“What are your hopes for the;twins?” The developmental psychologist sitting
across;from me;watched as;my;4-year-old
boys;flipped;the;light;switch;on;and;off;and
pulled;one;another’s;hair.
“I want them to read and to live indepen-
dently.”
The psychiatrist rolled her eyes and
clucked;her;tongue.;“That’s;just;pie;in;the
sky;thinking,;and;you;might;as;well;give;it
up;now.”
I;don’t;remember;what;she;said;next.;We
walked;out;and;never;went;back.
Even though we homeschooled our older
three;children,;I;wasn’t;sure;I;could;teach
our adopted sons, who had been diag-
nosed with autism, developmental delays,
and fetal alcohol disorder. They attended
public school until after their first-grade
year, when it became crystal clear that God
wanted them home for school.
I’ve;never;regretted;the;decision;to;teach
them myself.
Every child is unique, but there are
basic;skills;that;must;be;taught;in;order;for
a child to grow into a functioning adult.
Modifications;and;adaptations;must;be;in
place before you can expect a child with
autism;to;learn;effectively.;Proper;behavior
and;life;skills;are;sometimes;more;impor-tant than academics, depending on where
your child is on the autism spectrum. My
children were in the moderate to severe
area of the spectrum and were nonverbal.
www.TheOldSchoolhouse.com
By;Karla;Akins
Homeschooling Your Child
With Autism
ABOVE: Isaac and Isaiah working hard and getting dirty at Heartland Career Center.
I;know;we
homeschoolers love
our freedom, but
structure is extremely
important;for;kids
with autism.
