Homeschool CARE Foundation

SPECIAL NEEDS ADVOCATES

Our Special Needs advocates are here to help encourage you in your homeschooling journey. Advocates can assist you by identifying needs, locating a variety of resources including therapists and curriculum, and sharing a wealth of experience and expertise in working with children with learning challenges such as autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and sensory integration disorder.
Christina Mcmahan

Christina Mcmahan

DYSLEXIA, ASD, GIFTEDNESS, HOMESCHOOLING FOSTER CHILDREN

Christina studied Spanish at the University of  Tennessee at Martin. She was an interpreter for the state of Tennessee from 2002-2004. In 2002, Christina and her husband, John, founded the corporation, The Mobile PC Guys, Inc; which has since changed to Lifeline Voice & Data. In 2006, Christina became a work at home, homeschool mom to her two stepdaughters. Her youngest stepdaughter has high functioning Autism and is hearing impaired and was struggling in school academically and socially. They work side by side at their offices in Greenfield, TN and their home office in Union City, TN while continuing to homeschool their gifted daughter, Reagan. Reagan is in grade 11 and has never attended any brick and mortar school. John and Christina recently adopted their 13 year old special needs son in 2020. The family is currently still fostering behaviorally challenged and special needs children.  

Megan Hillegass

Megan Hillegass

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER, HEARING LOSS

Megan graduated from Vanderbilt University with a degree in Child Development and Cognitive Studies. She holds a Masters/Educational Specialist degree in School Psychology from the University of Maryland.  Before becoming a mother, she worked in early childhood special education for several years in the Chicago suburbs, serving teachers, parents, and young children with a variety of disabilities. Megan and her husband Dave have six children, including a son with moderate-severe Autism and a son with bilateral hearing loss.  She loves encouraging parents on the homeschooling journey.  Her homeschool is primarily Charlotte Mason-style, but an eclectic approach helps to meet the diverse learning needs of her family.  They have made their home in west Tennessee since 2016.

Beth brown

Beth brown

DYSLEXIA, SENSORY INTEGRATION DISORDER, MEMORY DEFICITS

Beth graduated from Crichton College with a degree in Education. She has completed The Volunteer Advocacy Project to provide instrumental and affective support to families of children with disabilities from the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. Beth has been teaching people of all ages in various settings for the past 32 years. She is a founding board member of Northwest TN Homeschool Co-op. Beth is currently the English Programs Coordinator with a Christian English ministry in Hong Kong. Beth has been married for 30 years to her wonderful husband, Rob. They have one daughter, Emily, who is in 12th grade. Emily has been homeschooled since Kindergarten. Emily has dyslexia, dyscalculia, auditory processing, and sensory processing disorder. Beth believes that when a child has the right accommodations, they can thrive.

TARA EBERT

TARA EBERT

DYSCALCULIA, GIFTEDNESS, MATH SUPPORT

Tara graduated from Eastern KY University with a degree in Healthcare Administration. She worked as a Practice Manager of a multi-facility radiology firm prior to staying home with her children. Tara and her husband, Heath, have four children with a variety of challenges such as twice giftedness, dyslexia, dyscalculia, auditory processing, and memory deficits. Tara has used her life experiences to encourage families but also bring available resources to the forefront of her homeschooling community. Tara’s focused attention is dyscalculia and helping families with little to no support in math. She tutors and offers high school math and science support to her community of homeschoolers with either dyscalculia or giftedness. Tara has successfully received the highest level of accommodations on college entrance exams and continued the journey into college with her children advocating for their own accommodations as they pursue their dreams. Tara’s goal is to make math numeracy and independence available to families.

WOULD YOUR FAMILY BENEFIT FROM SPEAKING ONE ON ONE WITH AN HCF SPECIAL NEEDS ADVOCATE?

Homeschool C.A.R.E. Foundation (HCF) was founded by HomeLife Academy (HLA) in 2018 and serves as its charitable arm. HCF is a Tennessee nonprofit corporation and a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Both organizations work closely together to support, guide, and encourage homeschooling students and families around the world.