In the early 1990s, as home schooling became more legal and the reality of a loving, one-on-one instructional environment was made available to families, Home School Legal Defense Association began receiving an increasing number of membership applications from families indicating they were home schooling children with special learning needs. Today, we estimate that over 10 percent of our members teach a child with special learning needs.
In response to the needs of these members, eight years ago HSLDA hired a staff person to provide counsel in the area of special needs. Our current Special Needs Coordinator, Betty Statnick, has been helping families for the past five years. Out of her wealth of experience, Betty provides advice and resources to member families on needs ranging from attention deficit disorder to severe multiple handicaps.
One of the most valuable tools Betty has at her disposal is a database of home school-friendly professionals who are willing to serve as special needs consultants to HSLDA member families. If you or someone you know has experience working with special needs children and would like to help home schoolers, please contact Betty.
An additional resource provided by HSLDA is various assessment tests. Available for rent to member families, these tests are to be administered by qualified professionals. To learn about these tests, please contact Betty Statnick at 540.338.5600.
