Even with plenty of resources to help families with children on the spectrum, schools may not offer individualized education that a growing child with autism needs. Because of this, more and more families looking for specialized programs turn to homeschooling autistic child.
Children with autism need helping build their learning, social, language, and behavioral skills. Through homeschooling, parents can take charge of their child’s education and cater the programs to their kid’s needs.
One example is Brain Retrain, a non-invasive and drug-free alternative treatment that uses auditory neurofeedback to stimulate the brain. In turn, it helps improve an ASD person’s communication, interaction, behavior, and social skills.
What Are the Benefits of Homeschooling an Autistic Child?
Autism spectrum disorder, as the name suggests, comes in many different subtypes. Therefore, there will never be one single method of teaching children with autism. To set up your child for success, your best bet could be switching to homeschooling. Here is a list of the benefits you and your child will enjoy if you decide to homeschool:
1. Provides Parents Complete Control
Homeschooling allows parents to have complete control over their child’s education, social experiences, and environment. A public or private school can only do so much, and some programs aren’t specially designed for children with ASD.
At home, parents can remove distractions, go at the pace their child is comfortable with, and facilitate social interactions. For children with ASD, this is extremely useful because their attention span is limited.
What’s more, as the parent, you know your child best. Having control over the curriculum and tweaking it to your child’s needs can help them succeed in school.
2. An Education Program Tailored to ASD
Regular education programs may be too challenging for children with ASD. Kids on the spectrum tend to be visual learners, which the standard curriculum doesn’t always incorporate.
Through homeschooling, a parent can provide visual cues using courses specially designed for special-ed children. The sections are also much shorter, which helps cater to the student’s short attention span.
3. More Breaks and Fewer Triggers
Children with ASD are highly triggered by sensory issues. The most common ones listed by The Indiana Resource Center for Autism are crowds, space, noise, and smells. They may also be sensitive to and get triggered by changes in routine, conversation with peers, and extended coursework.
A homeschooling course will have limited distractions and fewer sensory triggers. The coursework will focus on critical concepts but have short explanations that are easier for children with ASD to understand.
4. Removes Social Pressure
ASD makes children sensitive and more anxious in social settings. As you can imagine, the pressure to do well and keep up with peers can be demotivating and stressful.
Children are expected to keep up with coursework and follow the curriculum, even in special education programs. While the classes are tailored towards kids with ASD, the coursework isn’t individualized.
ASD is such a large spectrum where one individual is very different from the next. Having an education system that can be changed according to students’ needs is vital for their success.
5. Provides More Time With Your Child
Homeschooling allows a parent to spend more hours of the day with their child. Not only does this help further the bond between the two of you, but it also allows you to monitor your child first-hand.
In a traditional setting, you’re relying on your child’s teachers to provide him with the support needed to learn. However, they may not be able to guide your kid all the time.
At home, parents will see up close how long a child is taking on specific subjects and where he is struggling. Even better, they have the power to fine-tune the program so that their child can master key concepts.
6. Cuts Out Advocating and IEP Meetings
Parents often have to advocate for special needs rights at their schools. Basically, this means numerous exhausting meetings that take time out of your day. Aside from that, IEP meetings aren’t that necessary either.
Meeting other parents and knowing others in the same situation as your family may be comforting. However, showing up for meeting after meeting and not getting answers can be frustrating. Instead of advocating, parents homeschooling their child will be in complete control without consulting any education boards.

Homeschooling Autistic Child 101
In 2018, it was reported that at least one in 44 children aged eight years old in the United States was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Boys also have five times more likelihood to be diagnosed than girls.
Under the Individuals with Disabilities and Education Act (IDEA), no disabled child should be left behind. Each will gain access to early intervention, special education, and related services in the school system. That said, some kids with ASD need specialized education that the public school system cannot provide. Hence, this is where homeschooling comes in.
Choosing to homeschool your autistic child can be difficult, as it requires time, energy, and resources. It’s not going to be easy and require that parents become familiar with homeschooling rules and regulations.
