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Special Needs
This website page has been created for homeschoolers as an easy way to locate items for subject based inquiries of interest to home educators. The first link(s) of each category will send you to the Weatherford Public Library catalog and pull up a list of items related to that particular subject area. The remaining links are website pages of free and low-cost resources online to assist in your child’s education.
Click on the button to see items available for check out at Weatherford Public Library.
RESOURCE LINKS
Local Therapy Centers
Behavioral Innovations
Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA) help children and adults with autism and other developmental and behavioral disorders. If you are looking for additional services beyond center-based, such as adult services or remote location options, call and ask. Insurance is accepted. See the website for the center nearest you and be sure to check out the calendar of events.
BlueSprig
As a leading provider of ABA therapy services, BlueSprig is dedicated to providing the highest quality and most compassionate services to children on the autism spectrum. Your child’s unique needs are kept in mind while developing the best individual treatment plan. BlueSprig has a clinic location in the Weatherford area. In-home and telehealth options are currently available for new clients.
Child Study Center
This non-profit organization in Fort Worth provides children with developmental and behavioral disabilities diagnosis, treatment, and education. Tuition is required for the Jane Justin school or apply for financial aid.
FEAT-NT (Families for Effective Autism Treatment - North Texas)
As a local resource for parents and professionals, this center in Richland Hills has a library of materials and schedules support group meetings, workshops, mentoring, family fun days and more for the autism community.
Stars and Strides Stables
Therapeutic equestrian training can provide physical therapy, emotional growth and learning for individuals with special needs.
Wildflower Music Therapy
A music therapist uses evidence-based methods in sessions that support treatment goals and objectives for the individual’s needs. Traditional and adaptive music lessons are also available for all age levels and abilities.
Dyslexia & Reading Help
Barton Reading
As an Orton-Gillingham influenced program, this system is multi-sensory, direct learning for a structured and sequential intense intervention.
This top selling app helps you to independently spell words and phrases. The OpenDyslexic font and color overlays are especially useful for dyslexic students.
Homeschooling with Dyslexia
Encouraging families who homeschool children with dyslexia, this website highlights individualized, multi-sensory and research-based methods. Resources for purchase are available.
Curriculum suggestions, resources, articles, ideas and supports are offered on this website for homeschooling a special needs child.
Nessy
This program helps children of all abilities (primarily focusing on dyslexia) to learn to read, write, spell and type. A free trial and a free dyslexia test are available before purchasing a product.
Reading Horizons
Pinpoint and address the needs of struggling students with systematic instruction in decoding, spelling and pronunciation. See the home option when ready to purchase.
Reading Rocket
With proven strategies to assist struggling learners, Reading Rockets provides free resources to teachers and parents. Check out the Reading 101 course to get started.
Curriculum for Special Needs
Boardmaker
If you already have the Boardmaker software or an online subscription, you have access to curriculum add-ons like Activities-To-Go, Beyond Boardmaker, and other resources that can help your child learn. This Picture Exchange Communication System is highly popular and especially useful for children who have communication limitations, such as non-verbal autism.
Every Star is Different
As a Montessori inspired curriculum for the special needs child, many free resources are available at this website.
How to Homeschool
This website offers selections on homeschooling the special needs child at home, such as Best Special Needs Curriculum, Products & Services. Get access to free curriculum and resources from this website once a month by signing up via e-mail.
Memoria Press (Simply Classical)
This homeschool curriculum company is one of the few that offers a special needs option. Since many of the books are commonly found children’s literature, a cost-effective suggestion would be to purchase the guides and consumables only, and locate the remaining books at the library or a used bookstore.
Simply Music Gateway
Offer a means of self-expression for special needs and learning difference individuals. This modeling method adapts piano instruction away from technical, theoretical and physical skills to hands on imitation.
Time 4 Learning
Linking to the Special Needs page at this popular educational product website, Time4Learning is comprehensive and builds incrementally while reinforcing reading, writing, and math skills.
Touch Math
Take the free Touch Math Teach Training program and learn how to apply to any math worksheet. Developed for disabled learners, this company now offers homeschool kits to purchase.
