Homeschool for the severly delayed?

[Mommybostic]

I already homeschool my "typical" 11-almost-12-year-old. I have a lot of guilt over the fact that I send my 10 year old to school every day.

 

She is severely delayed in all aspects--physical, mental, auditory processing and speech. She doesn't speak at all. She can walk, but has low tone and poor balance. She is in a class for students whose disabilities are moderate, severe, and profound.

 

My question is this: does anyone out there homeschool a child with this level of delay? I'm not sure what I can offer her. I worry about having her around other kids, because she really doesn't have friends. How do you report her progress or work when she doesn't do regular work? I'm just a little confused as to how it would even be possible, and if I should even be considering it.

 

I love the thoughts of having them both here, but I don't want to hurt her or slow down her progress any more. I'm not a licensed speech or physical therapist, and our school system will not offer special education services to homeschooled children.

 

I'd love to hear some good dialogue about this--begin now! Thanks!

[Amy Jo]

:grouphug: You could try supplementing your 10yo in one subject, and see how that goes. (Check out the afterschooling board maybe for ideas on where to start.) But I don't think you should feel guilty. Each child is an individual, and they each have their own paths. Sorry I don't have any better help, hopefully someone with more experience will see your post.

[AngieW in Texas]

I've known of several families who kept their severely delayed child in school partly to give everybody else a break because that child would take absolutely all of the attention while at home. Keeping that one child in school gave everybody in the family what was needed. Then when the child came home from school, everybody was ready to deal.

[houseofkids&pets]

I only am homeschooling my ds8, who has a mixed learning disability. My older son, ds11, has autism and goes to public school. I always think about removing him from ps (and I feel guilty too!), but I know that I could not provide the same program he is currently receiving (speech, occupational therapy, music therapy, counseling, etc.). As much as I feel he would benefit from 1:1 instruction at home, I know that I would not be able to meet his other needs. So, I understand how you feel and it is a difficult decision to make. It does sound like your dd needs an intensive program and it would probably be difficult to provide all of that yourself at home, especially since you are already homeschooling her sibling.

[Mommybostic]

I know guilt should not be the motivator, so I'm trying hard to get over that. She enjoys school, so that's makes it a little easier. There are some very hard-core schools of thought, though, that say more can be learned by one-on-one instruction and attention. Still, I'm NOT a therapist of any kind, and I don't know. It's hard to go against the way we are conditioned to think, but isn't it the same type of thinking that says only teachers can teach our children? Obviously, we don't agree with that, so...... You see how my mind goes in circles with the thought.

 

For now, I suppose she will have to just stay in school. I think the interaction is good for her, and, like I said, she really likes it. My biggest issue is going to be when it's time to go to middle school.

 

Thanks for the responses!

[Guest]

I'm not in your situation so I can't claim to understand what you are going through, but I was just thinking... How about trying things at home with her also? Maybe an hour a day? This way you will feel involved also and she will feel like she is getting some homeschooling too :).

[Ottakee]

I homeschooled my kids with delays for K-6th grade. My most impaired one though can talk and now actually read on a 4th grade level.

 

There are pros and cons to homeschooling vs. school and you need to look at your daughter and her needs and where they can best be met---along with the needs of your other kids and yourself.

 

If she enjoys school and you feel she has a good program, no NOT feel guilty about having her in school. I put my kids IN school starting in 7th grade. They did well at home when they were younger but so many homeschool groups are set up with activities for K-6th and then 7th=12th. Well, if you are behind but older in the K-6 group you can still fit in. Once you hit that 7-12 group it is tough for a special needs child.

 

In school my kids have friends, a social group, therapy, etc. They enjoy it and while they might not be learning quite as much academically as they could at home, the benefits of the other stuff far outweight the negatives for them right now.

[Shellers]

If your daughter has an IEP you don't have to completely pull her out of school. You can ask for a modified day as part of her IEP. You could ask that she schools at home and only goes to her public school once a week or so. This way your daughter would still get OT and speech therapy.

 

I pulled my son out in October and got a call from the school a week later offering my son a modified school day as part of his IEP. The principal said my son would be able to attend school parties, assemblies, library days, and receive speech therapy. I could use the curriculum I want (as long as his special ed teacher approved) but I would have to meet with his special ed teacher once a week to review his progress. I declined but this may be an option for you?

[houseofkids&pets]

:iagree:I know that you wrote in your original post that your school won't provide services to your daughter. Is that according to your state regulations?? I am still learning all the regs here in New York state, but I recently found out that the state is legally required to provide services to homeschooled children with IEPs. However, the parent has the right to decline services.

[AmyinMD]

My son is only 4 but I will probably not homeschool him. He's currently in Pre-K at our local elementary school. His needs are very high and I would have a hard time homeschooling my other children if I were to homeschool him as well. My son can speak but has almost no functional language at all. He speaks primarily in single word echolalia. He has a gross motor delay and severe fine motor delay. He doesn't currently get any school based services to address either of those. He does get speech therapy and is in an inclusion classroom currently. His Pre-K class is doing okay meeting his many sensory needs. A lot will depend on what kind of placement he gets later on. He is currently the lowest functioning child in the program he's in now so I worry they may move him to a class for low functioning kids. I've noticed quite a few parents here homeschooling children on the spectrum but most seem like they are higher functioning than my son is.

 

My son seems to enjoy going to school which is partly why I do send him. He's off this week and it has been very difficult for him to have the disruption in his routine. We've sent in 2 private therapists to observe ds at school and both have said he seems very calm and content there and seems to thrive on the routine.

[Walking-Iris]

My ds is higher functioning so I can't really say I have experience with this---but my advice would be to really find out all the loopholes and various options available in your IEP. Maybe she can be home some days, school others? Or half-days? Maybe she can have a home visiting therapist? Maybe your insurance will cover private ot/speech etc (ours does)? Maybe you can afterschool in an area she needs help with?

 

Just hash it out with your IEP team and really stress your desire to have her home more and what your curriculum would be at home.

[Guest Flappiness]

I do. All of my kids have some some special needs but I have one severly delayed at home. It is not a walk in The park but if you want them home it can Be done. My child receives his services from private clinics. One is a charity and the other our insurance pays for some and we pay for some. There is a curriculum for special needs at unique.n2y.com that was used in his former school that I use at home.