Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Is homeschooling a viable option for children with exceptional learning needs? Chairman Michael Farris talks about homeschooling your special needs child today on Home School Heartbeat.

Mike Farris:


Over ten percent of HSLDA member families are currently educating a child with special needs. What gave these parents the confidence to tackle a job categorized by many as "only for the experts"?


First, these parents know intuitively that individual children easily get lost in a system set up to meet generalized needs. Their child may have already experienced emotional damage when that system failed them. Because their relationship is based on a loving and long-term commitment with their own child, parents are motivated to make sure their child gets the best education possible.


Second, parents who've chosen home education for their special needs child understand the connection between academic achievement and one-on-one instruction.


A study published in 1997, conducted by Steven F. Duvall, a special education expert and public school psychologist, concluded that homeschooling offers more individual attention, a vital ingredient necessary for academic success in learning-disabled children.


Parents, if you're not satisfied with your own child's academic progress, don't be afraid to think about homeschooling as an option. You might discover that for you and your special child, there's no place like home. I'm Mike Farris.