Tips for Homeschooling Your Autistic Child

Introduction

Homeschooling children can be difficult, but it can also be rewarding for parent and child—and it’s increasingly a viable option for families. So it is with homeschooling a child on the autism spectrum, and perhaps even more so, as homeschooling can offer a personalized education that caters to an autistic child’s unique needs.

Whether you’ve already started homeschooling or are considering it as an option, understanding the right strategies and tools is essential. In this short article, we’ll walk you through how to homeschool your autistic child effectively, offering key considerations and practical tips.

Understand the Needs of Your Autistic Child

Every child is unique, and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects children in various ways. Some students may excel in particular subjects, while others may struggle with certain tasks. It’s important to observe a child's strengths and challenges to create the approach that works best for them.

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Specific Homeschooling Tips for Autistic Children

Tailor the environment to minimize distractions or sensory overload

Many autistic children have heightened sensitivity to sound, light, or textures, so choosing or designing a learning space with that in mind can help a student stay focused and comfortable. Multiple seating options such as standing desks, rocking chairs, or cushions can help some students. Autistic children also tend to thrive in structured environments with clear, predictable routines. Creating a consistent schedule and daily plan (while remaining as flexible as your child’s needs require) can reduce anxiety and increase engagement.

Praise effort instead of performance

Ron Sandison, author of A Parent’s Guide to Autism and the upcoming Adulting on the Spectrum, says, “Many students with autism struggle with all-or-nothing thinking. Teach a student who is a perfectionist to analyze this all-or-nothing mindset and to verbalize obsessive thought patterns. Doing this enables him or her to see new opportunities for solving problems and boast creativity in their brain.”

Focus on students’ interests to compensate for disabilities and weaknesses

Special interests foster independence, Sandison (who is on the spectrum himself), says. “When I was seven years old, my mom gave me a stuffed animal of a prairie dog for Christmas. From kindergarten until eighth grade prairie dogs were my special interest. My mom harnessed my love for animals and prairie dogs to teach me art, reading, science, and writing. Don’t squash student’s special interests but exploit them to build skills for life.”

Choose a curriculum that aligns with your student's learning style

Homeschooling curricula that offer maximum flexibility can be a significant advantage for children on the autism spectrum. Programs that include multimedia, interactive lessons that can be paused and revisited allow you to tailor lessons to your child’s pace. Some children with autism benefit from tactile experiences, so curricula that emphasize practical, experiential learning offer an advantage, as do (for some) unit studies that allow you to explore one topic in depth across subjects, which can engage and maintain your child’s interest. There are even curricula specifically designed for children on the spectrum, such as ABA-based (Applied Behavior Analysis) curricula.

Work with your student’s communication style

Some autistic children excel in verbal communication, while others have trouble it. If the latter is the case with your student, consider alternative communication tools such as sign language, picture exchange systems, or assistive technology if necessary.

Teach at a child-specific pace

Sandison calls this “the Burger King learning style”: Have it your way. He says, “Begin with a fun and easy activity (this is the bun of the burger), move to a harder activity (the meat in the burger), and when the student begins to become frustrated and distracted, do another easier activity (a bun for the bottom of the burger).”

Teach basic life skills to prepare students for employment and independence

Sandison also recommends including basic life skills in a homeschool curriculum for an autistic child, “skills that will enable them to function within society and gain employment. Some of the essential skills include proper hygiene, a healthy self-esteem, dependability, diplomacy, polite manners, self-advocacy, and understanding workplace culture.”

Include measured exposure and mentorship in your plan

Exposure and mentorship are keys to success for students with autism. Exposure to different environments will help the student learn to adapt to sensory issues, and mentors help a student learn social skills and refine his or her talent. Sandison adds, “My mentor was Dr. Jack Van Impe, who taught me to memorize the Bible and had me as his first intern for his international ministry. I now have 15,000 scriptures memorized, including 22 complete books of the New Testament, and thanks to his mentorship I speak to thousands of educators and students each year.”

Build in frequent affirmations and rewards

Self-efficacy thrives with completions of small goals or assignments, and these lead to bigger tasks and successes. Teach your student after a completion of a class activity or assignment to declare, “I did it” or “I got at least one thing done today!”

Enjoy the Rewards of Homeschooling

Homeschooling any child requires patience and dedication. For autistic children, it can meet their needs in ways that other options cannot. While each step of the journey may require adjustments, with the right approach, you can help your autistic child thrive academically and socially, and reap the rewards of your efforts—and theirs.

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TruPlay Parents’ Guide: Tips for Homeschooling Your Autistic Child