Why Inclusion at Home Is the Key to Unlock Your Child’s Potentials
Photo by Natasha Hall
When Sara’s son, Lucas, was diagnosed with autism at age three, the world went quiet. The school system gave her more labels than solutions. One educator even suggested Lucas might “never read or write like the other kids.” However Sara believed otherwise. She decided to homeschool.
At first, it was hard. Lucas would avoid eye contact and barely spoke. Slowly, Sara began to notice that when lessons were based on his interests, cars, building blocks, and sound patterns he would be happy.
Today, Lucas is ten. He writes short stories, solves puzzles faster than most neurotypical children his age. Sometimes he helps his mom teach other families how to customize learning at home.
Sara’s story is not rare. It is one of thousands shared through the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI), which reports that students with special needs often show greater emotional and academic progress in inclusive homeschool settings than in traditional inclusion settings.
What changed for Lucas? The answer is simple yet powerful.
Inclusion at home.
The Problem Most Parents Face
If you are reading this, you have felt that pain too. Maybe it came after a diagnosis, or during a meeting where educators talked ‘about’ your child, but not ‘to’ or ‘with’ them.
Many parents of neurodiverse children feel stuck. You want to do what is best, but it seems like no one hands you a clear roadmap.
You have probably asked yourself “Can I really teach my children?”“What if I fail them?”
Let me tell you something important.
You have come this far, and that is what makes you a hero parent.
Where Belonging Becomes the Foundation for Growth
Inclusion doesn’t mean forcing your child to fit into someone else’s box. It means ‘designing the box around your child’.
Homeschooling offers that flexibility. It lets you teach in a way that matches how your child learns best.
Guess what?
Studies show that children with learning differences in inclusive homeschool settings often experience:
- Greater confidence
- Better retention
- Stronger family bonds
- Emotional safety that leads to academic progress
(Source: NHERI.org and Coalition for Responsible Home Education)
You may not have the formal qualifications to teach, but with the right support, you can design an individualized curriculum for your child.
A New Way Forward
Photo by Bianca Naira
How would you feel to witness the mornings without anxiety, bullying or meltdowns?
If lessons are built around what your child loves. Progress will be measured by joy, not just scores.
You sit with your child at the kitchen table. You guide them through math using their favorite snacks. You read books together, act out the characters, and laugh.You are not only teaching, they are learning.
That’s inclusion in action.
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
As a hero parent, you are already your child’s best advocate. Even heroes need guidance.
That’s the beauty of this journey, you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself.
There is a growing community of educators, specialists, and fellow parents who believe in inclusion and are walking this path too. There are tools, insights, and real stories that can help you shape a home where your child feels safe, nurtured, loved, and supported.
You already have the heart. Now build the way forward.
Inclusion Begins With You
Inclusion is not a strategy, it’s a belief. It is the belief that every child can learn, that home is the safest place to grow, and that you are the best person to guide them.
You can start today. Not with perfection, but with presence.
You are homeschooling. You are building a life where your child belongs. You are giving your child techniques to develop independence.
As a parent, where do you believe your neurodivergent child thrives best-through inclusion at home or-in a traditional school setting?
We would love to hear your story in the comments.
Sources:* National Home Education Research Institute https://www.nheri.org
Coalition for Responsible Home Education https://responsiblehomeschooling.org/
