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The Best Academic Curriculum for Homeschooling an Asperger's Child

“I need some advice on what academic curriculum would best fit a home-schooled child (6 y.o.) with Asperger syndrome. We had a bad year last year in regular school, and I’ve vowed to pull him out of the mainstream and start homeschooling after summer break. Please help!”

The curriculum content for a child with Asperger’s or High Functioning Autism should be decided based on long-term goals, so that the utility of each item is evaluated in terms of its long-term benefits for the child’s socialization skills, vocational potential, and quality of life.



Emphasis should be placed on skills that correspond to relative strengths for your child as well as skills that may be viewed as central for his future vocational life (e.g., writing skills, computer skills, science, etc.). If your child has an area of special interest that is not so unusual that it would prohibit him from using it for possible future employment, such an interest should be cultivated in a systematic fashion (e.g., library, computerized data bases, Internet, etc.).

Specific projects can be set as part of your child’s credit gathering, and specific mentorships (topic-related) can be established with individuals in the community. It is often useful to emphasize the utilization of computer resources, with a view to: (a) foster motivation in self-taught strategies of learning, including the use of online resources; (b) establish contact via email with other children who share some interests (a less threatening form of social contact); and (c) compensate for typical difficulties in grapho-motor skills.

A homeschool curriculum varies in cost, so the initial price may seem prohibitive. However, homeschooling is much less expensive than private school. There are ways to save money on books with other homeschooling families, where you can swap books that you are no longer using. If you are ready to begin this adventure with your child, find other moms and dads in your area that are homeschooling. They can be a great resource to help you get started.

Below are some resources that will help you in the initial stages of this venture (these can all be found on Amazon.com):
  • Autism and Flexischooling: A Shared Classroom and Homeschooling Approach
  • Choosing Home: Deciding to Homeschool With Asperger's Syndrome
  • Homeschooling the Child with Asperger Syndrome: Real Help for Parents Anywhere and On Any Budget
  • Homeschooling the Child with Autism: Answers to the Top Questions Parents and Professionals Ask
  • How to Set Up a Work Area At Home for a Child with Autism


 COMMENTS:

•    Anonymous said... A lot of families have success starting off with a k12.com school.
•    Anonymous said... do you live in Indiana. I was thinking about having my 14 yr old start Connections Academy.
•    Anonymous said... Does your district offer alternative schools, we have had great success
•    Anonymous said... I pulled my son out of public school and enrolled him in one of the free online public schools available in my state, Connections Academy. It's the same education without the stress of being around mean kids, loud noises, strict schedules, etc. I'm glad you are doing this for your son early on...I waited until 7th grade and I wish I would have done it sooner.
•    Anonymous said... Just schooling at home vs. brick and mortar has made a big difference for our kiddo. Considered a public school through K12 Inc..
•    Anonymous said... My 10 year old uses a mix of abeka, teaching textbooks, science fusion and mystery of history. He actually skipped 5th grade entirely.
•    Anonymous said... Read aloud together, go to museums, play games, watch movies. Let him be comfortable as much as possible. Let him find books that interest him from the library. He'll learn more than from a set curriculum.
•    Anonymous said... We did the same thing-cyber school through Connections Academy. It has been a huge success!
•    Anonymous said... We have used Switched On Schoolhouse for two years. It is a Christian based virtual learning program, all online. It has been wonderful for us.

Please post your comment below…

2 comments:

Unknown said...

We pulled our son out 2 years ago due to several issues at school and the fact that it felt like he had gone as far with them as possible(he was in the 3rd grade)-most of his studies are online and there are several that are free -that adapt well for my son-it is hardest the first year but to see your child doing better is worth it.

Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur said...

I've been homeschooling my Aspie for 6 years after a terrible Kindergarten and 1st grade experience. It was the best decision we ever made.

My child has been rejected by his peers, ridiculed and bullied !!!

Social rejection has devastating effects in many areas of functioning. Because the ASD child tends to internalize how others treat him, rejection damages self-esteem and often causes anxiety and depression. As the child feels worse about himself and becomes more anxious and depressed – he performs worse, socially and intellectually.

Click here to read the full article…

How to Prevent Meltdowns in Children on the Spectrum

Meltdowns are not a pretty sight. They are somewhat like overblown temper tantrums, but unlike tantrums, meltdowns can last anywhere from ten minutes to over an hour. When it starts, the Asperger's or HFA child is totally out-of-control. When it ends, both you and your child are totally exhausted. But... don’t breathe a sigh of relief yet. At the least provocation, for the remainder of that day -- and sometimes into the next - the meltdown can return in full force.

Click here for the full article...

Parenting Defiant Teens on the Spectrum

Although Aspergers [high-functioning autism] is at the milder end of the autism spectrum, the challenges parents face when disciplining a teenager on the spectrum are more difficult than they would be with an average teen. Complicated by defiant behavior, the teen is at risk for even greater difficulties on multiple levels – unless the parents’ disciplinary techniques are tailored to their child's special needs.

Click here to read the full article…

Older Teens and Young Adult Children with ASD Still Living At Home

Your older teenager or young “adult child” isn’t sure what to do, and he is asking you for money every few days. How do you cut the purse strings and teach him to be independent? Parents of teens with ASD face many problems that other parents do not. Time is running out for teaching their adolescent how to become an independent adult. As one mother put it, "There's so little time, yet so much left to do."

Click here to read the full article…

Parenting Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism

Two traits often found in kids with High-Functioning Autism are “mind-blindness” (i.e., the inability to predict the beliefs and intentions of others) and “alexithymia” (i.e., the inability to identify and interpret emotional signals in others). These two traits reduce the youngster’s ability to empathize with peers. As a result, he or she may be perceived by adults and other children as selfish, insensitive and uncaring.

Click here
to read the full article...

Highly Effective Research-Based Parenting Strategies for Children with Asperger's and HFA

Become an expert in helping your child cope with his or her “out-of-control” emotions, inability to make and keep friends, stress, anger, thinking errors, and resistance to change.

Click here for the full article...