Many special-needs children benefit highly from a set routine. For instance, a study published in the "Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research" found that children with autism benefited from teaching strategies integrated consistently into their daily routine. Their communication skills were positively influenced as a result of the set routine. The strong, individualized attention that comes with homeschooling decreases schedule upsets and can make routine lessons easier to keep.
Homeschooling in Hawaii has a few stipulations. Parents must submit a notice of intent (form 4140 from the Department of Education) to the local public school's principal. An annual progress report must also be verified by the local principal. Students can take standardized tests at a local school in the third, fifth and eighth grade or complete a private assessment from a state certified teacher. A parent-generated progress report and student work portfolio may suffice. A curriculum must be recorded but is not usually disclosed with the school.
There are a number of support organizations that will help you with homeschooling your special-needs child. One example is Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii. Its website has news updates and resource listings, such as homeschooling magazines and links to the state Department of Education. Joining the group also provides access to an annual conference. A few national organizations are also available for assistance to homeschoolers in Hawaii. For instance, NATHHAN (NATional cHallenged Homeschoolers Associated Network) hosts a mail-based lending library and family directory for support to homeschoolers.
There are also a number of resources on the Internet to access from Hawaii. For instance, Homeschooling in Hawaii offers a comprehensive list of articles, resource directories, links to curriculum materials for special-needs kids and condition-specific information in their special-needs section of the website. There are also a number of sites dedicated to helping people educate those with specific disorders, such as general learning disabilities and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).