Expert: Valerie Herskowitz - 5/16/2009

Question
Hi, I have a 8 year old who was diagnosed this year as ASD,
hes is very high functioning.  My question is that school
seems to be getting tougher and he is progressively getting
worse.  None responsive to teacher, not doing any kind of
work, even with the modifications that they made for him.
We are thinking of Homeschooling him and would like some
feedback on the subject of Homeschooling a child with
Autism.
Thank you

Answer
Homeschooling is a viable option and many families do it. It requires a lot of time, energy and financial resources, but often the results are well worth it especially at this age. And especially due to the fact that your son is not progressing in the school environment. To deal with the lack of socialization, you can look for pragmatic social groups in your area for individuals your son's age who are on the spectrum.

Now for curriculum. Unless you are a ESE teacher or therapist yourself, you will need a lot of help setting up your son's program. This will require hiring an individual, such as myself, to setup and monitor the program for you.

Before you get involved with this project, you must be sure you have everything you need to implement this project effectively. I would be happy to set up a consultation time for you on the phone to do a one hour preliminary check to see if this option is viable for you.

Valerie Herskowitz, MA CCC-SLP
author of:
Computers and Autism: Maximizing Independence Through Technology
www.valerieherskowitz.com