Do you have a special needs learner?
Homeschooling is a wonderful way to customize your student education in a way that works best for them.
Homeschooling a special needs learner doesn't need to be lonely. Join the conversation online!
IAHE Special Learners Homeschool Support Group – Come and chat with other Indiana homeschool moms and dads who have special needs learners. Share resources and glean from others. This is a community made up of homeschooling families from all across the state where you can ask questions, get advice, and be encouraged as you homeschool your special needs learner.
Do you have additional questions? Contact us directly:
Meet the Team
Staci Morgan
Team Leader
Staci B. Morgan is married with four children and holds a pediatric-focused master’s degree in Nursing. She says her real education has come as she homeschools her children, who vary in unique gifts and differences ranging from academic giftedness, dyslexia, sensory processing, and medical needs to food allergies, autoimmune conditions, OCD, and other anxieties. Staci has a heart for sharing hope with all homeschooling families, especially those with special learners.
Jacquelyn Carnes
Jacquelyn Carnes made the resolute decision to homeschool before their only son was born. Even in the face of medical complexities and (very) early autism diagnosis, Jacquelyn determined homeschooling offers her son the best chance at his best life. And hers, too! She has gained her education in relationship-based therapies, play-based learning, gestalt language processing, and how to build an intentional community around her son. Jacquelyn lives in Bloomington, Indiana, where she leads a support group for moms homeschooling autistic children, works part-time as a nonprofit event planner, and won’t ever say no to coffee and conversation!
Homeschooling and an IEP
One of the most frequently asked questions by parents removing a child from the public school to homeschooling is how it will impact their student’s IEP. Families seeking to maintain services from their school should work with their district to determine what resources are available. If a child is removed to homeschool, an IEP is rewritten as an ISP. If a family returns to the public school, they can request that the IEP be reinstated. Families can also create their own plan and find other resources.
LEARN MORE on our YOUTUBE channel: Can I Homeschool with An IEP?
IEP: “Individualized Education Plan”
- Public school students only
- Goals developed by parents and intervention team
- Goals are academic-focused for the most part
- Legally required document
ISP: “Individualized Service Plan”
- Private schools (homeschools are considered private schools in Indiana)
- Goals developed by parents and intervention team
- Goals are academically focused for the most part
- May be fewer services offered than through IEP
- Legally required document
SEP: “Special Education Plan”
- Homeschooled students
- Goals developed by parents
- Goals are functional for the most part
- Not a legally required document
NEW to home education and looking for more information?
Be sure to check out our new how-to-homeschool course that includes in-depth teaching for parents about homeschooling with a special learner in your family.
General Resources
- HSLDA Special Needs – Unclear of your child’s exact learning challenge? Use the yellow tab at the top of the link.
- SPED Homeschool – SPED Homeschool believes every child can succeed when provided individualized instruction and that homeschooling is one of the best options a family has for providing this type of education for a unique learner.
- Almaden Valley Christian School – Almaden Valley Christian School is a home education service for families of children with learning differences, difficulties, and disabilities. We provide information, consulting and resources to parents teaching their children at home.
- Davis Dyslexia Correction – Offers curriculum suitable for homeschooling parents to work with pre-K through 3rd grade. Jodi Baugh is a local Davis facilitator.
- Dianne Craft – Child Diagnostics
- Easyread System – The Easyread System is a fully supported online phonics course for children with dyslexia, auditory processing issues and highly visual learning styles who struggle to read and write.
- I Can – International Christian Association of Neurodevelopmentalists
- Joyce Herzog – Educational Support
- National Challenged Home Schoolers Associated Network (NATHHAN) – Encouraging homeschooling families with special needs children, in ways that glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and equipping parents to confidently homeschool their children with special needs or disabilities.
