Law
- Age 0-3 Early Intervention www.dhhs.nh.gov
- Age (3+1day) to 6 as of Sept 30 (compulsory age in NH) School District
- Age 6+ as of Sept 30 Private; YMMV with district but they do not legally need to provide services to homeschoolers
Federal law requires all school districts to identify and evaluate any child in their area who may qualify for special education services. (Child Find)
**Note** If you do need to request this from your district, do not “ask about getting services” as this will end up with you in the Child Find database, not action. Send a certified letter stating “This is a formal referral for special education services by (Doctor/therapist)”. They have 10 days to respond to a formal referral. Your primary care provider might have one of these available to fill out and send.
The district may provide various services under RSA 189:49 Child Benefit Services.
You have the right to homeschool your special needs child. IEP services end when you withdraw your child from the school. Ask them to keep the IEP open and on file. (They do not need to do this) They may send you a form to sign officially ending the IEP and services.
You can still follow some of the accommodations and use it as your SEP (Student Education Plan) HSLDA.org offers consulting services. www.brighthubeducation.com has an article “How to use an IEP for a homeschool student with special needs” with great information.
Private Services
We recommend using private services if at all possible. An evaluation and services offered privately are going to be much more thorough and helpful in a homeschool environment. Public school evaluators and therapists are geared toward a public school setting, which is a completely different educational model. GSHE has a list of private providers that are recommended by other NH homeschooling families.
Please see New Hampshire Family Voices for a resource list (153 pages!) called “Maneuvering Through the Maze” of birth and up ideas, tips, address and phone numbers of providers, assistance programs, etc.
Financial assistance
DHHS Bureau of Special Medical Services- (birth -21) health programs, services and financial assistance
NH Partners in Health- children with chronic health conditions
Lucas’ Helping Hands- Rochester, www.lucashelpinghands.com
Where do I start?
Start wherever your child is at developmentally, not by age or grade level.
Incorporate life skills and therapeutic goals into your homeschool program.
Use the scheduling model that works best for your child and your family.
Curriculum Suggestions
Dianne Craft Foundations for Learning
Little Giant Steps
Equipping Minds
Stages Learning Materials
Child Diagnostics
Retrain the Brain
MyKey Plans
JD Educational (preschool)
Cross Seven Ventures (musical memory work)
Kred Rewards (motivation based)
Family Pastime Co-operative Games
Curriculum for Autism
And Next Comes L
Autism Helper
Mosswood Connections
Able2learn.com
Thepathway2success.com
https://www.theautismoasis.com (Nonverbal autism homeschool program)
Math-U-See
Touch Math
Rightstart Math
Right Brain Math
Life of Fred
Math Seeds
Miquon
Numicon
Teaching Textbooks
Mr.D Math
Shiller Math
Remedia Publications
Key to Math
Rocketmath
Teachers Pay Teachers
All About Learning Press
Child 1st Publications
WriteShop
The Struggling Reader
Watch My Words
Read Naturally
Remedia Publications
Reading Eggs
Barton Reading
Reading Horizons
S.P.I.R.E
Wilson
Toe by Toe
PRIDE reading program
Word Wasp
Sequential Spelling
Spelling Connections
Stevenson Learning Skills
Nessy
Maloney Method
Apples and Pears
Rooted in Language
Teachers Pay Teachers
Gander Publishing, Visualizing and Verbalizing
Five Senses Literature Lessons
Happy Cheetah
Handwriting Without Tears
A Reason for Handwriting
No Frills Handwriting
Stevenson
Teachers Pay Teachers
So Happy to Learn
Memoria Press (Christian Classical)
True North Homeschool Academy (Christian)
Academic Warriors
Veda Junction
FundaFunda Academy
Time4Learning
Kirkwood Academy
Geminii
The OT Toolbox
The Inspired Treehouse
Miss Jamie OT
Mama OT
Therapy Fun Zone
Therapy Street for Kids
OT Mom Learning Activities
Your Therapy Source Blog
Different by Design Learning
Equipping Minds
Teachers Pay Teachers
Able2learn.com
Speech Sprouts Therapy
Super Star Speech
Mommy Speech Therapy
Equipping Minds
Playing with Words 365
Home Speech Home
Speech 2U
Speech Box
The Dabbling Speechie
Teaching Talking
Speech and Language Kids
Speech and Language at Home
Speech Therapy Talk
Speech Buddies
Teachers Pay Teachers
Skill Trek
Autism Homeschool Mama Social Skill Kits
The Etiquette Factory
Overcoming Obstacles
Attainment Company
Teachers Pay Teachers
Able2learn.com