MACHE Homeschool 101
Can I homeschool my special needs child???
How to Start Homeschooling
Teaching Methods and Curriculum
Maryland Homeschool Law
Special Needs Students
Filing a Notice of Intent to Homeschool
Homeschooling Tots to Tweens
Maintaining an Annual Portfolio
Homeschooling through High School
Homeschooling Students
with Special Needs
Many Maryland parents find that the homeschooling offers many benefits for their child with special needs – as well much more flexibility to teach to their strengths.
Homeschooling is truly an individualized education experience!
Homeschooling a child with special needs does not need to be intimidating.
Here are some simple steps to help you start:
01
Know And Understand the Law
It is entirely legal to homeschool a child with special needs in the state of Maryland.
Identify Your Child’s Learning Style and Select Curriculum
Each individual learns differently, and learners with special needs are no different. A combination of teaching styles may increase success for special learners, and improve comprehension. Many struggling learners benefit from a multi sensory, multifaceted educational approach. Neurologically diverse students process information in unique ways, so understanding their learning style is extrememly important.
03
Consider Educational Testing
Free educational testing for homeschoolers can be obtained through your local public schools, however services like speech therapy, occupational therapy, educational therapy, etc will not be offered to students not enrolled in the school. Private testing and therapies are often covered by insurance, and can be obtained through many independent educational psychologists, and hospitals.
Helpful Links for Testing:
04
Find Support
Raising a child with special needs can come with extra challenges, and adding education into the mix can feel very daunting. Don’t do it alone! Including a special needs child into activities with typically developing kids is a great idea, and the homeschool community tends to be very accepting. There are also numerous support groups both in person and virtual for all types of differences.
Helpful Links for Finding Support:
Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council
General Resources
HSLDA
Home School Legal Defense Association has a robust library of articles on teaching special needs children. Their educational consultants can answer your questions about diagnosis, curriculum, at-home therapies, or a student education plan.
SPED Homeschool
SPED Homeschool believes every child can succeed when provided individualized instruction and that homeschooling is one of the best options a family has for providing this type of education for a unique learner.
NATHHAN
The National Challenged Homes Schoolers Associated Network exists to encourage homeschooling families with special needs children in ways that glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and equip parents to confidently homeschool their children with special needs or disabilities.
Resources by Topic for Learners with Special Needs
ADD/ADHD
Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood to Adulthood– Edward M. Hallowell, John J. Ratey
Right-Brained Children in a Left-Brained World: Unlocking the Potential of Your ADD Child – Jeffrey Freed, Laurie Parsons
Raising a Left-Brain Child in a Right-Brain World: Strategies for Helping Bright, Quirky, Socially Awkward Children to Thrive at Home and at School – Katharine Beals
The ADHD Workbook for Kids: Helping Children Gain Self -Confidence, Social Skills and Self-Control – Lawrence E. Shapiro
Heads Up Helping!! Teaching Tips and Techniques for Working with ADD, ADHD and Other Children with Challenges – Melinda L. Boring
Is Your Child Hyperactive? Inattentive? Impulsive? Distractible? Helping the ADD/Hyperactive Child – Stephen W. Garber, Marianne Daniels Garber, Robyn Freedman Spizman
The Ritalin-Free Child: Managing Hyperactivity & Attention Deficits Without Drugs – Diana Hunter
Stop A.D.D. Naturally: Cutting Edge Information on Amino Acids, Brain Function and A.D.D. Behavior – Billie Sahley
Helping Your ADD Child: Hundreds of Practical Solutions for Parents and Teachers of ADD Children and Teens (With or Without Hyperactivity) – John F. Taylor
The ADHD Book of Lists A Practical Guide for Helping Children and Teens with Attention Deficit Disorders – Sandra Rief
Teaching Teens with ADD and ADHD A Quick Reference Guide for Teachers and Parents – Chris Zeigler Dendy
Carbohydrate Addicted Kids Help Your Child or Teen Break Free of Junk Food and Sugar Cravings–for Life! – Richard Heller, Rachel Heller
The Sensory Connection An OT and SLP Team Approach – Nancy Kashman, Janet Mora
How to Get Your Child off the Refrigerator and on to Learning – Carol Barnier
No More Ritalin – Mary Ann Block
The ADHD Autism Connection: A Step Toward More Accurate Diagnosis And Effective Treatment – Diane Kennedy
The Parent’s Guide to Attention Deficit Disorders – Stephen B. McCarney, Angela Marie Bauer
Help For Your Hyperactive Child – William Crook
Smart But Feeling Dumb – Harold Levinson
