Choosing a Homeschool Curriculum for Your Autistic Child

TL;DR Version
(but do come back and read it all when you have the time 😊)
 

Homeschooling can be a deeply rewarding experience, offering the flexibility to create a learning environment that truly fits your child’s needs. That being said, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed at first, especially when it comes to selecting curriculum.  To me, there’s no rush. It’s okay to give your child an adjustment period after being in a school environment, and you can try different things until you find a routine that works for your family.

One of the first and most important steps is choosing a curriculum, but I haven’t found that there are any one-size-fits-all curricula available. The “right” curriculum will depend on your child’s unique learning style, communication/sensory needs, and their interests (which I highly recommend using for learning activities). Start by thinking about how your child learns best: do they enjoy stories and pictures? Do they need hands-on activities, visual materials, clearly defined steps, movement breaks, and/or a quiet, structured space?
 

Many families find success with “eclectic” homeschooling, where they combine resources from different programs (for example, using lessons from multiple curricula or combining a curriculum with supplemental activities that more specifically match the child’s learning style and interests). I often recommend interest-led learning, which uses your child’s passions—like trains, animals, or space—as a foundation for teaching core subjects. I usually make activities customized for my students around their interests, and you can see examples here (scroll down until you see “themes”).

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To put together your own curriculum, start by setting-up a plan for assessment and progress tracking (such as a homeschool IEP). This allows you to know what skills and knowledge your child already has, and then create goals to build on those. Once you have some goals, you can then make or find lessons and activities that match those goals.

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You can also buy a curriculum program and supplement it with making some of your own activities. This is what I do the most often. I own lots of curriculum kits, and I make visual aides or other materials to go along with them to help match my students' learning styles. I also make extra activities if there's a skill that a student needs more practice on than the curriculum provides.

 

Below you'll find some of my favorite curriculum programs that I've used with students. Please look at these in detail to see if you think they would work for your individual child, as no two children are the same. Some of the things I look for in a curriculum are: (1) concepts broken down into small steps, (2) lots of pictures/visual supports, (3) hands-on activities.

Overall, give yourself permission to adjust and experiment. It’s normal to try a curriculum that doesn’t work and change course. As cliché as it might sound, homeschooling is a journey, not a fixed path. Your relationship with your child and your understanding of their learning will grow over time - and the curriculum can grow with you.

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Please note that your state or country may have specific requirements for which subjects to teach and similar regulations. Check with a local homeschooling organization for specific guidance.

 

​TL;DR (Too Long; Didn't Read):

Homeschooling offers flexibility to support your child’s unique needs, but choosing a curriculum can feel overwhelming at first—and that’s okay. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Focus on your child’s learning style, sensory needs, and interests (which can be used to build meaningful, interest-led lessons). Many families find success using an eclectic approach—mixing different programs and creating custom activities as needed.

Start with a plan for tracking progress, like a homeschool IEP, and set goals based on what your child already knows. You can use full curriculum kits and supplement them with visuals, hands-on materials, or extra practice where needed. Look for programs that break concepts into small steps and include lots of visuals and interactive elements.

Above all, be flexible—experiment, adjust, and grow with your child. Homeschooling is a journey, and the curriculum can (and should) evolve along the way.

Don’t forget to check your local homeschooling laws and requirements.