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As the mother of a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), I have
always known that I would homeschool my son. Within three months of his
birth, my husband and I firmly made the decision to homeschool, after much
prayer, thought, and consideration. Our decision did not change three years later when
he received a diagnosis of autism. We knew that it would be more challenging, but we
also knew that we were not willing to relinquish our God-given right and responsibility
to homeschool our child because of his diagnosis.
However, the decision to homeschool is typically not as straightforward for some par-
ents of children with autism. Instead, homeschooling a child on the autism spectrum
is often a hasty decision that is made after disparaging trials experienced in the pub-
lic school system. As a result, these parents may become quickly frustrated and often
doubt whether they made the right decision to homeschool.
Typically, the reservations about this educational option are focused on the age-old
concern of “socialization.” If this is the case, their doubts and fears are even more pro-
nounced because they are now charged with the task of finding appropriate ways to
socialize a child with a social disorder. While their anxiety is well-founded, their energy
is often misspent on rummaging through the wrong resources trying to find the right
answers.
Instead, the practical solution is to prayerfully consider the best methods for social-
izing a child on the spectrum. In doing so, a few factors should be examined. First, it
is important to evaluate the purpose of socialization. Second, it is vital to consider the
role that the child’s overall health will play in his or her ability to properly socialize with
others. Third, it is crucial to set measureable and attainable goals for finding the right
kind of amenable social environments for the child.
The Purpose of Socialization
When looking for a means to socialize any child, we must first understand the pur-
pose and goal of socialization. The purpose of socialization is to modify an individual’s
behavior so that it complies with social norms. The primary goals of socialization are
for an individual to be able to properly function and to become a productive member
in society.
In order to accomplish these goals with an autistic child, it is necessary to expose the
child to a variety of social settings, particularly ones that are suitable for helping the
child acquire the requisite skills to adequately interact with other individuals. In which
case, appropriate settings for autistic children are often significantly different than set-
tings that are appropriate for neuro-typical children. This is due to the unique social
and health challenges that a child with ASD faces.
Health and Socialization
Once parents or caretakers understand the purpose of socialization, they should in-
vestigate the impact that the child’s health will have on his ability to understand and
reciprocate social cues. It is important for caretakers to understand these dynamics
before placing ASD children in social environments. This is because children on the
spectrum often have sensory integration issues, developmental and cognitive delays,
and self-stimulatory behaviors that can seriously impede their ability to communicate
with others.
Therefore, it may be necessary for caretakers to consider treatments that focus on re-
covering the child’s physiological, psychological and emotional health before visiting
the issue of socialization. In doing so, caretakers will be able to provide the child with
the proper foundation for processing and engaging with social stimuli, thus, improv-
ing social transitions and interactions for the child.
This is something that we experienced with our son. When he was initially diagnosed,
the early intervention specialists from our state’s program for developmental delays
were primarily focused on his socialization. They were adamant about him needing to
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Socialization and the Homeschooled Autistic Child
BY TERRI BROGAN