Homeschooling with Autism: Day 19 Finding a Good Support Group

Our fun group ar Gatorland!

A crucial part of homeschooling is to find a good support group or co op.  It's important to find other homeschooling families in which to socialize with and find support.  This is the place where your children will find friends that are similar to them. For some children, like mine, they are usually odd man out when asked about school.  There are several homeschooling families in our church but we are most definitely the only ones homeschooling on both side of our family. A support group will help to show them that there are other homeschooled kids just like them. 

I happened to pick a Christian homeschooling group with a number of large families.  Let me explain why that works out really well if you have a child with autism.  Most large families bring all the children to field trips and events, young and old.  There are therefore a plethora of ages to choose from at any event.  This translates into Logan can play with whatever age child that he is comfortable with usually depending on the event.  Most moms of large families are very understanding of this need. This makes it easier on Logan and me.

The support you get from other homeschooling moms can not be dismissed either.  I remember when Madison was having a terrible time learning to read.  She clearly wasn't get it in 100 Easy Lessons, no matter how hard I tried to help her.  One wise mom suggested we start over and do it again.  I was aghast at her suggestion until she gently pointed out that the beauty of homeschooling was going at the child's pace.  That advice changed our homeschool forever.

This is Day 19 of my series, Homeschooling with Autism.  Thanks for reading my series!  Check out Day 17 for a chance to enter my giveaway for a $25 gift card to Sam's Club.  Someone has to win so it might as well be you!