Taking care of a child with autism is no easy task. Regardless of the parenting challenges presented, you still want what’s best for your autistic child. Hence, you will do whatever it takes to ensure they get the best life possible.
One of the most important aspects regarding raising your child with autism is deciding the best method of schooling. Many parents wonder, is homeschooling the best educational route for an autistic child? Let’s find out.
Benefits of Homeschooling
Part of being diagnosed with autism is dealing with overstimulation in one’s environment. The good news with homeschooling is that the environment can be tailored to the student themselves rather than the child being forced to fit into their environment. For instance, parents can create an atmosphere with less noise, proper lighting, and such.
Also Read: Occupational Therapy Techniques for Children’s Motor and Sensory Development
In a homeschooling environment, it’s also easier to cater to an autistic child’s learning preferences and interests. This way, learning and retaining information will be easier for the child. Thus, they will often find themselves performing better in school.
In general, homeschooling allows more breaks, a more go-at-your-own-pace approach to learning, eliminates opportunities of bullying, and the curriculum is more customizable. Not to mention, the learning schedule can be changed depending on when the child best learns, and different types of teaching can be explored.
Challenges of Homeschooling
While children who are homeschooled tend to get more one-on-one time, which may be academically beneficial, this schooling alternative may present some challenges for some individuals with autism.
For instance, if your child needs extra support from an educational expert, parents may find it difficult to fill this role. Meanwhile, many traditional school settings have special aides and staff to help those with behavioral and/or learning setbacks. Another disadvantage is a lack of learning through imitation in a homeschool setting with no other peers present.
Also Read: How Do You Know If You Have Dyspraxia
On the other hand, homeschooling gives parents and children alike more time to connect with a similar community (e.g., other autistic homeschooled students). In addition, the flexibility also gives time to reach out to professionals who may be able to aid the autistic child in their studies alongside the homeschooling parent.
Is Homeschooling Better for Autistic Children?
Clearly, there are both pros and cons to homeschooling. Not to mention, homeschooling isn’t an educational option that works perfectly for every child diagnosed with autism. In the end, the right schooling option will depend on the individual needs of the child.h
Are you still unsure what educational route would be best? Learn how to qualify for an IEP today to figure out how to best approach schooling for your autistic child.
Conclusion
Finding the best schooling option for your autistic child is no walk in the park. What parents will quickly find out is there isn’t a one-fits-all option when it comes to education. While traditional schooling might be a great option for one child with autism, homeschooling might work best for another. It all comes down to the child’s specific wants and needs.
Hi, I’m the Founder and Developer of Paramedics World, a blog truly devoted to Paramedics. I am a Medical Lab Tech, a Web Developer and Bibliophiliac. My greatest hobby is to teach and motivate other peoples to do whatever they wanna do in life.