(Part 1) Special Needs Homeschooling 101: Creating a Learning Plan that Works

So, you’ve decided to homeschool your child with special needs. First of all—bravo. That decision takes guts, love, and probably a strong cup of coffee (or three). Whether it came after a tough IEP meeting (like my family), a school that wasn’t the right fit (Ditto), or just your mama and papa instincts kicking in, you’re here now—trying to figure out how to do right by your child without setting your house on fire with sight word flashcards. P.S. Sight word lists are Great!

Let’s walk through the beginning stages of this journey: understanding your child’s needs and building a learning plan that works. You don’t need a special ed degree or Pinterest-perfect charts—just a little direction, some (lots of) patience, and a good sense of humor.

I. First Things First: You’re Not Alone (Even If It Feels Like It)

Many parents choose to homeschool because traditional classrooms aren’t built for every learner’s needs. And that’s perfectly fine. Homeschooling allows you to tailor education around your child’s strengths, challenges, and interests, without the rigid schedules, crowded classrooms, or one-size-fits-all expectations. It’s about creating an environment where your child can truly thrive, at their own pace, with their unique learning style leading the way. Most importantly, homeschooling does not have to be 7 hours a day; it looks more like 2-3 hours per child each day (this also depends on age), and you choose the schedule and what they learn at home. 

II. Understanding Your Child’s Needs (Beyond the Diagnosis)

Your child is more than a checklist of delays or challenges. But understanding their diagnosis is an important step in creating a successful homeschooling plan.

1. Get a Good Evaluation (Even if You’re Not in the School System)

You’ll want a clear picture of your child’s strengths and struggles. This could come from a school-based evaluation (yes, you can often still access them) or a private one through your doctor, insurance, or a regional center. Look into assessments from:

• Psychologists (for learning and developmental evaluations)
• Speech-language pathologists
• Occupational therapists
• Physical therapists
  

Even if you’ve already had an evaluation in the past, an updated one can provide valuable info for planning at home. My family had evaluations (non-IEP evals) from all of these specialists, and the information provided helped form a homeschool curriculum. 

2. Read the Diagnosis Like a Roadmap—Not a Life Sentence

Autism, ADHD, Down Syndrome, Dyslexia—whatever the label, it’s just a starting point. Think of it as your GPS rerouting system: “Okay, so we’re taking the scenic route. Got it.” The goal is to understand how your child learns best.

3. Create a Learning Profile

This doesn’t need to be fancy. Just jot down:

• How does your child learn (visual, auditory, tactile, movement, using a mixture of all is usually best!)
• What helps your child focus
• What triggers frustration or overstimulation
• Favorite interests or calming activities
• Sensory preferences (likes deep pressure? avoids noise? runs from socks?)
  

You’re building a cheat sheet for success—and bonus, you can also hand it to any tutor, therapist, or brave soul who offers to babysit.

III. Creating a Customized Learning Plan (Because Cookie-Cutter Just Doesn’t Cut It)

Alright, now that you’ve got the 411 on your child’s learning style, it’s time to make a plan. One that works for your actual child, not the imaginary unicorn kid who sits still, says please, and voluntarily finishes math before lunch.

1. Do You Need an IEP at Home?

Short answer: Nope.

• Get a Baseline (What does your child know?)
• Decide what you want your child to learn? (Life skills, reading, writing, behavior, Algebra) You decide what is most important, not the teacher or school district.

Longer answer: You don’t need an IEP as a homeschooler, but the structure of one can be helpful. You can still set:

• Annual goals (e.g., “Write full sentences independently”)

-I also recommend short-term goals (daily, weekly, monthly, etc).

• Accommodations (e.g., “Use speech-to-text for writing assignments”)
  
• Service plans (even if those services are just from you)

To be honest: My wife and myself got tired of hearing what others thought our child knows or could do. How many times have you been told your child does not know how to do something? We were told that are son could not stack blocks or go down the slide when asked (this was when he was younger). He could do both easily when we asked him, because we the parents knew how to get it out of him.

Can outside evaluations be helpful? Yes. It is good to sometimes hear a perspective we did not think about or know about. In these instances, a fresh pair of eyes can be helpful.

You’re not turning your living room into a public school—it’s more like building a personal learning studio tailored just for your kiddo.

2. Choose Curriculum That Fits (Not the Other Way Around)

Here’s your permission slip to skip the rigid, grade-level boxed curriculum that makes you both cry before breakfast. Instead:

• Use multisensory programs that include: (Singapore Math, Seton Homeschool text, Abecka, All About Reading, TouchMath, or Handwriting Without Tears). My family takes things from many curricula (we love TouchMath and Handwriting Without Tears).
  
• Lean into interest-based learning (a unit study on trains, dinosaurs, or Encanto? Go for it.)
  
• Incorporate assistive tech like text-to-speech apps, audiobooks, timers, and visual schedules. What works for your child and your family is the great part of homeschooling!
  

3. Set Realistic, Flexible Goals

Some days will feel amazing. Other days will feel like a tornado has struck down in your learning area. It’s okay. Goals should stretch your child, not stress them or you into oblivion.

Try setting goals in three categories:

• Academic: “Practice counting to 20 without help.”
  
• Social/Emotional: “Ask for a break when overwhelmed.”
  
• Daily Living: “Brush teeth with verbal prompts only”
  

Each win matters—even the small ones. Especially the small ones.

Coming Up Next…

In the next parts of this series, we’ll cover how to build a homeschool schedule that doesn’t make you cry, then deal with behavior challenges like a boss, and balance learning with life (because you’re not a robot, and neither is your child). This will give you a sneak peek into the next parts of the upcoming topics for homeschooling.

In the meantime, celebrate this: You’ve taken the first step toward giving your child the kind of education that truly works for them—and you’re not doing it alone.