Expo to help parents homeschool their special needs children

As homeschooling increases across the United States, especially regarding homeschooling children with special needs, it's inevitable that parents seek out resources to help them teach their children. To meet this need, the Homeschooling Special Needs Expo is being created and launched to meet the needs of homeschooling parents throughout the nation to serve their children who are differently-abled. 

The Homeschooling Special Needs Expo will be held June 28-29, 2024 at The LeGrand Center in Shelby, NC (about 45 minutes west of Charlotte, NC). IAJ Ministries, LLC, the umbrella organization of Homeschooling One Child, is planning this event. 

The Expo features over 50 educational sessions on a wide variety of topics relating to homeschooling and various special needs. In addition, in order to encourage churches to  be more inclusive of children and adults who are differently-abled, there will be a Church Track that will give churches the tools and resources to minister to families who have family members with disabilities--whether those are physical, cognitive, genetic, or others. Sessions will also encourage churches to embrace homeschooling and how they can do that, as families who are homeschooling are increasing in churches and across the nation..

Autism advocate Dr. Temple Grandin will be the featured keynote speaker, along with Dr. Carol Brown of Equipping Minds; Davis Carman of Apologia; Ryan Platt of A Special Needs Plan; and Terrie McKee, the owner of IAJ Ministries and Homeschooling One Child. Dr. Carol Brown will be speaking on "Naturalistic or Biblical Worldview of Human Development: Renewing the Mind;" Davis Carman will be speaking on "Give Me One Good Reason to Homeschool;" Ryan Platt will be speaking on "Planning for Two Lifetimes;" and Terrie McKee will be speaking on "The Valleys and Victories of Autism."

Tickets for the Homeschooling Special Needs Expo are $79 per person. Lunch for both days can either be added on for $15 per person per day, brought in as a bagged lunch (not provided by IAJ Ministries), or families may leave and return (provided name badges will gain participants entry back into the event). 

Participants have the option of adding on the "Dr. Temple Grandin VIP Experience," in which a limited amount of people will be able to meet Dr. Grandin. The number is limited to 200 people as to not overwhelm her. Tickets for the "Dr. Temple Grandin VIP Experience" is $49 per person. 

Session speakers include Marianne Sunderland, Michelle McCarthy, Penny Rogers, Susan Blackwell, Candice Dugger, Shelley Whisenant, Davis Carman, Sarah Olbris, Gena Suarez, Stepahnie Buckwalter, Dr. Carol Brown, Joni & Friends, Greg and Terrie McKee, Amy Bodkin, Ashley Anderson, Peggy Ployhar, Beckye Barnes, Ryan Platt, Sarah Collins, Jennifer Pugh, Rachael Carman, Stefanie Henry, and Sarah Collins. Other speakers are being added.  Session topics can be found here. 

In addition, there will be a Sensory Room for children who are getting overwhelmed and for parents and kids to explore sensory toys, tools, and equipment. 

The Exhibit Hall is still accepting exhibitors. Current exhibitors can be found here. Exhibitors have the choice of either a 10x10 or 10x20 booth. 

​To register for this amazing event, click here. You will have the option of adding on the Dr. Temple Grandin VIP Experience and/or meals at checkout. For more information on exhibiting, please email here.