home :: autism in children

Autism in Children and a Homeschooling Environment

Autism in children is a disorder that delays the development in many areas, including thinking, language, behavior and social related development. Often, Autism in children requires the use of behavior management skills- typically, behavior modification. Choosing to provide homeschooling to children with Autism will require that you have access to special education resources, and possibly homeschooling groups that consist of other parents with Autistic children for support.

Autism in children can be diagnosed as early as 18 months, although the differences in development are usually noticed around the age of 3 years old. There is no cure for Autism, but providing treatment as soon as signs are shown is an effective way to treat the disorder, and can help individuals with Autism improve their social interaction and behavior management. Homeschooling children with Autism will present unique challenges, but it has been decided that children with Autism typically learn better in a homeschooling environment, as they are free from the overwhelming sensations that often result from being in traditional classrooms- many children talking and playing at once, harsh lighting and unpredictable routines.

A publication by The National Research Council’s Committee on Educational Interventions for Children with Autism entitled “Educating Children with Autism” provides details on how to educate children with Autism. Autism in children presents a need for interaction based treatment, many of which focus on behavior management. In a homeschooling environment, a parent can become the sole educator and provide the one on one interaction that will increase the child’s ability to learn and develop skills necessary to function in society.