Graduating from homeschool is something to be proud of! It can be especially hard for a student with special needs to get an education outside of their own home, which is why homeschooling can be so beneficial.
Homeschooling allows special needs children to learn and progress at their own pace without the feeling of being rushed or pressured. So what can parents and educators do to ensure their special needs child has the best chance of graduating successfully from homeschool? This article will cover topics such as what accommodations are available, graduation requirements and how to adjust to post-homeschool life.
What Accommodations Are Available?
One of the best ways to ensure graduation success is to provide the appropriate accommodations for the student. Special needs students are often behind, or need extra help in keeping up with their peers and understanding the material.
Homeschool educators must be willing to adjust the curriculum for the student’s individual needs. This often means simplifying the material, familiarizing topics, and providing appropriate accommodations. These accommodations could include longer timelines for assignments, special visual aids and reduced exam lengths.
This also includes providing students with extra support from tutors, volunteers and family members to ensure success.
What Are The Graduation Requirements?
In most cases, homeschoolers must meet the same graduation requirements as those of public school students. This includes the completion of required courses, maintaining a certain grade point average and passing the state tests.
Each state offers a variety of tests that are required for homeschool graduation. For special needs students, each state should provide accommodations and alternate tests to ensure that all students are able to meet the same standards. Even with accommodations, graduation can seem intimidating, which is why it is important to break the requirements down into smaller steps and set reasonable deadlines so that students can stay motivated.
How Can Special Needs Students Adjust To Post-Homeschool Life?
After graduation, special needs students must face the transition to post-homeschool life. This can be a daunting and confusing time, which is why it is important to prepare. Before graduation, educators and parents must educate the student on how to transition into the adult world.
This means teaching the student the importance of paying taxes, managing their finances, filling out job applications and other useful skills. It is also important to understand the many support systems available to special needs adults and, while it is important to encourage independence, parents and guardians must understand the limits of an adult with special needs.
ConclusionThe goal of homeschooling is to provide special needs students with the best quality education possible. Graduating from homeschool is an accomplishment for anyone but for special needs students, it can be especially hard. That is why it is important to provide the appropriate accommodations, understand the graduation requirements and support the transition to post-homeschool life.
By doing so, special needs students can take the next step in their life with confidence and satisfaction.