RE: Re: apraxia and learning disdabilities/homeschool

[Guest guest]

Hi, ,

Those homeschoolers can be really touchy some times. It's not a reflection on

you, but on them.

Like anything else, there are pros and cons to homeschooling a child with

struggles. I have five children and we have homeschooled from the beginning. My

oldest son, now a freshmen, is in a local school, but I still homeschool the

other 4. My second son, in 7th grade is a struggling learner, and my youngest, a

5 yo girl, has moderately severe oral apraxia and hypotonia. Because I was

already homeschooling, I have planned to homeschool her, too. All that to say

that I did not have to make the decision from the same standpoint as you, but

maybe I can offer some insight into the decision you are facing. I'll offer some

pros and cons to think about. Anyone else, please feel free to add more.

Pros (related to apraxia)

- You can move at your daughter's speed in all areas of learning.

- You child gets one-on-one training daily. I think this one thing is what makes

homeschooling so successful--the child to teacher ratio.

- You can still get services through the school system, I believe (there are a

couple of national homeschool legal organizations that can help you sort through

this if you are having problems)

- Your child avoids what can become daily teasing and rudeness related to being

different (this, too, is " socialization, " although of a very negative kind)

- The time you would spend on advocacy in the school system can be spent on

learning instead. In the school system, you become an advocate for your child to

get the services you believe he needs. In a lot of cases, there is a world of

difference between the ease of getting the federally-mandated early intervention

services and the public tax money in-school services. Not everyone has to

struggle against the system, but many do.

- There are lots of resources on the internet and locally if you are in a big

city for when you need help.

Cons

- [This one can be a pro or a con, depending on how you look at it] You will be

in managing your child's educational experience and therapy needs. There is no

IEP. It's your role to plan the program for your child.

- You will not have a wide array of experience like a public school teacher.

Because of their exposure to many kids with a variety of needs, and because of

the requirement that they continue training for their field, they have an

arsenal of tricks of the trade to work with, and the funding for some of the

higher-cost educational tools.

- You have to find opportunities for your child to socialize, but you do get to

pick who he socializes with. (I would like to point out that technically,

socialization is really about institutionalization, not about being social.)

That's a start. For me, the academic part and social aspects of homeschooling my

daughter are easy. It's all the extra work and research required for teaching a

struggling learner that wears me out on occasion. Because she will be of

mandatory school age this fall, I have been mulling over whether to use services

at the school, or go the private therapy route. Going the home route does

require a lot more from the parent. I have asked my daughter's therapists (OT,

PT, ST) if they think she would benefit from being in a school environment. And

of course, they are split on their opinions. On the one hand, she would

theoretically get more therapy time, but it would be in a group, not

individually. The peer interaction would be good, but that can be recreated

elsewhere in homeschool groups. The teachers have more experience, but in our

district she would probably be put with kids who have hearing difficulties more

so than speech therapies, so the environment would not necessarily be specific

to her needs.

It's this kind of thing that you will need to research before jumping in one

direction or the other. I have found that the therapists have a pretty good idea

of what goes on in the schools and can give you their opinions on it. When it

comes right down to it, I think the answer to the homeschooling question depends

on your answer to this question: Are you willing to do all the extra work it

will take to manage your child's education and additional needs on your own, do

the research on curriculum and programs that would benefit your son, and find

outside resources for the areas you want to give over to someone else (I'm

thinking various classes that you can find online or taught locally). To be

honest, that's a question I'm still wrestling with for my daughter.

Buckwalter

www.BusyHomeschooler.com - for parents of struggling learners

Re: [ ] Re: apraxia and learning disdabilities

Hi

I just read your post that described " Home schooling " . I have met other

parents through various Net Groups who also believe in this Concept. I have

asked this same question to others... and I always get no response... or angry

responses. I am not trying to " be a jerk " ... I simply, have a desire to ask how

home schooling can benefit a child. My Son is almost age 4... he has a diagnosis

of Moderate Apraxia... he also has hypotonia...and has worn various forms of

DAFO type leg braces since age 2. He also has massive sensory issues.... meal

times have always been difficult..... We are in the process of a battle with the

Insurance Company to simply, obtain " Feeding Therapy " .

I am against the concept of " Home Schooling " .... only because I feel that this

would cause my Son to have more difficulties as an adult (in regard to

socialization skills). I also feel that with his Diagnosis of " Moderate

Apraxia " , he needs intensive Therapy, plus " speech practice with trusted peers " .

I feel that if I home schooled him, he would be in a provervbvial " safety

bubble " for years... and he would not be able to develop the skills that he

needs to function as an independant adult.

Any input re the " Home Schooling " concept ..... and relevant links to more

info would be appreciated.