Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Mike Farris:
Today I’m joined by Betty Statnick, who is one of the leading special needs coordinators at HSLDA. Betty, thanks so much for joining me.

Betty Statnick:
It’s my privilege to be here, Mike.

Mike:
Betty, you’re a consultant for parents who homeschool struggling learners, and you’ve referred many families to the Home School Foundation’s Special Needs Children’s Fund. How do families use the grants that they receive?

Betty:
They use those monies to secure materials geared to their child’s specific needs. For instance, how-to books, or programs authored by speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, or reading specialists. Parents may purchase card games, board games, computer programs, high-interest low-reading level books, like biographies of Louis Braille or George Washington Carver.

Often parents want to have their child professionally tested to gain more information about the way their child’s mind processes information, not just the reason for their child’s difficulty in learning. They also want to uncover his strengths and his giftings.

This will give mom some tips on how best to maximize those strengths in teaching. Many times, those test results reveal that what mom has thought was sheer resistance and rebellion, was something totally different.

Mike:
Betty, thanks so much! It’s encouraging to see how the grants are truly helping families in need. I’m Mike Farris.