by Angie Lindsay

Created on: June 12, 2011

Homeschooling has many benefits for all children, but especially those with special needs. Sometimes, the schools in the area don't have the finances to provide decent services to accommodate the children they have in the district. When this happens, the parent has to weigh out the benefits of fighting the school system, or doing what it takes to help their child. It's not an easy decision, but one that is well worth the work if the parent is committed.

Fewer distractions from sensory dysfunction

Several of the special needs common to children are affected by sensory dysfunction. Autism is one of the main disorders that makes a child deal with improper processing of the information gathered by the senses. A child with sensory problems can become easily distracted by the colors of the clothes his peers are wearing, or may focus on voices that are too high-pitched. She may actually hear the buzzing of the fluorescent lighting so loudly she can't hear anything else. Being around so many kids can cause a feeling of panic. All these things can distract a child from learning, causing his grades to slip and lead to behavioral problems that keep her in trouble.

In a home setting, those distractions automatically diminish. The child is in a familar setting that more than likely has already been altered to his needs. Without all the stress, he can focus on what is being taught. Not only is this more beneficial academically, it's a boost to his self-confidence as he realizes he is capable of learning, just like his peers.

Lessons can be tailored

At school, the push is to keep everyone moving at the same speed. It's unrealistic to expect one teacher to be able to work with 30 students, all at different paces. This creates the problem where some students get pushed ahead who aren't ready, and some are forced to stop and wait for others to catch up. This can lead to behavioral problems because they are bored.

At home, Mom isn't under that pressure. Even if there are other children in the home it's still easier to tailor learning to the individual needs of a child. This takes the pressure off of the mother or father as well as the child. This is crucial to a child with special needs who may be above grade level in one subject, but behind in two others. They can spend the time they need to really grasp a concept, which leads to better retention and instills a love for learning.

Socialization

The biggest myth about

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