Special Learner Resources by Topic
ADD/ADHD
BOOKS
Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood to Adulthood– Edward M. Hallowell, John J. Ratey
Right-Brained Children in a Left-Brained World: Unlocking the Potential of Your ADD Child – Jeffrey Freed, Laurie Parsons
Raising a Left-Brain Child in a Right-Brain World: Strategies for Helping Bright, Quirky, Socially Awkward Children to Thrive at Home and at School – Katharine Beals
The ADHD Workbook for Kids: Helping Children Gain Self -Confidence, Social Skills and Self-Control – Lawrence E. Shapiro
Heads Up Helping!! Teaching Tips and Techniques for Working with ADD, ADHD and Other Children with Challenges – Melinda L. Boring
Is Your Child Hyperactive? Inattentive? Impulsive? Distractible? Helping the ADD/Hyperactive Child – Stephen W. Garber, Marianne Daniels Garber, Robyn Freedman Spizman
The Ritalin-Free Child: Managing Hyperactivity & Attention Deficits Without Drugs – Diana Hunter
Stop A.D.D. Naturally: Cutting Edge Information on Amino Acids, Brain Function and A.D.D. Behavior – Billie Sahley
Helping Your ADD Child: Hundreds of Practical Solutions for Parents and Teachers of ADD Children and Teens (With or Without Hyperactivity) – John F. Taylor
The ADHD Book of Lists A Practical Guide for Helping Children and Teens with Attention Deficit Disorders – Sandra Rief
Teaching Teens with ADD and ADHD A Quick Reference Guide for Teachers and Parents – Chris Zeigler Dendy
Carbohydrate Addicted Kids Help Your Child or Teen Break Free of Junk Food and Sugar Cravings–for Life! – Richard Heller, Rachel Heller
The Sensory Connection An OT and SLP Team Approach – Nancy Kashman, Janet Mora
How to Get Your Child off the Refrigerator and on to Learning – Carol Barnier
No More Ritalin – Mary Ann Block
The ADHD Autism Connection: A Step Toward More Accurate Diagnosis And Effective Treatment – Diane Kennedy
The Parent’s Guide to Attention Deficit Disorders – Stephen B. McCarney, Angela Marie Bauer
Help For Your Hyperactive Child – William Crook
Smart But Feeling Dumb – Harold Levinson
Teaching the Tiger:A Handbook for Individuals Involved in the Education of Students with Attention Deficit Disorders, Tourette Syndrome or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder – Marilyn Dornbush, Sheryl Pruitt
Crazy Makers: Chapter 4 Feeding Your Child’s Brain – Carol Simontacchi
Homeschooling the Child with ADD or Other Special Needs – Lenore Colacion Hayes
Is Your Child Really ADHD? – Stephen Guffanti
SOFTWARE
Sharper Brain sharperprograms.com
Play Attention playattention.com
WEBSITES
ADHD or Active Child? adhdoractivechild.com
Westfield Academy Top 10 Teaching Tips for Children with ADD/ADHD westfieldacademy.org
Dianne Craft diannecraft.org
Homeschool Central homeschoolcentral.com
The Block Center blockcenter.com
Equipping Minds equippingminds.com
The Family Hope Center familyhopecenter.com
ATTACHMENT/ADOPTION
BOOKS
The Connected Child: Bring Hope and Healing to your Adoptive Family – Karyn B. Purvis, David R. Cross
I Love You Rituals – Becky A. Bailey
Theraplay: Helping Parents and Children Build Better Relationships Through Attachment-Based Therapy – Phyllis B. Booth
Games and Activities for Attaching with your Child – Deborah D Gray, Megan Clarke
Attaching Through Love, Hugs and Play: Simple Strategies to Help Build Connections with Your Child – Deborah Gray
AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
BOOKS
Autism – Stephanie Marohn
Children with Autism – Michael Powers
Children with Starving Brains – Jaquelyn McCandless
Homeschooling Children with Special Needs – Sharon Hensley almadenvalleychristianschool.com
Recovery Against All Odds – Kristi Chrysler
Siblings of Children with Autism: A Guide for Families – Sandra L. Harris, Beth A. Glasberg
The Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program – Mark Sundberg
Sensory Integration and the Young Child – Jean Ayres
The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder – Carol Kranowitz
Asperger Syndrome and Difficult Moments – Brenda Smith Miles, Jack Southwick
Upsidedown Brilliance – Linda Silverman
Asperger Syndrome: A Guide For Educators and Parents – Brenda Smith Miles, Richard Simpson
SOFTWARE
Rethink Ed rethinked.com
WEBSITES
Autism Today
Autism Speaks
Autism Web
Lego Printables – An enormous list from a blogger of free Lego printables
Parents Rearing & Educating Autistic Children in Christian Homes groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/PREACCH/info
Teach2Talk
Do 2 Learn
Wrightslaw
Model Me Kids
Gifted Development Center
AUDITORY PROCESSING DYSFUNCTION
BOOKS
Brain Integration Therapy for Children – Dianne Craft
WEBSITES
Advanced Brain Technologies advancedbrain.com
A STRUGGLING RIGHT BRAIN LEARNER
BOOKS
Right-Brained Children in a Left-Brained World: Unlocking the Potential of Your ADD Child – Jeffrey Freed, Laurie Parsons
SOFTWARE
Inspiration inspiration.com/Kidspiration
WEBSITE
Dianne Craft diannecraft.org
DOWN SYNDROME
BOOKS
Teaching Reading To Children With Down Syndrome – Patricia Logan Oelwein woodbinehouse.com
Teaching Math to People with Down Syndrome and Other Hands-On Learners: Strategies and Materials – DeAnna Horstmeier
Early Communication Skills for Children with Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals – Libby Kumin
