Educating children on the autism spectrum at home Experiences of families across Australia Lara Cheney National Manager Education Development Dr Susan Bruck Aspect Research Officer

ACAE

Overview What we wanted to learn about Methodology Participants Results What are we doing at Aspect?

What we wanted to learn about Number of children being educated at home across Australia Information about these children and families Reasons parents choose to educate their child/ren at home Supports parents access Future plans for their child/ren

Methodology Nation-wide online survey -Quantitative and open ended responses Recruitment (August – November 2015) -Aspect -Website -Facebook - distribution -Home education networks -Publications -Websites

Participants 67 families –Child aged between 5-12 years – 78% –Boys – 70% Geographic location –Metropolitan – 39% –Regional – 48% –Remote – 10% –No response – 3%

Participants 70% did not have an intellectual disability (n = 67)

Participants Education setting previously attended (n = 50) –Mainstream 78% –Support unit 8% –Special School 22% –Distance education 8% Suspension and expulsion (n = 62) –No – 90% –Yes – 10%

Home Education Reasons for choosing home education: Bullying Mental health/anxiety/self-harm Stress School/parent relationship breakdown Lack of school knowledge of autism and positive behaviour support –Reduced school hours/days –Parents called in to pick up Need for individualised programs and person centred planning Availability of funding and face to face support Physical environment Safety

Home Education 52% felt they had no choice (or had choice but no option) to educate their child at home (n = 43) “I had no choice… I do not think home schooling is in my child’s best interest. The social isolation is detrimental to their wellbeing. Although I am intelligent I do not think I have all the skills needed to provide a well- rounded education”.

Home Education 83% indicated geographic location did not influence their decision to educate their child at home (n = 48) 76% do not want their child to return to school (n = 33) “I ticked ‘no’ to the question about transitioning to school one day, ultimately that will be his decision”.

Home Education Family stress since commencing home education (n=33)

Home Education Challenges for families in educating their child at home: Stress Financial Time management Respite Resources Dual role of parent and teacher Supporting behaviour Social opportunities Workload

Home Education “Different type of stress now. Gone from having anxiety of schooling to regular financial stress”. “I am very sad to be my children’s teacher and not their mother as both roles are very different. It’s exhausting to be in each others company 24/7 and I find it sad to be put in the position of wanting (actually needing) my children to leave me alone”

Home Education Majority provide a self-directed education program –69% not registered for distance education (n = 61) Hours per week providing education (n = 56) –More than 20 hours – 32% Length of time providing education at home (n = 46) –More than 3 years – 35% –1 - 3 years – 48% –Less than one year – 20%

Home Education Access to educational supports 90% have access to online materials (n=37) 72% have a support network (n = 36) –social opportunities –sharing of resources –ideas and networking “Distance Ed is wonderful”

Home Education Social activities with peers (n= 39)

What are we doing at Aspect? Research Developing and linking families with relevant resources and supports Providing links to autism home school networks Facilitating transitions back to school Supporting registration with relevant education authorities Work with education sectors to increase access for students on the spectrum to distance education programs Developing autism specific distance education program