As far as I know NO school teaches life skills. Thats why they graduate without knowing how to use a checkbook, pay bills, count money. Some schools aren’t teaching cursive anymore or how to read an analog clock. It definitely sounds like she needs a special needs school that mainly focuses on life skills. If she’s severely autistic, math may never mean anything to her, and she may never live by herself like you say, and that’s ok. It depends on her skill set when she’s old enough. They have places that only deal with special needs, but they need her to be able to wash herself, cook/feed herself, do laundry, brush her teeth, all the things that life itself requires. I do believe in pushing for the best, but sometimes, at some point, it’s ok to accept the fact that there are certain things she may never be able to do. It doesn’t make you a bad person or a bad person. Sometimes if we push them too far, we cause more harm than good. My son is 5, and still wearing Pull Ups. We sit him on the potty when we can, or if he asks to, but continuous tries to put him on the potty on a schedule only caused him to get extremely upset, and not even want to go near the bathroom. I know he’ll get there, in his own time. I get questions about it every now and then, and usually starting with “he’s autistic” is enough for most people. I add that we are still working on it, he’s just not able to calm himself enough that he can relax. He’s very hyperactive. Some people might still be put off, but you know what? He’s my child, and I know a lot more about him than they do. Do they think I love changing a five year olds poopy pull up? It’s nuts. You do the best you can with the information you have.

I'd say, let him earn the Regents diploma if he wishes to. My best friend was in a self-contained classroom where they were still working on times tables when she was a SENIOR. They didn't focus all that much on academics and I don't think the students were pushed to their full potential. Life skills are paramount, but everyone deserves a quality education. Why can't they teach both? Who's to say he won't live on his own one day? Anything is possible :)

Hello there! I just wanted to share that I’m also homeschooling my 18 year old. Besides autism, he was also diagnosed with intellectual disability both of them at level 3.

I try to incorporate skills that will help him in his daily life as well as some basic educational things. For example, today I introduced the concept of heavy versus light. I went around our house looking for objects that were heavy like chairs, and other pieces of furniture and he also had the chance to lift lighter objects. He got the concept faster than I was expecting. He also helps with getting his snacks ready or helping me place the wet clothes inside the dryer, etc. My husband and I want him to be able to understand how things work in the most basic way possible. He’s also non verbal, however, he’s a visual learner.

Homeschooling may not work for everyone, however, I thank the Lord for given my husband and I the patience and opportunity to homeschool both of our children.

I wish you and your family the best! Have a blessed night!