From Home School to High School

Deciding where your child will go to school is tough for any parent, but can be especially difficult for parents of kids with special needs. Budget cuts, large class sizes, and a lack of education about the unique needs of children with Asperger’s syndrome and other autism spectrum disorders make public school less attractive, leading many parents to consider home school.

Home school can be an appealing option for children with special needs. In a controlled home environment, parents can teach at their child’s pace, monitor their child’s peer influences and create a setting that is conducive to learning. But in addition to being demanding and time-intensive for parents, home school can leave both children and their parents feeling socially isolated.

Is there a point when children with special needs should transition to high school for social reasons? Here are a few reasons that the transition from home school to high school can be beneficial:

• There is growing evidence that social skill development is as important as academic achievement when it comes to being successful in school. Teens with Asperger’s syndrome and related disorders, who already struggle to read social cues and fit in with their peers, can fall further behind socially without adequate social skill practice.
• Because their days are filled primarily with parent-child interactions, home schooled teens may lack independence and an understanding of real-world issues.
• While home school associations present opportunities for children who are home schooled to interact with their peers, these groups vary in quality, structure and their ability to meet the unique social needs of children with Asperger’s syndrome.

Alternatives to Public School

Many parents feel torn between public school and home school. You want the individual support and specialized attention that come with home schooling, but you’d like your child to get sufficient practice with social skills to feel comfortable interacting with the world around them.

Private schools for teens with Asperger’s and other special needs offer a high-quality education as well as plenty of supervised social skills practice. Talisman Academy, a residential school for teens and young adults ages 12 to 20 with Asperger’s Syndrome, High-Functioning Autism, and similar spectrum disorders, is an excellent alternative to public school. The academy features:

• A highly desirable staff-to-student ratio and an integrated curriculum
• Individualized attention and small class sizes
• Experienced, highly trained teachers and staff who specialize in working with teens with autism spectrum disorders
• Emphasis on improving social awareness and interaction, independence, and academic self-motivation
• Hands-on learning trips that immerse students in multi-sensory lessons in history, geography and scientific exploration
• Specialized social skills groups and instruction on independent living skills
• A positive peer culture in which each student’s strengths and unique learning styles are appreciated

Public school works for some kids, while home school is the best solution for others. But if public school and/or home school are no longer meeting your family’s needs, alternative schools can help your child excel academically and socially as they prepare for adulthood.