When you’re homeschooling a special needs child, sometimes the combination of your already busy homeschool days with therapy appointments, special dietary needs, and behavior interventions can leave you feeling like you need to drive right to your own therapy group!

If you find yourself wishing that you could be surrounded by kind, understanding, listening ears and connect with like-minded mamas and families, that’s okay—and you’re not alone!

It’s actually really important for your well-being, as well as your child’s emotional and social development, for you to find support, respite, and encouragement in support groups, activities, co-ops, faith communities, and clubs! The beauty in homeschooling is that you have the power to create your own warm interconnected “web of support” and thrive in it.

Here are some places to find support groups, family camps, respite, resources, and fellowship: 

Support for special needs homeschoolers

  • You can search for national homeschool organizations, find a state or local group near you, or connect with military homeschool groups here.
  • SPED Homeschool was founded by Peggy Ployhar to help students succeed through parent-directed special education homeschooling. SPED has an extensive resource list, podcast, FB group, and a blog.  
  • You can find support and community for homeschooling with your child’s specific learning challenges online at places like these:
    • Homeschooling with Dyslexia Facebook group and website with Marrianne Sunderland offers not only a variety of resources for students with dyslexia, but also homeschool parent training classes and an online community for parents to connect.
    • Different by Design Learning with Shawna Wingert features a blog and other resources to help and encourage parents homeschooling children with learning differences, behavioral challenges, and special needs.

Support for special needs (not homeschool specific)

  • Understood.org offers helpful articles, resources, and a community where parents who have students with attention and learning issues can connect.
  • Joni and Friends has local offices that serve the disability community across the United States. These locations help mobilize and equip local churches, communities, and volunteers to reach out to people affected by disability. They also offer retreats and getaways.
  • Groups like Decoding Dyslexia and Eye to Eye provide valuable parent support and child mentoring to families of children with special needs.
  • National charitable organizations such as Scottish Rite, Easter Seals, and  The Arc offer resources, support, directories, grants, scholarships, and other helpful tools that can help you with your child’s special needs. 

And if you don’t find the kind of group and connections you’re looking for, you can always start your own group! Whether it’s a morning meet-up at a coffee shop, an outdoor playgroup while moms connect, an after-dinner Zoom gathering, or a new Facebook group, your options for creating support and community are limitless.

Why not check out a few options above today?