The financial burden of homeschooling special needs or autistic children can be a significant challenge for many families. The cost of educational materials, extracurricular activities, field trips, and membership fees can add up quickly, even more so now with the rising costs of our everyday lives. But don’t feel too discouraged– financial options are available for qualifying families. Note: supports may vary from state to state or be based upon the individualized needs of your child.
Let’s take a look at some resources and contacts that can help contribute to your homeschooling expenses. Although this is a helpful starting point in your search for funding, you may discover even more possibilities as you explore and investigate what’s offered in your area.
The first place to begin your funding search is through your local school system. Depending on the region, your school district may offer a portion of its state and federal funds to cover community homeschooling needs. Sit down with a school system administrator or district personnel to review your options as a homeschooling parent or caregiver. You may be surprised as to what is actually available to those who do their research. If you need specific books, technology, or other educational resources, your local school district may lend or donate these items for homeschooling purposes.
For special needs children or autistic children, it is important to determine how your state allocates its funding for services granted by the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). Certain states offer homeschooling students the same services that private school students receive. However, others only provide services to those enrolled in private schools.
There are a few states that have expanded eligibility for special needs homeschoolers. Visit School Choice Week for a state-by-state guide for regulations on services for homeschooling special needs or autistic students. You may find that your state supports homeschool households for school-based therapy services like:
This is common when these services fall under your child’s individualized education plan (IEP). These no-cost specialized services can be built right into your homeschool day, allowing for a nice alternative to costly and time-consuming outpatient therapies.
State grants are often available for special needs homeschooling families. For example, in my home state of Florida, autistic children are eligible for the Family Empowerment Scholarship. This grant on average provides $7,700 in funds to home-educated students to be used for instructional material/curricula, specialized therapies, tutoring, online education, or post-secondary schooling.
Depending on the state, you may be eligible for school vouchers or education savings accounts to help cover homeschooling costs. Typically, low-income families and families of children with disabilities are eligible. Homeschooling families of special needs children may also qualify for education-related tax credits based on the income level of the family, curriculum guidelines, the child’s age, or educational needs. If you happen to live in Illinois, Louisiana, or Minnesota, your state offers homeschool families the ability to use a state tax credit when filing for state taxes. As homeschooling grows in popularity, there is a possibility of tax credits expanding to other states. Be sure to review grant, scholarship, and tax credit information specific to your state yearly, and pay close attention to all criteria listed.
At this time, federal assistance for homeschooling special needs families through the U.S. Department of Education is limited. However, for our military families, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) provides auxiliary services to qualifying households. Auxiliary services include access to school libraries, use of school facilities after hours, and participation in extracurricular activities and sports. The DoDEA also offers textbooks, workbooks, and library books for the in-home setting. For more information on these services, military families should contact the DoDEA.
The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) is another useful resource for families homeschooling autistic children looking for financial assistance. This site is specifically designed for low-income families or those struggling after a natural disaster. They offer three different types of grants that may suit your family:
In addition, the HSLDA also supports single parents and widows, along with military families with donations for their homeschooling needs.
Many organizations will support autistic students and their families with funds that can be used for educational resources, assistive technology devices, homeschool-specific needs, and after-school activities.
Many special needs scholarships are state-specific like the Gardiner Scholarship in Florida. However, others can be found nationwide. Inquiring about funding for homeschooling through autism support groups on social media, local community centers or the nearby library are additional ways to locate resources.
Check out this list to help you get started in your research:
While seeking funds for your autistic homeschooled child may seem daunting at first, with proper research, a plan of action combined with parent or caregiver advocacy, support is possible.
Please let us know your experiences in your state with how you have found funds to educate your autistic or special needs child.