3 ways to customize your homeschooling for neurodiverse needs
Practical ways you can tailor your homeschooling for unique needs like ADHD, Autism, giftedness, and more. Helpful resources for neurodivergent kids.
Many families turn to homeschooling, not because it was what they had always planned, but because they feel that the traditional school system has failed their children.
This frustration may take many forms: an underfunded school district, kids being bullied, overworked and under-resourced teachers, etc. One core issue can be traditional schools' underlying ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach.
Talk to any parent who has a child with unique learning needs, like ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, or Giftedness. Even when schools do their best to accommodate an IEP (Individual Education Program), at the end of the day, your child might need more.
Homeschooling can be an excellent solution for some families because you can build your program, schedule, and curriculum around your child's needs and learning preferences.
Here are a few ways you can customize your children’s homeschooling so that your kids can learn in a way that works for them.
1. Build their neurodiverse support team
One big misconception about homeschooling is that you, the parent/caregiver, have to do everything. But you don’t. You don’t have to teach every subject yourself or curate every resource either.
Find niche parent groups
Connecting with parents on a similar journey can be incredibly helpful for asking questions and sharing strategies. For example, we love Tilt Parenting and their approach. As they put it, being differently wired isn’t a deficit — it’s a difference.”
Tilt is an amazing resource for parents raising atypical children. They provide “roadmaps for walking through the journey, insight from trusted experts, strategies and solutions for dealing with challenging situations, tips for advocating for our children, and evidence-based resources for overwhelmed parents.”
There are tons of wonderful organizations and nonprofits like this. For example, if your child is deaf or hard of hearing, folks like Hearing First offer free monthly community chats where parents can connect.
These specialized groups can take place in-person or online, but either way, they’re the perfect place to ask questions, get recommendations, and share resources.
Online learning platforms are also great resources for your kids to use directly. For example, nearly 56% of families on Outschool have at least one child with unique learning needs, such as ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, or Giftedness.
Check out our online classes for neurodivergent kids and specialized online tutoring.
Find tailored social groups for kids
There are also some fantastic niche groups just for kids. For example, Outschool has:
Research local state or school-district services
These are funded by your state or local district. Available services will depend on where you live and your child’s needs, but always worth researching. Your child may also qualify for an Education Scholarship Account.
If you’re unsure where to start, contact your local school district for recommendations or ask your pediatrician for a referral.
Assemble the dream team
So when it comes to building your kid’s neurodiverse support team, it might look something like this:
Niche online resource groups for parents
Social groups for kids who share their unique needs or learning style
Folks providing services through the school district or state
ESA-funded academic courses or tutoring
Therapists or medical support: occupational therapists, counselors, speech therapists, physical therapists, etc.
Whatever your family’s needs might look like, you don’t have to homeschool alone.
2. Customize your homeschooling curriculum
Homeschooling is incredible because as long as you follow your state’s homeschooling laws, you can choose, customize, and implement your curriculum however you like. This can be especially helpful if your neurodivergent kid has a particular learning preference or style that works best for them.
Customize your homeschooling curriculum to your kid’s needs
If you’re currently shopping for your curriculum, or evaluating the efficacy of your curriculum, start here. This free eBook will give you an excellent overview to get you started. Some key things to remember:
You’re allowed to use more than one curriculum. You don’t have to find the perfect end-all option.
You’re allowed to switch curricula. Especially if it’s not ‘landing’ with your kids.
You can outsource full-curriculum and semester-long subjects you don’t want to teach/manage.
You can supplement with online classes, local co-ops, and fun activities.
If you need extra support, you can also try tutoring.
Tailor your schedule
Another thing to consider is WHEN you want to do the curriculum. Aka, how you want to design your homeschool schedule.
For working homeschooling parents, it can be more challenging but still doable. Outsourcing and supplementing your homeschooling will also be game-changers. Need some inspiration? Start with this video.
Here are some questions to consider when building your schedule:
When does your child learn best?
Are there particular times of day that are harder/easier for them?
When do your kids check out or get overwhelmed?
What might a productive learning ‘block’ look like? How long of a rest might they need?
What are some enjoyable breaks (for all of you) you could sprinkle into your schedule?
Do you have any standing appointments/commitments/therapies you need to work around?
Customize your extracurriculars
Once you’ve established your schedule, consider what extracurriculars you want to give your kids. These could be based on something they’re already passionate about and want to invest in. Or they could be new educational activities. For example, they could try:
Options like these are great for rounding out your homeschooling schedule and breaking up your day. Plus, when you do online classes, you don’t have to waste time driving all over town. And you’ll have more choices and scheduling availability.
Bottom line, you get to choose the curriculum and supplements that work best for your unique kid.
3. Design your learning environment
Homeschooling also means you get to design a homeschool environment that works for how your kids like to learn. Depending on how your child’s brain is wired, their physical surroundings can make a big impact on their ability to concentrate and engage.
Every kid is different. Maybe yours learns best first thing in the morning, in the bright sunshine at the kitchen table. Maybe they love the quiet evening with the soft light on the back patio.
Figuring out your kids’ learning preferences can also make your homeschooling more effective. For example:
Kinesthetic and visual learners might like:
Adding captions to videos with a tool like Captions
Life skills classes and experiences
In-person or virtual field trips
Local or virtual museum tours
Flex online courses they can take at their own pace
Using a yoga ball, fidget toy, or mini-trampoline while they listen to a lecture
Using models and manipulatives for studying math
Graphic novels instead of dense literature
Colored overlays for reading and studying
Auditory learners might enjoy:
Using audiobooks through library apps like Libby
Text-to-voice tools like NaturalReader, Murf, and Speechify
Recorded lectures and classes they can listen to
Structure-loving kids might like:
Learning stations where they can self-pace tasks, pause, and return later
When your kids hate certain subjects Some subjects may come easier than others for your neurodivergent learner. They may complain that it’s ‘boring,’ but really, it’s that they’re frustrated. But chances are there’s a tool that can make the subject more fun and approachable.
For example, if your kid hates writing, here are some strategies you can try:
Use Grammarly to speed up proofreading and break down grammar mistakes
Copy & paste the text into NaturalReader to hear how it sounds and catch typos
Use Hemingway to check which passages are difficult to read and understand
Connect your kids with a writing tutor who can coach them and give positive feedback
Enroll them in an online book club or creative writing class to bring writing to life
Homeschool gamification can make any subject more fun to learn. Try using Hello History to “chat” with historical figures. Compete in an online math game. Or use Yippity to turn text into a quiz or flashcards.
Homeschooling is a great option for neurodivergent families because you get to focus on what works for your children rather than the one-size-fits-all approach of the traditional classroom.
And don’t have to do it alone. Whether you’re looking for online classes designed specifically for kids with neurodiverse needs like Autism or ADHD or want to connect with similar families, you’ll find it on Outschool. Get started.
