Cultivating Wisdom in Teens and Young Adults with Unique Needs

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By Cheryl Swope, M.Ed. Memoria Press

While many of our peers are entering the "empty nest" season of life, my husband and I are still fully engaged in homeschooling our 19-year-old twins, both of whom have significant special needs. They’ve officially “graduated,” but their education continues. Their desire to learn remains strong, and our commitment to help them grow has only deepened.

As their medical and developmental challenges have progressed, we’ve had to adjust our expectations. But we haven’t compromised the richness of our curriculum or the beauty of our method. If you are homeschooling a teen or young adult with learning struggles, take heart—your homeschool journey can still be filled with purpose, truth, and joy, even after traditional milestones have passed.

Cultivating Beyond Conditions

My son is currently working through courses like Introduction to Logic, Music Theory, and Composition—slowly and purposefully. With gentle Socratic questioning and plenty of space for thinking, he continues to stretch intellectually even as his health declines.

We spent several years just mastering Latina Christiana I. But Michael once told me, “Latin is so meticulous and systematic—it takes my boggled mind and sorts it out.” He went on to say, “I want to study Latin forever.” His sister Michelle, whose academic abilities haven't developed to the same extent, still delights in exploring the liberal arts in small doses, always through a lens of theological truth and beauty.

Try This at Home:

• Add a new subject gradually. Consider simple introductions to logic, Latin, or music appreciation.

• Use journaling or narration to help your child reflect on lessons. If writing is a barrier, scribe for them or use a voice-to-text app.

Cultivating Between the Lines

One of our aims as classical homeschoolers is to help our children recognize truth, goodness, and beauty. Literature has been one of the best tools for this. Even when comprehension is uneven, beauty often finds its way through.

We once read The Merchant of Venice aloud as a family. My son grasped only fragments, but my daughter fell in love with Portia’s famous speech on mercy. She acted out her lines with joy. In another moment, Michael paused over a character’s insight about outward appearance and inner truth. The play referenced Troy and Hercules, prompting us to revisit stories from our early classical studies.

Try This at Home:

• Choose a scene from a classic story or play and read it together. Let your kids act out the parts.

• Use audiobooks or dramatized recordings for difficult texts, and pause to discuss what stands out.

• Talk about the values or virtues present in the story. Ask, “What does this teach us about being human?”

Cultivating from the Heavens

Later that same day, my husband brought out star guides and binoculars, and we all gathered on a blanket under the autumn sky. As we named constellations and planets, our conversations tied together science, mythology, language, and Scripture.

Michelle remembered Abraham’s descendants from the story of Genesis. My husband identified the constellation Aquila. Michelle, using her Latin, said, “That must mean eagle.” The stars prompted Greek myths and Roman legends that our children remembered better than we did. We laughed, learned, and lingered together in the moment.

Try This at Home:

• Go stargazing and bring a simple constellation guide or stargazing app.

• Point out a few constellations or planets and link their names to mythology or Latin roots.

• Discuss what Scripture says about the heavens (Psalm 19 or Psalm 104 are great places to start).

Cultivating Shared Experiences

As the sky grew darker, we pointed out the Big Dipper and noted its trapezoid shape. Michael surprised us by recalling geometry terms, describing the moon as “a perfect semi-circle, with the diameter bisecting the whole.” All the lessons from previous years resurfaced in a single moment.

That night reminded us that learning doesn’t have to be forced. It can emerge naturally when families are curious together. Even math, language, and literature can show up in unexpected and joyful places.

Try This at Home:

• Let learning spill into family life—on walks, around the dinner table, or under the stars.

• Connect what you’re studying to your real world: shapes in nature, Latin roots in church hymns, logic in everyday decisions.

• Capture these moments in photos, journals, or conversations. They’re just as meaningful as any formal lesson.

Cultivating Unceasing Joy

As the night chilled, we pulled Michelle close to keep her warm. In that moment, I was deeply grateful for what classical homeschooling had given our family—something rich and lasting. Even if our children’s abilities continue to fade, we will keep learning together. We will keep worshipping together. We will keep loving what is good, true, and beautiful.

“O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all.” —Psalm 104:24

Encouragement for Today’s Homeschool Moms

If you’re teaching a child who learns differently, and you feel overwhelmed by the pace or the progress, remember: learning doesn’t expire at graduation. Homeschooling gives us the gift of time and relationship.

You don’t have to race. You don’t have to match someone else’s timeline. You can build a home where learning is slow, rich, and centered on what truly matters.

Here are three things you can try this week:

1. Read a short, meaningful poem or story aloud—even just one.

2. Go on a nature walk and ask your child to point out shapes, colors, or sounds they recognize.

3. Set up a stargazing night—even from your backyard or driveway—and look up in wonder together.

Homeschooling your unique learner isn’t about reaching the finish line quickly. It’s about walking a beautiful road, together, with your eyes open to all the truth, goodness, and beauty God is revealing along the way.

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