WiloStar3D
This online homeschooling program has a special needs adaptation option. Using 3D immersive learning technology, students use internet resources, collaborate on virtual world projects, and interact one-on-one with instructors. Enrollment and tuition is required.
Free Curriculum
Busy Toddler
Tons of cute and easy to put together toddler activities are free and demonstrated visually online. These are also great with special needs children.
Do2Learn
Thousands of free pages are available for individuals with special needs, covering social skills, behavior activities, learning songs, games, communication cards, academic materials, life skills and transition to employment guides.
HSLDA-Struggling Learner
The Homeschool Legal Defense Association provides suggestions for special needs help. Scroll down and click on right-hand arrows to open all the links to resources.
Progressive Phonics
As a completely free phonics course, this gentle and slower approach incorporates all the Dolch sight words. It has been used successfully with developmentally delayed and remedial students. Some British spellings may be used.
SEN Teacher
Free printables, software downloads and search tools are available for all levels of special and remedial education. Resources include an AAC generator, printables, thematic units, eye gaze software, sensory software, and much more. While this is a UK website, you have the option to convert most materials to American terminology.
Texas Homeschool Coalition-Special Needs Curriculum
The THSC’s page for special needs offers a modification video as well as this downloadable resource.
Research Based Instruction
Dianne Craft-Child Diagnostics
This is the “Right-Brain” training program for struggling learners and includes daily lesson plans, a writing program, and reading program for homeschoolers with supportive materials to purchase as needed. Free articles and advice are provided from this experienced Special Needs instructor and consultation and assessments are available for an extra cost.
Difflearn
As a company that sells products for the autism spectrum, this website catalog offers products with research based solutions like ABA. Enjoy the free articles and member rewards.
Little Giant Steps
As a company that emphasized neurodevelopmental methods, Little Giant Steps offers an in-home brain training program. The Neuro-educational Approach can be effective with learning difficulties and delays. Look at the Early Learning Foundations Curriculum to purchase or consider an individual evaluation.
Simple Steps Autism
Free teaching resources are available from this online learning platform. You can purchase an ABA training pack to understand how behavioral science helps children with autism and view video instructions on how to implement in your home.
Super Duper Inc.
Easy to use therapy materials by Super Duper Publications can add fun to your child’s education. While created for the classroom, many products will work for individual students or are easily modified. Check out the Free Stuff page for apps and more free resources. You will need to create an account to access.
Teach Town
Dedicated to improving the academic, behavioral, and functionality of students with disabilities, Teach Town sells evidence-based products developed from ABA practices.
Task Boxes, Busy Bags, and More
Autism Adventures
Low-cost packages are available for the classroom and home to assist autistic individuals who are using a work box system. Additional supports for the teacher are also available from this Autism Adventures Teachers Pay Teachers store page.
Autism Work Tasks
Differentiated work activities created by Adapting for Autism are available to print for reasonable prices. Buy by the bundle and save even more!
File Folder Heaven
Created by a special needs teacher, these printable file folder activities provide hands-on basic skills practice. Sample free printables, or purchase low-cost selections as well as budget friendly packages.
Hands-On Tasks
Prepared task boxes are available to order for special needs students to practice work in academics or vocational skills. These meet I.D.E.A. standards and can also give you ideas on what to create yourself for your child.
Little Bins for Little Hands
While this site focuses on activities for younger children, lots of the ideas are great for special needs individuals because many projects incorporate learning through sensory and fine motor skills work.
Shoebox Tasks
Using the TEACCH method, these shoebox tasks can be bought individually or as a curriculum that supports a continued progression of skills development for special needs individuals.
Tasks Galore
Structured activities for the developmentally disabled are provided in these books to teach academic, language, fine motor, play and many other skills.
Local Fun For Special Needs
Heritage Park Playground (Disability Inclusive)
As one of a handful of all-inclusive parks in the DFW area, this playground was designed to serve children who may be autistic, hearing impaired or have spina bifida or cerebral palsy and other disabilities, as well as children without disabilities. Exploration is encouraged by allowing for different developmental stages while also providing a sensory-rich environment.
