HSLDA Educational Consultants Faith Berens and Kristy Horner teamed up with HSLDA Staff Attorney Tj Schmidt to answer the most frequently asked questions about homeschooling a child with special needs. Watch this video to feel encouraged and become equipped with all the basics for starting to homeschool your own child who may struggle with learning challenges.

Timeline of topics discussed

  • Intro by HSLDA Educational Consultants Faith Berens and Kristy Horner (Sorry, the giveaway is over.) [0:10]
  • What does the term “special needs” mean? It’s a general term that encompasses a wide range of needs, from severe special needs through gifted and talented. We use it to help talk about how we can meet each student’s needs. [1:45]
  • Are labels or a diagnosis necessary? Special needs doesn’t necessarily mean your child has a formal diagnosis, but here are some things to consider . . . [3:00]
  • Faith’s story: How receiving a diagnosis in college freed her from the negative labels she’d been applying to herself for years. [3:55]
  • Recommended resources: [4:35]
    • 7 Tools for Cultivating Your Child’s Potential by Zan Tyler
    • Homeschooling Children with Special Needs by Sharon C. Hensley
  • Introduction to HSLDA Staff Attorney Tj Schmidt [5:32]
  • What are accommodations? Is it OK for me to offer my child accommodations? [8:03]
  • What about homeschooling through high school? (Answers overlap with IEP, SEP, and the importance of documenting accommodations before and during high school.) [13:59]
  • What about recordkeeping? (Kristy shares her amazing binder.) [16:06]
  • How can I certify each period? Do I need them to take an exam? [20:03]
    • It varies from curriculum to subject. If it is a subject like math, you will have them take tests. You need careful documentation in high school.
    • There is no assessment you necessarily have to complete.
    • HSLDA High School and Special Needs Consultants can help you over the phone if you’re a member.
  • How do you help special needs child to write? [23:20]
    • Tap into what they are interested in.
    • You can be a scribe for them. They can do oral recitation.
    • There are apps to create stories.
    • Make sure not to upset your child when you are trying to teach them to love learning.
  • What is an SEP? [25:47]
    • The Homeschool version of the IEP. "SEP" stands for Student Education Plan.
    • HSLDA has downloadable SEPs for members.
    • Tip: pick one or two areas to focus on improving. Life skills or class work.
  • How do you combine and report on academics and life skills? [28:40]
    • Each child is different and should have a different educational plan.
    • No matter how regulated your state is, you can incorporate life skills to the educational plan. For example: learning math through cooking.
    • The amount of reporting requires depends on the state.
  • What about an IEP—Individualized Educational Plan?
    [31:30]
    • These are developed through the local school district. You are not required to do an IEP.
    • But once an IEP is developed with the public school district, you are required to continue reporting.
  • What plan is most beneficial? [33:35]
    • Each child is different. No one plan is the best plan.
  • What testing would you recommend for a nonverbal child whose development mentally is around 2 but is 7 years old? [37:28]
    • Work with your medical professionals and language specialists.
    • Parent observations are an option.
    • You can have a child pick up cards or point.
    • HSLDA Special Needs Consultants or local therapists can help.
  • Do I have to do the state testing that the public schools provide in GA? [38:50]
    • Hslda.org/legal will inform members on their state specific laws.
    • In most states you get to determine your child’s current grade level regardless of chronological age.
  • What assessment tools does HSLDA offer? [42:38]
    • HSLDA has an assessment kit called the Brigance assessment tests, available to members here: org/Brigance
    • There are different assessment kits to assess different levels.
    • HSLDA members can rent the test kits through the HSLDA Store.
    • These assessments are helpful to give annually to see their progress.
  • If I have a student with an IEP, how can I pull the child from the school? [45:30]
    • Reach out to the HSLDA legal department.
    • Leave a good paper trail.
    • HSLDA can help you determine if your child can still receive outside services as a homeschool and if you would still want to receive those services.
    • Annually you have the option to continue the IEP. You might want to continue if you wish to continue receiving services.
    • If you do not want to continue services, then you might not continue the IEP.
    • If you don’t want services through the school, be sure to clarify that you will be meeting your child’s needs privately when withdrawing your child to begin homeschooling.
    • Another reason you may want to continue with the IEP is for documentation that their future college may need.
  • Where can families get professional evaluations for identifying a possible special need? [51:00]
    • You can get them from the public school.
    • You can talk to your medical doctor.
    • Start with a good speech and language therapist. Get a referral from your medical doctor. Then seek out someone like an educational consultant.
    • HSLDA has a list of a homeschool friendly special education and other professionals who can help.
  • What’s the benefit of documenting your child’s disability? [53:40]
    • Getting formal documentation can help your child later get more help or accommodations (for example, in college or at their workplace).
    • It can help explain why your child is not at grade level.
  • How often should my child take the Brigance assessment? [55:13]
    • Annually is a good idea.
    • You could do it in the middle of the year when HSLDA is less busy—then you could keep the rental book longer.

Interested in learning more about how you can use homeschooling to help your child succeed? You can find more resources online right here.

If you’d like to get some one-on-one help with your homeschool and you’re an HSLDA member, you can reach out to our Educational Consultants. Not a member yet? You can sign up here.