Do you ever feel pressured by well-intentioned people to enroll your child with spe- cial needs in public school?
If;so,;you;are;not;alone.;I;get;that;too—
and;I;have;a;Master’s;degree;in;Special
Education!
However,;it’s;not;my;degree;that;makes
me;my;child’s;best;teacher.;I;am;in;the
best;position;to;educate;him;because;I
am;his;mother.;And;you;are;your;child’s
best;teacher;because;you;are;the;parent.
I;hear;from;homeschooling;moms;and
dads;around;the;country;who;share;with
me;how;“professionals”;counsel;them;to
enroll;their;children;with;special;needs
in;public;school.;From;pediatricians;to
therapists;to;case;workers;to;psycholo-
gists—they;tell;parents;that;homeschool-
ing;is;a;mistake.
And it doesn’t end there. Neighbors
question;the;decision;to;homeschool;as
do;teachers;from;neighborhood;schools,
especially;if;the;child;already;receiving
special;education;services;is;pulled;out
of;school.;Family;members;give;subtle
hints of disapproval. Well-meaning
friends;may;ask;if;you;are;making;the
right;choice.;With;all;this;pressure,;we
must;stand;firm.
As;home;educators;of;children;with
unique challenges, we need to be our
kids’;advocates.;No;matter;who;questions
the;decision;to;homeschool,;we;must;be
ready;to;respond.
Doctors may be experts in diagnosing
illness, but they are not experts in the best
educational placement for our children.
Most;pediatricians;see;our;kids;for;about
fifteen;minutes;once;a;year;for;their;an-nual;checkup.;And;in;that;short;amount
of;time,;they;think;they;know;what;type
of;education;is;best;for;our;kids?;I;think
not. Therapists help our children with
speech and occupational therapy, but
Special Needs Homeschooling
By;Kathryn;Porter
You;Are;Your;Child’s;Best;Teacher
Regardless;of;your;credentials,;you;too;can;give;your;child;the
best;education;through;home;education.
