15 Best Comprehensive Homeschool Curricula for Children with Autism 2020

Homeschooling Children with Autism

Choosing to homeschool a child with autism is often a decision families come to reluctantly. While some families worry about the additional social challenges that come with learning at home, others wonder how they’re supposed to teach material they themselves haven’t completed in years. Fortunately, dozens of comprehensive curricula exist to alleviate the pressures put on both homeschooling parents and homeschooled children.

The 15 curricula listed below are some of the best for children with autism. We put together our list based on a variety of factors, including flexibility, customization, and user-friendliness. We also consulted a number of reviews and even asked the pros — the parents and teachers themselves. While not every curriculum on our list is specifically designed for students with autism spectrum disorder, they all contain features that are currently working well for hundreds of homeschooled children with autism around the world.

Featured Curricula

ABCmouse

ABCmouse is an online curriculum for children ages 2-8. Though it is not designed specifically for children with autism, kids on the spectrum are sure to appreciate that ABCmouse is meant to be completed at each child’s own pace. The curriculum provides more than 850 lessons and 8,500 activities for subjects like reading, math, science, and art and colors.

Featured Programs

Abeka Curriculum

studying with smart phones and books Abeka Curriculum is a Christian curriculum well-suited for children on the autism spectrum. A favorite of many homeschooling families, Abeka primarily consists of a series of workbooks that children are sure to enjoy. In addition to new material, each lesson depends upon spaced repetition and drills to help develop mastery and comfort with any topic. Though the curriculum is mostly written, Abeka does include a series of DVDs that add a fun visual and interactive component to learning.

ACE: Autism Curriculum Encyclopedia

boy studying on laptop The Autism Curriculum Encyclopedia ACE) is a complete education package specifically designed as an Applied Behavior Analysis program. Its software-based curriculum is completely customizable, and lessons range from basic skills to more advanced concepts such as solving equations and writing essays. This popular program is especially well-liked by students because it focuses on a child’s strengths as it moves through a subject.

All About Learning Press

All About Learning Press offers two different programs: All About Reading and All About Spelling. The company’s mission is to take the struggle out of reading and spelling for both the student and the parent. Preschool-aged students and Kindergarteners can begin with the Pre-Reading and Pre-Spelling programs. They advance to Levels 1-4. An interactive kit is also available, and consists of things like letter tiles, divider cards, magnets, and more.

Apologia

Apologia is a homeschool curriculum rooted in the Christian faith. This award-winning curriculum is suitable for any child, K-12. Whether one chooses tangible textbooks or online courses, parents can be sure their child is receiving a solid base knowledge of subjects tackled. Parents speak especially highly of Apologia’s science curriculum.

Calvert Education

boy studying with computer at desk Calvert Education’s secular curriculum has been around for more than 100 years. and Thousands of homeschool families, military families, professional child actors and athletes have chosen it as their preferred education. Though Calvert is not designed specifically for students on the autism spectrum, the curriculum’s completely flexible set-up appeals to many students on the ASD spectrum. Students and their parents can choose to finish an entire program (grade level). Or they can choose from a list of individual courses and subjects, depending upon the student’s interest and ability level.

Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool

girl studying outdoors with laptop Unlike the other homeschool curricula on this list, the Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool curriculum is not produced or distributed by a large company. Rather, it was designed by a homeschool mother and is completely free. Better yet, Easy Peasy requires only that students have access to the internet and a computer, and nearly all of the materials cost nothing at all. This curriculum is best suited for those children who are able to work independently from a task list with or without parental guidance.

Gemm Learning

woman and young girl studying on a laptop Gemm Learning is an online learning software that creates a customized curriculum suitable for each individual child. The curriculum is available for students as young as age 5. It begins with a behavioral assessment completed by a parent and a reading assessment completed by the student. After approximately four months, parents begin receiving weekly updates on their child’s progress through the curriculum. Uniquely, Gemm Learning also provides its curriculum families with live support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to address questions and concerns.

Handwriting Without Tears

Children on the autism spectrum often struggle with handwriting, and that makes Handwriting Without Tears a great tool for any homeschooled student and parent. Handwriting Without Tears provides multi-sensory handwriting instruction that is developmentally appropriate for each stage of Kindergarten through 5th grade.

Featured Programs

Memoria Press

young girl reading with adult Although it’s not specifically designed for students on the autism spectrum, Memoria Press’s K-12 curriculum includes a number of features that make it ideal for those with high-functioning autism or other learning disabilities. Rooted in classical education, Memoria Press offers distraction-free, age-appropriate material in the form of textbooks and workbooks. Each subject is well-organized into lessons designed to be completed one week at a time. It requires a solid mix of parent-led discussion and student independence. Subjects offered include:

  • math
  • language arts
  • literature
  • science
  • classical studies
  • geography

Every subject follows a routine based upon review and repetition. This curriculum includes Latin, a process language that has long been applauded for its ability to improve critical thinking skills. Teacher guides are available for each subject. Parents may choose whether or not to use the weekly assessments.

Miquon Math

There are more than a few homeschool parents who struggle with the confidence it takes to teach their child math. For students with autism, the challenge can be even more intimidating. The Miquon Math curriculum is ideal for any student who needs to work with his or her hands to understand math concepts. The simple and visually plain workbooks provide for a distraction-free work environment, while manipulatives are included to help the student understand.

TeachTown

boy at desk with laptop and books TeachTown is easily one of the most popular curriculum when it comes to homeschooling a child with autism. Two tracks are available — TeachTown Basic and TeachTown Social Skills — and each track extends to approximately age 12. TeachTown Basic is a mix of computer-based and parent-led learning, offering subjects including:

  • vocabulary
  • language skills
  • cognitive skills
  • other academic subjects

TeachTown Social Skills is an online program available at the elementary and middle school levels. This unique program features relatable animated characters which help students to learn to:

  • read social cues
  • recognize emotion
  • talk in a group, among other things

Both programs offer a free 30-day trial.

Timberdoodle

boy learning to write Timberdoodle is a unique curriculum appropriate for students in elementary school and middle school. Parents are able to customize the curriculum based upon their child’s strengths and interests. The curriculum then comes in the form of a kit which includes everything from lesson materials to supplementary puzzles and activities. The lists of subjects offered is extensive, including art, STEM, and even the Bible.

Time 4 Learning

boy reading a book on the floor Time 4 Learning is an interactive online curriculum specifically designed for students with Asperger’s Syndrome and high-functioning autism. The curriculum is completely automated, which allows students to move through lessons at their own pace with or without the immediate help of an adult. Furthermore, each lesson combines social and academic learning, and often emulates real-life scenarios. For example, a math lesson might be presented as a conversation between two animated characters. In addition to a full academic curriculum, Time 4 Learning also offers a Summer Learning curriculum and an After School curriculum.

Wilo Star 3D

girl studying while wearing headphones Wilo Star 3D may just be the homeschool curriculum of the future. This interactive online program actually creates a virtual classroom so that students can “attend” class. Best suited for those with high-functioning autism or Asperger’s, Wilo Star 3D presents each lesson via PowerPoint, whiteboard, or audio/video messaging. It also encouraging a certain amount of independence during study time. Subjects include:

  • English
  • math
  • history, among others.

Students complete assignments and tasks based on their specific Knowledge Tower.