How One Arizona Family Found Freedom, Joy, and Hidden Talents Through Homeschooling with ESA and Outschool

How One Arizona Family Found Freedom, Joy, and Hidden Talents Through Homeschooling with ESA and Outschool

When our team first connected with the Barnard family, it was clear there was something special about them. A Goodyear, Arizona family with four neurodivergent children, three on the autism spectrum and one managing high anxiety, the Barnards have built an educational experience that celebrates individuality and curiosity.

Like many parents, Kellie started out in the traditional school system, hopeful it would meet her children’s needs. But after a difficult IEP meeting for her oldest son, she realized something wasn’t working. “We knew our kids were capable of so much,” she shared, “but the system just didn’t see them the way we did.”

That realization became a turning point, one that eventually led the family to homeschooling and to Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, which has opened doors to personalized learning through Outschool classes and other flexible resources.

Building a Homeschool That Fits Each Child

Like many families starting out on an alternative path to education, homeschooling all four kids felt daunting at first. “As a mom, when you're homeschooling, it's hard to tailor classes to individual kids and each of their passions,” Kellie said. “We were able to then start putting our other kids in classes… which was so great because I wasn't able to do all of that.”

With ESA funds, the Barnards began enrolling their children in Outschool’s live online classes. The kids took everything from history and executive function coaching to music, writing, and even conga (bongo) lessons.

Each child found their own spark:

• Lance (15) discovered a love for history through Outschool, which led him to a job at the Mesa History Museum.
  
  
• McKenzlie (13) uncovered a gift for singing and songwriting with the help of an Outschool teacher. “It’s a talent we never would have discovered without Outschool,” Kellie said. “You always know your kids are good, but you don’t know until a teacher pushed her to step outside and believe in herself.”
  
  
• Emmelyn (11) has thrived with executive function coaching, building strategies for focus, organization, and confidence.
  
  
• Cayden (9) found his rhythm (literally!) through conga lessons, showing how learning can come alive when kids are free to explore their interests.

The family’s homeschool now stretches far beyond the basics, blending passions, tutoring, and life skills, all made possible by the flexibility of ESA and Outschool.

A Family Business That Gives Back

The Barnards’ learning doesn’t stop with academics. Together, they run an Etsy shop called Kids Busy Bees Boutique, a business that began when Lance was just 12 years old. Inspired by his cousin’s experience at the Ronald McDonald House during heart surgeries, Lance wanted to give back to the organization that had helped his family.

What started as a small idea has grown into a full-fledged family project. Through their shop, the Barnards have raised funds to create and donate over 300 “sunshine bags,” care packages filled with love and encouragement, to families at the Ronald McDonald House.

“We enjoy working together as a family and love to see the impact one kind deed can make,” Lance shared on their shop page. “It’s because of our customers that we’re able to bring a little ray of sunshine to families when they need it most.”

It’s just one more way this family turns learning into living and kindness into community.

Why ESA Funds Have Been a “Game Changer” for Neurodiverse Learners

Kellie describes Arizona’s ESA program as a “game changer.” It allows the family to access specialized education resources that meet each child’s unique learning needs, not just their grade level.

For neurodiverse homeschoolers, this kind of flexibility can be life-changing. Outschool’s small-group, teacher-led classes allow for sensory breaks, individualized pacing, and compassionate instructors who understand different learning styles. Parents can also collaborate closely with teachers, ensuring each class supports the child’s goals and strengths.

That combination, personalization, connection, and access, has helped each of the Barnard children learn with confidence and joy.

How Outschool Helped Unlock New Talents

When McKenzlie’s songwriting teacher encouraged her to record her first song, everything changed. That single moment of belief, from a teacher who saw her potential, sparked something bigger. Today, she’s already produced and released two songs, Single on the Throne and Wanna Be Friends With You.

Moments like that are hard to quantify, but they capture the heart of personalized learning: when kids are supported to follow their passions, they discover who they are and what they’re capable of.

Freedom, Flexibility, and Fit

As both a homeschool parent and a parent of a neurodiverse learner, Kellie’s story resonates deeply with me. Neurodivergent children often need environments that honor their pacing, interests, and rhythms, spaces where curiosity leads and comparison fades.

Homeschooling, paired with resources like ESA and Outschool, allows families to create that kind of environment. It replaces one-size-fits-all expectations with flexibility, creativity, and grace.

And for parents like Kellie, it’s not about perfection, it’s about possibility.

Looking Ahead: Empowering Every Learner

The Barnards’ journey is a beautiful reminder of what’s possible when families are trusted to choose what’s best for their children. With the right mix of resources, encouragement, and community, every child, neurodivergent or not, can find their own path to learning and thriving.

We’re honored to share their story and celebrate the incredible ways they’ve turned opportunity into empowerment, one class, one passion, and one brave step at a time.