Home Educating Our Autistic Spectrum Children: Paths Are Made by Walking (Paperback)

by Terri Dowty (Author, Editor), Kitt Cowlishaw (Author, Editor) "I had one of those grandmothers whose pearls of wisdom could make Confucius look like an amateur, at least in terms of output..." (more)
Key Phrases: other home educators, school attendance order, home educating, Education Act, National Curriculum, John Holt (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
School can be a nightmare for children on the autistic spectrum. Far from learning social skills at school, they may find themselves in a hostile environment where they suffer teasing, bullying, and social isolation. Homeschooling can provide a positive - and workable - alternative. In this sympathetic and readable book, parents who homeschool their children with autism or Asperger Syndrome tell their personal stories: how they reached the decision to educate at home, how they set about the task, and how it changed their children's lives. A chapter on getting started answers frequently asked questions about teaching materials, curricula and socialization.

About the Author
Terri Dowty is a musician and writer who lives in London and home educates her two sons. Kitt Cowlishaw obtained her degree in Linguistics from the University of Michigan.

Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers; 1 edition (January 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1843100371
• ISBN-13: 978-1843100379
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #172,272 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not What I Was Looking For, June 12, 2006

By	Eric's Momma - See all my reviews

This book had varied stories of several family's experiences with the school district, or not, and their adventures in homeschooling. It definitely strengthened my resolve to homeschool.
My complaint is that, from the title, I thought this would cover all parts of the spectrum more fully. Nine out of the eleven stories, if I counted right, were about children with Asperger's! These children usually did fairly well in the school district but better at home, which is not our situation. I was looking for more information on homeschooling children with autism, with more limited capabilites.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Things can get very bad indeed, December 12, 2004

By	Georgina (Adelaide, Australia) - See all my reviews

This book really brings home how bad things can be for ASD children at school. You will be amazed what some of them suffered before they were withdrawn and homeschooled. If you are thinking of homeschooling an ASD child then this is essential reading (along with Lise Pyles book). It gives a number of different summaries from different families.

I was very taken with the parent who said that she used to concentrate all her energy on getting what she was entitled to from the dept of education but once she got it she realised that it wasnt anything like enough and that homeschooling had much more to offer her child.

Inspiring reading and if your child is suffering at school there is no better place to start if considering homeschooling.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, April 27, 2006

By	Toutseul - See all my reviews

This is the best book I've found about homeschooling my special needs child. The best because we learn not only why but also how twelve different families homeschool their special needs child - twelve different children and twelve different approaches and ways of homeschooling. The book does indeed demonstrate that "paths are made by walking" and that everyone has their own path which they discover on their journey.

I would recommend this book to anyone with a child with autism or Asperger's syndrome who is experiencing difficulties in school, as well as to anyone who is already homeschooling to see how others are doing it.