Families looking into homeschooling should check out their state laws on The Home School Legal Defense Association’s website. Here, parents will find valuable information regarding qualifications for homeschooling.
The HSLDA also provides guidelines for schooling your autistic child at home, which you can find here. It’s an excellent resource for families considering homeschooling or those who need more information about education and autism.
If you don’t find what you’re looking for, the HSLDA’s services can also provide a consultant who can help with a wide variety of tasks. Some of these include identifying your child’s learning challenges as well as creating a SEP.
Tips for Parents Homeschooling a Kid on the Spectrum
We understand that homeschooling an autistic child can be taxing, especially if you have no idea where to start. In a nutshell, you will need materials designed to help children with ASD excel and succeed. Here are more tips to ensure the process goes smoothly:
1. Use topic fixations to your advantage.
A child on the spectrum easily becomes fixated on one topic at a time. Being able to identigy and use that fixation can help keep your kid interested in the coursework.
For example, if your child is very into dinosaurs for the week, you can implement a talking dinosaur into the curriculum. Alternatively, you can come up with dinosaur-themed questions that still reflect the lecture for that day.
Being versatile and using your child’s interests will make a huge difference. Instead of thinking of their fixation as a hindrance, it’s better to use it to entice your child to learn.
2. Empower your child.
Allow your child to make their own decisions and give them authority. Providing a choice can be a great way to teach him about decision-making, boosting their confidence in the process. There’s no doubt you’d be surprised by your child’s response on what they are interested in and what choices they make.
Besides, choices are also a powerful tool in creating critical thinking skills. Children on the spectrum always find making choices hard. Therefore, having them practice critical thinking skills can help them build repertoire.
3. Encourage socialization.
One disadvantage to homeschooling is that it takes your child out of social settings. The lack of interaction with peers can hinder their social skills. That said, a parent needs to implement socialization into their curriculum.
Your child should experience field trips to museums, science facilities, parks, and more. Incorporating these trips and relating those experiences with what they are learning will help them build social skills.
Ask the local mechanic if he is willing to explain his job. You can also ask a police officer to bring them to a ride-along. The extra socialization will help them improve their verbal communication skills by getting much-needed practice outside of peers.
4. Take frequent breaks.
You know your child best, so when he feels burnt out, allow him to have a break. Scheduling breaks where your child can perform physical activities or clear his mind can help.
Kids on the spectrum will struggle to keep their attention for extended periods, so cut up the curriculum into easy-to-digest chunks. That way, your child will not feel burned out and will be able to tackle more lessons in one day.
5. Ask for help.
Homeschooling a child with autism is a huge task to take on. If it’s your first time, there are bound to be instances when you struggle. Remember, the goal is not to make homeschooling perfect. Instead, focus on adjusting the curriculum so that your child excels.
When you get lost, reach out to accredited learning partners that can help you through the process. As your child gets older, it will become more apparent that you will need the help of other professionals to choose curriculums and record their grades.

How Brain Retrain Can Help
Brain Retrain is a program developed by DreamWeaver House Foundation and SFK Media Corp. Unlike other programs, it works by incorporating audio frequencies to stimulate the areas of the brain that stimulate learning and behavior.
Used correctly and religiously, this non-invasive treatment can help decrease ASD symptoms. Not only will your child have improved reading and communication skills but also overall enhanced cognitive function.
Keep in mind that results will vary from one child to the next, as each person with autism is unique. That said, the use of auditory neurofeedback has been shown to modulate brain activity, which is why it’s a growing alternative to drugs and other interventions.
Should I Choose Homeschooling?
Homeschooling autistic child is a rewarding experience for both you and your little one. It will provide you more bonding time with your child, help prepare them for the real world, and provide them with a flexible education system.That said, it’s best to consider your options before deciding to homeschool. You might also want to use programs designed to help children on the spectrum, like Brain Retrain. Unlike other treatments, this easy-to-use program does not involve the use of drugs.