A writer for the Examiner recently published on article weighing the pros and cons of homeschooling your child with autism:
Parenting & autism 101: What about homeschooling an autistic child?. She summarizes advantages such as environmental control, flexibility for therapy/doctors appointments, and elimination of upsetting stimuli such as loud classmates, as well as disadvantages like cost and time commitment.
The article contains some useful links, but since the author is based in North Carlina the legal channels mentioned may not apply. To explore homeschooling in Indiana, start with the
Indiana Department of Education's Homeschool Helpsheet for official guidelines on notifying educators, curricula, and other laws.
The CeDIR library also has two books on homeschooling:
Homeschooling the child with Asperger syndrome: real help for parents anywhere and on any budget and
Choosing home: deciding to homeschool with Asperger's syndrome. If you're an Indiana resident and wish to check either of these out,
email us.
How to set up a work area at home for a child with autism is a straight-forward guide for parents and caregivers. The book describes how to encourage independent skills through home instruction, and includes advice for charting progress, basic study skills, and other practical tips.