Fine Motor Skills for Children with Down syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals – Maryann Bruni
Gross Motor Skills for Children with Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals – Patricia C. Winders
Whole Child Reading: A Quick Start Guide to Teaching Students with Down Syndrome and Other Developmental Delays– Natalie Hale
Supporting Positive Behavior in Children and Teens with Down Syndrome: The Respond but Don’t React Method – David Stein
WEBSITES
National Association for Down Syndrome nads.org
Downsyn downsyn.com
Woodbine House woodbinehouse.com
DYSGRAPHIA
BOOKS
Teaching Your Special Needs Student – Judith B. Munday – learn@helpinschool.net or 757-482-5709
The Student Education Plan – Judith B. Munday – learn@helpinschool.net or 757-482-5709
Brain Integration Therapy Manual – Dianne Craft
Handwriting Without Tears Manual – Jan Olsen lwtears.com
WEBSITE
Dianne Craft diannecraft.org
DYSLEXIA
BOOKS
Dyslexia 101 – Marianne Sunderland
The Dyslexic Advantage – Brock L. Eide and Fernette F. Eide
The Source for Dyslexia and Dysgraphia – Regina Richard – Lingui Systems Publishers, 800-776-4332
Overcoming Dyslexia – Sally Shaywitz
Homeschooling Children with Special Needs – Sharon Hensley
Learning in Spite of Labels – Joyce Herzog
The LCP Solution: The Remarkable Nutritional Treatment for ADHD, Dyslexia & Dyspraxia – Jacqueline Stordy
At Last! A reading Method for every Child – Mary Pecci onlinereadingteacher.com
Recipe for Ready – Nina Traub
SOFTWARE
Natural Reader naturalreaders.com
Spacejock spacejock.com/yRead.html
Nuance nuance.com
Kurzweil Education kurzweiledu.com
CURRICULUM
Barton Reading & Spelling System bartonreading.com
WEBSITES
Bright Solutions for Dyslexia dys_add.com
Lexercise lexercise.com
Homeschooling with Dyslexia homeschoolingwithdyslexia.com
Learning Ally learningally.org
Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities smartkidswithld.org
Davis Dyslexia Association International dyslexia.com
The Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation schwabfoundation.org
LD Online ldonline.org
Homeschool Central homeschoolcentral.com
International Dyslexia Association dyslexiaida.org
Secret Stories thesecretstories.com
The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity dyslexia.yale.edu
All About Learning Press allaboutlearningpress.com
GIFTED CHILDREN
BOOKS
Twice Exceptional Gifted Children: Understanding, Teaching and Counseling Gifted Students – Beverly Trail
Perfectionism: What is so Bad about Being Good – Miriam Adderholdt, Jan Goldberg
Project-Based Learning for Gifted Students – Todd Stanley
Coping for Capable Kids: Strategies for Parents, Teachers and Students – LeoNora Cohen, Erica Frydenburg
Living with Intensity: Understanding the Sensitivity, Excitability, and the Emotional Development of Gifted Children, Adolescents and Adults – Michael M. Piechowski, Susan Daniels
A Collection of Math Lessons from Grades 1 through 3 – Marilyn Burns, Bonnie Tank
The Good Time Math Event Book – Marilyn Burns
Developing Students’ Multiple Intelligences – Kristen Nicholson-Nelson – published by Scholastic
Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom – Thomas Armstrong
You’re Smarter Than You Think: A Kid’s Guide to Multiple Intelligences – Thomas Armstrong
In Their Way: Discovering and Encouraging your Child’s Multiple Intelligences – Thomas Armstrong
WEBSITES
Gifted Development Center gifteddevelopment.com
Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page hoagiesgifted.org/home_school.htm
INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
BOOKS
Homeschooling Children with Special Needs – Sharon Hensley almadenvalleychristianschool.com
When Slow Is Fast Enough – Joan Goodman
God’s Special Child – Donna Adee
Slow and Steady Get Me Ready – June Oberlander
SENSORY PROCESSING DYSFUNCTION
BOOKS
The Out-Of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder – Carol Stock Kranowitz
The Out-Of-Sync Child Has Fun: Activities for Kids with Sensory Processing Disorder – Carol Stock Kranowitz
Sensory Integration and the Young Child – Jean Ayres
Is Your Child’s Brain Starving? – Michael Lyon
Crazy Makers – Carol Simontacchi
Homeschooling Children with Special Needs – Sharon Hensley
SPEECH DISORDERS
BOOKS
Communicating Partners: 30 Years of Building Responsive Relationships with Late-Talking Children Including Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Down Syndrome and Typical Development – James D. MacDonald
Childhood Speech, Language & Listening Problems – Patricia Hamaguchi
Mouth Madness: Oral Motor Activities for Children – Catherine Orr
The Late Talker: What to Do If Your Child Isn’t Talking Yet – Marilyn C. Agin, Lisa F. Geng, Malcolm Nicholl
Speaking of Apraxia: A Parents’ Guide to Childhood Apraxia of Speech – Leslie A. Lindsay
WEBSITES
The Communicating Partners Center jamesdmacdonald.org
Super Star Speech superstarspeech.com
Woodbine House woodbinehouse.com
Super Duper Publications superduperinc.com
Mommy Speech Therapy mommyspeechtherapy.com
APPS
Articulation Station littlebeespeech.com
VISION IMPAIRED
CURRICULUM
Learning Ally learningally.org
WEBSITES
Homeschooling Your Vision Impaired Child angelfire.com/fl/reading4u/hsingvichild.html