addresses homeschooling and working, teaching multiple ages, scheduling the day, and practical teaching strategies you can use regardless of your curriculum program. Cheri Kay also explains multi-sensory teaching methods, direct instruction, and modeled teaching.

Teaching Struggling Learners at Home: Nuts and Bolts for Success (Condensed Version)

This workshop offers practical resources, lists of materials, and curricula ideas to equip you as you homeschool a struggling learner. Cheri Kay presents ideas for designing a unique home instruction program tailored to your child’s specific challenges. She also addresses homeschooling while working, teaching multiple ages, scheduling the day, and practical teaching strategies you can use regardless of your curriculum program. Finally, Cheri Kay explains multi-sensory teaching methods, direct instruction, and modeled teaching.