Miracle League of Parker County
A safe and fun place for those with limited abilities to experience baseball in their own stadium and modified for success and joy. Follow the above link for information on registration.
Nock It Archery Center
Homeschool Special Needs Archery Team meets every Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Decatur. Homeschoolers in the Parker-Wise area are welcome to attend. Participation fees apply.
Special Needs Swim
On selected Fridays starting June 1st, the City of Weatherford provides exclusive access to the Cherry Park Pool for children with special needs and their guardians, parents, and immediate family members. Please call for dates : 817-598-4124. Pool staff will be on scene. The event is free.
Weatherford College Safe Halloween
Every year, Weatherford College offers games, fun, and candy to the community. Children with special needs and their family members can arrive early at 5:00 p.m. for a lower-stress experience (regular hours are 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.). Admission is one canned good per person and the event is open to everyone.
Behavior and Communication Help
American Sign Language University
This online sign language curriculum offers free lessons and self-study materials. For documentation, there is a tuition cost and required assignments, but access to the information is still free. Sign language is often helpful for communication with special needs individuals, regardless of the diagnosis.
I Can for Autism Method
Take this free evaluation quiz to assess your child’s communication level. This website also sells a communication app for autism.
Picto-selector
This freeware is a tool for creating visual schedules for use by teachers and parents. Fast search options and automatic sizing make it even more user-friendly.
Practical Autism Resources
As a website that provides resources to individuals who work with children with autism, browse through more than a 100 free printables. The links and tips offer great helps as well.
Social Express
These webisodes teach skills for emotional and social learning. Interactive research-based lessons are animated and includes online and offline curriculum activities. Choose the home option when purchasing.
Trainland Tripod PECS (Beyond Autism)
All kinds of PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) ideas and links can be found at this free resource page, like downloadable Boardmaker files, picture resources and sign language options. On the Communications page, explore additional assistive technology resources.
Games and Apps
Autism Speaks
As the most vocal advocacy group for autism, this website contains tons of articles and resources that are useful for the family.
BrainWare
Cognitive skills are developed through an engaging video-game format, and the BrainWare SAFARI is the original program and recommended for learning disabilities. More programs are available for purchase.
Bridging Apps
Bridging Apps is a program of Easter Seals Greater Houston. Providing access to technology tools that can assist people with disabilities, selections are chosen based on practicality and educational usefulness.
Daily Jigsaw Puzzle
Use this free puzzle generator to interest children who enjoy puzzles as a reward, reinforcement or just to pass the time. There is a Puzzle of the Day or browse for one you like, then choose difficulty level. You can also choose "random," but the most unique feature is the option to upload a personal photo and create your own!
Zac Browser App
This free internet browser for children with autism compiles websites while offering strong parental controls and interesting selections for children on the spectrum. By reducing interface controls, the browser simplifies the Web and reduces frustration. Support is encouraged through donations as a premium subscription to keep it free for those who cannot afford to pay.
Text to Speech
Natural Reader App
Import text files or type your own text into the text box and convert to spoken language with the free version of this app; offers a great option for dyslexic students. A purchase is required to upgrade for more options.
Speech Notes
The dictation feature on this free app works only on a Chrome browser and a microphone is required. Click the microphone icon in upper right corner of the text box and begin speaking. Text should appear. Directions on punctuation and replay are explained. Premium features are also available.
Software for Special Needs
CompuThera
Targeting both receptive and expressive cognitive skills, this gradual discrete trial approach software (available for purchase) has been designed for children who have trouble learning by observation alone.
DTT Trainer
Based on Discrete Trial training, this ABA based software provides an affordable tool for independent learning. A video modeling software package is also available for purchase.
GCompris App
This high quality educational software suite includes a large number of activities for ages 2-10 or for special needs individuals. It is adaptable to your own needs. Here’s the link to the Google store for GCompris app purchase.
Laureate Learning
These research based, innovative software programs (for purchase) have recently been acquired by Attainment Company and are specifically designed to improve the lives of children and adults with special needs, especially language challenges.