Teaching the Tiger:A Handbook for Individuals Involved in the Education of Students with Attention Deficit Disorders, Tourette Syndrome or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder – Marilyn Dornbush, Sheryl Pruitt
Crazy Makers: Chapter 4 Feeding Your Child’s Brain – Carol Simontacchi
Homeschooling the Child with ADD or Other Special Needs – Lenore Colacion Hayes
Is Your Child Really ADHD? – Stephen Guffanti
SOFTWARE
Sharper Brain sharperprograms.com
Play Attention playattention.com
WEBSITES
ADHD or Active Child? adhdoractivechild.com
Westfield Academy Top 10 Teaching Tips for Children with ADD/ADHD westfieldacademy.org
Dianne Craft diannecraft.org
Homeschool Central homeschoolcentral.com
The Block Center blockcenter.com
Equipping Minds equippingminds.com
The Family Hope Center familyhopecenter.com
Attachment/Adoption
BOOKS
The Connected Child: Bring Hope and Healing to your Adoptive Family – Karyn B. Purvis, David R. Cross
I Love You Rituals – Becky A. Bailey
Theraplay: Helping Parents and Children Build Better Relationships Through Attachment-Based Therapy – Phyllis B. Booth
Games and Activities for Attaching with your Child – Deborah D Gray, Megan Clarke
Attaching Through Love, Hugs and Play: Simple Strategies to Help Build Connections with Your Child – Deborah Gray
Autism Spectrum Disorder
BOOKS
Autism – Stephanie Marohn
Children with Autism – Michael Powers
Children with Starving Brains – Jaquelyn McCandless
Homeschooling Children with Special Needs – Sharon Hensley
Recovery Against All Odds – Kristi Chrysler
Siblings of Children with Autism: A Guide for Families – Sandra L. Harris, Beth A. Glasberg
The Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program – Mark Sundberg
Sensory Integration and the Young Child – Jean Ayres
The Out-of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder – Carol Kranowitz
Too Wise to be Mistaken, Too Good to be Unkind Christian Parents Contendy with Autism, by Cathy Steere
Asperger Syndrome and Difficult Moments – Brenda Smith Miles, Jack Southwick
Upsidedown Brilliance – Linda Silverman
Asperger Syndrome: A Guide For Educators and Parents – Brenda Smith Miles, Richard Simpson
SOFTWARE
Rethink Ed rethinked.com
Maximum Potential Kids maximumpotentialkids.com
WEBSITES
Autism Today
Autism Speaks
Autism Web
Lego Printables – An enormous list from a blogger of free Lego printables
Parents Rearing & Educating Autistic Children in Christian Homes groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/PREACCH/info
Teach2Talk
Do 2 Learn
Wrightslaw
Model Me Kids
Gifted Development Center
Auditory Processing Dysfunction
BOOKS
Brain Integration Therapy for Children – Dianne Craft
WEBSITES
Advanced Brain Technologies advancedbrain.com
Down syndrome
BOOKS
Teaching Reading To Children With Down Syndrome – Patricia Logan Oelwein woodbinehouse.com
Teaching Math to People with Down Syndrome and Other Hands-On Learners: Strategies and Materials – DeAnna Horstmeier
Early Communication Skills for Children with Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals – Libby Kumin
Fine Motor Skills for Children with Down syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals – Maryann Bruni
Gross Motor Skills for Children with Down Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals – Patricia C. Winders
Whole Child Reading: A Quick Start Guide to Teaching Students with Down Syndrome and Other Developmental Delays– Natalie Hale
Supporting Positive Behavior in Children and Teens with Down Syndrome: The Respond but Don’t React Method – David Stein
WEBSITES
National Association for Down Syndrome nads.org
Downsyn downsyn.com
Woodbine House woodbinehouse.com
Dysgraphia
BOOKS
Teaching Your Special Needs Student – Judith B. Munday – learn@helpinschool.net or 757-482-5709
The Student Education Plan – Judith B. Munday – learn@helpinschool.net or 757-482-5709
Brain Integration Therapy Manual – Dianne Craft
Handwriting Without Tears Manual – Jan Olsen lwtears.com
WEBSITE
Dianne Craft diannecraft.org
Dyslexia
BOOKS
Dyslexia 101 – Marianne Sunderland
The Dyslexic Advantage – Brock L. Eide and Fernette F. Eide
The Source for Dyslexia and Dysgraphia – Regina Richard – Lingui Systems Publishers, 800-776-4332
Overcoming Dyslexia – Sally Shaywitz
Homeschooling Children with Special Needs – Sharon Hensley
Learning in Spite of Labels – Joyce Herzog
The LCP Solution: The Remarkable Nutritional Treatment for ADHD, Dyslexia & Dyspraxia – Jacqueline Stordy
At Last! A reading Method for every Child – Mary Pecci onlinereadingteacher.com
Recipe for Ready – Nina Traub
SOFTWARE
Natural Reader naturalreaders.com
Spacejock spacejock.com/yRead.html
Nuance nuance.com
Kurzweil Education kurzweiledu.com
CURRICULUM
Barton Reading & Spelling System bartonreading.com
WEBSITES
Bright Solutions for Dyslexia dys_add.com
Lexercise lexercise.com
Homeschooling with Dyslexia homeschoolingwithdyslexia.com
Learning Ally learningally.org
Slingerland Institute for Literacy slingerland.org
Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities smartkidswithld.org
Davis Dyslexia Association International dyslexia.com
The Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation schwabfoundation.org
LD Online ldonline.org
Homeschool Central homeschoolcentral.com
International Dyslexia Association dyslexiaida.org
Secret Stories thesecretstories.com
The Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity dyslexia.yale.edu
All About Learning Press allaboutlearningpress.com
Gifted | Twice Exceptional
BOOKS
Twice Exceptional Gifted Children: Understanding, Teaching and Counseling Gifted Students – Beverly Trail
Perfectionism: What is so Bad about Being Good – Miriam Adderholdt, Jan Goldberg
Project-Based Learning for Gifted Students – Todd Stanley
Coping for Capable Kids: Strategies for Parents, Teachers and Students – LeoNora Cohen, Erica Frydenburg
Living with Intensity: Understanding the Sensitivity, Excitability, and the Emotional Development of Gifted Children, Adolescents and Adults – Michael M. Piechowski, Susan Daniels
A Collection of Math Lessons from Grades 1 through 3 – Marilyn Burns, Bonnie Tank
The Good Time Math Event Book – Marilyn Burns
Developing Students’ Multiple Intelligences – Kristen Nicholson-Nelson – published by Scholastic
Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom – Thomas Armstrong
You’re Smarter Than You Think: A Kid’s Guide to Multiple Intelligences – Thomas Armstrong
In Their Way: Discovering and Encouraging your Child’s Multiple Intelligences – Thomas Armstrong
WEBSITES
Gifted Development Center gifteddevelopment.com
Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page hoagiesgifted.org/home_school.htm
Hearing Difficulties
WEBSITES
Homeschooling Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing Children
Early Interactions with Children Who Are Deaf-Blind
Sign Language Fun with Games and Puzzles
Reading Together: Tips for Parents of Children with Hearing Loss or Deafness
Socialization and the Child Who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Intellectual Disabilities
BOOKS
Homeschooling Children with Special Needs – Sharon Hensley almadenvalleychristianschool.com
When Slow Is Fast Enough – Joan Goodman
God’s Special Child – Donna Adee
Slow and Steady Get Me Ready – June Oberlander
Sensory Processing Dysfunction
BOOKS
The Out-Of-Sync Child: Recognizing and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder – Carol Stock Kranowitz
The Out-Of-Sync Child Has Fun: Activities for Kids with Sensory Processing Disorder – Carol Stock Kranowitz
Sensory Integration and the Young Child – Jean Ayres
Is Your Child’s Brain Starving? – Michael Lyon
Crazy Makers – Carol Simontacchi
Homeschooling Children with Special Needs – Sharon Hensley
Speech Disorders
BOOKS
Communicating Partners: 30 Years of Building Responsive Relationships with Late-Talking Children Including Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Down Syndrome and Typical Development – James D. MacDonald
Childhood Speech, Language & Listening Problems – Patricia Hamaguchi
Mouth Madness: Oral Motor Activities for Children – Catherine Orr
The Late Talker: What to Do If Your Child
Isn’t Talking Yet – Marilyn C. Agin, Lisa F. Geng, Malcolm Nicholl
Speaking of Apraxia: A Parents’ Guide to
Childhood Apraxia of Speech – Leslie A. Lindsay
WEBSITES
The Communicating Partners Center jamesdmacdonald.org
Super Star Speech superstarspeech.com
Woodbine House woodbinehouse.com
Super Duper Publications superduperinc.com
Mommy Speech Therapy mommyspeechtherapy.com
Speech Disorder Resources and Scholarships for College Students
edubirdie.com
APPS
Articulation Station littlebeespeech.com
Struggling Right Brain Learner
BOOKS
Right-Brained Children in a Left-Brained World: Unlocking the Potential of Your ADD Child – Jeffrey Freed, Laurie Parsons
SOFTWARE
Inspiration inspiration.com/Kidspiration
WEBSITE
Dianne Craft diannecraft.org
Vision Impaired
BOOKS
By Dr. William Cavitt (Author)
“Our purpose is to translate the knowledge provided by these professionals into ideas and concepts that can be readily understood and applied by parents, teachers, and other caregivers of blind children. Throughout the book, we will be dealing with highly specialized concepts and theories of education, psychology, and human development. We have done our best to translate the professional and academic jargon into what most people would call ‘simple English’.”
CURRICULUM
Learning Ally learningally.org
WEBSITES
Assemblies of God Center for the Blind blind.ag.org
Homeschooling Your Vision Impaired Child angelfire.com/fl/reading4u/hsingvichild.html
For Parents Who Are Suddenly Homeschooling | American Foundation for the Blind
How to Homeschool a Blind or Visually Impaired Child | wikiHow
ONLINE SUPPORT GROUPS
Homeschooling and Vision Therapy
OTHER RESOURCES
By Blind Abilities Team
International Braille and Technology Center for the Blind | National Federation of the Blind
Maryland Association of Christian Home Educators provides this listing as a courtesy to our website readers. Inclusion of a website, book, curriculum, or any type of resource does not constitute MACHE endorsement; parents are encouraged to research the philosophy and practices of any group, method, or resource considered.