Any good FREE ONLINE speech therapy programs?
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First, you are making a very good choice to home school him. I have home schooled both of my kids and have no regrets. It is the best thing I ever did for them next to breast feeding ;)
It will be GREAT for a high functioning autistic child.
Second, don't let people's ignorance make you feel that you are depriving him of "socialization"- that is bunk. Kids learn social skills from interacting with other human beings and by being shown by example- he will be "socialized" by interacting with you.
Third, the speech therapist through the school will likely be your best resource. It is unlikely you will find an on line program that will do the trick... you may have to simply take note of the things that the speech path does with him, and then work with him doing the same things between appointments.
I know that it is a little scary to take on home schooling in the beginning, but you will see very quickly that it is not as big a task as you probably imagine it to be.
You are a good mom- you just keep focusing on what is best for your son and you will both be great... and ignore the well meaning people who think that humans can only learn in an institutionalized setting with "real teachers"--- they don't have a clue what they are talking about.
All the best to you.
Hi, I'm a speech and language therapist in the UK.
I don't know any programs online, free or otherwise, although I fear I am interpreting 'program' differently to how you mean it: do you mean a set program of on-line activities you can work through with your son or some kind of course you enrol in where you have contact with a speech therapist?
You can find heaps of resources, although it is hard enough to find the time to go through all of them to identify the appropriate ones when you are a trained professional during work time - as a busy home schooling mother it would be very difficult! (I don't mean to belittle your time management or any other abilities; I admire anyone who has the patience and ability to homeschool) I have to say that, in my experience, group therapy with high functioning autistic pupils is not always successful, and that individual work in subject areas is more so, so as long as you have enough professional support you should be in a great position to help him maximise his communication skills.
I would recommend that you speak to the speech therapist you have contact with to get personal and individualised advice about appropriate online materials/courses etc.
You could also try ASHA or another national speech therapy association e.g. RCSLT in the UK.
Good luck and best wishes for your work with your son :)
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