Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Families affected by Asperger’s syndrome face a number of challenges. Finding support shouldn’t be one of them! Find out how you can encourage these families, today on Home School Heartbeat, with host Mike Smith and HSLDA special needs coordinator Dianne Craft.

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Mike Smith:
Dianne, parents of children impacted by Asperger’s have to pour a lot of love and dedication into that homeschooling endeavor. That has got to take a lot of support. How can friends and family and people in their church support and encourage a family dealing with this challenge?

Dianne Craft:
Well, because of their difficulty with social skills, these children with Asperger’s syndrome often suffer from loneliness and ostracism.

Supportive parents can greatly relieve the stress that these families are facing by teaching their own children about Asperger’s characteristics. They can teach their children to, number one, overlook the quirky behaviors that these children may exhibit. And teach them to draw that teenager into the youth group activities with conversation or partnering. And teach them to defend the child when someone is teasing them, and just be a friend to this struggling child or teenager.

Leaders of youth groups can make sure there are no surprises for the child with Asperger’s syndrome during the service. Keep the parents informed, so they can prepare the child for new situations. Nothing warms a parent’s heart more than to see their child befriended by another child in a group and made to feel comfortable.

Mike:
Dianne, I believe this program will be a great encouragement to many families! Thanks for joining us this week to shed some light on homeschooling a child with Asperger’s. And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.