Experiences of Parents Who Homeschool Their Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Teachers may be inadequately prepared for the increasing number of students being identified with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), as students with ASD may not respond to traditional methods of instruction. Some parents of children with ASD are concerned with educational programming available through public school systems and are turning to homeschooling. Ten parents from nine families participated in this qualitative study to share their experiences, opinions, and perceptions of homeschooling as compared to instruction in public school settings. Four themes emerged from the data analysis, along with one overarching theme. The 10 parents who homeschool their children with ASD believe they have found a treatment plan that works, and their perception has been that the school has been either (a) not willing and/or (b) unable to provide effective programming. An unexpected finding was that homeschooling goals and interventions varied across the families.