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The study by Melaura Andree Erickson Tomaino and her team examined the feasibility and effectiveness of distance learning for students with special needs. Key findings of the research: 25% of educational goals showed progress. Educators saw some educational benefits for students with special needs in online schooling.
Online schooling for special needs is an educational option where students with special needs learn from home. Students use devices to access the internet and engage in lessons through online platforms. Interaction with classmates and teachers happens virtually through Zoom or similar programs. Let’s explore more about special needs education and how online schooling supports students with special needs.
How Do Special Needs Affect Student Learning?
Special needs are specific conditions individuals have due to disabilities. Most students have these disabilities from birth and face difficulties early on. Traditional education becomes unbearable for many children because it doesn’t accommodate their needs. Here are four categories of challenges children face.
Cognitive Challenges
Students with special needs experience difficulty with comprehension, memory, and critical thinking. Some students struggle with understanding geometry and subjects requiring abstract thinking. Other students face challenges when learning new materials. These are just a few examples from the extensive list of cognitive challenges of students with special needs.
Problems with Concentration, Reading, and Writing
Students with special needs experience difficulty with general learning tasks. Students with special needs struggle to understand certain words or get their meaning on the first try. Confusing letters or rearranging words is a common issue for these students. These challenges make traditional learning methods unworkable for them.
Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
Students with special needs experience difficulty with self-regulation, attention, and social interactions. These challenges prevent them from fitting into the traditional school environment. The difficulties increase when they face bullying or different forms of rejection.
Physical Disabilities
Students with special needs experience difficulty with mobility. These difficulties make it challenging for students to navigate the learning environment. These students require special adaptations such as assistive devices or modified classroom setups.
Each of these challenges necessitates personalized interventions for students, such as modified teaching strategies, or other solutions. Parents and teachers play a big role in providing these solutions to students.
What Is the Role of a Parent in Special Education?
“Managing virtual learning is difficult but managing virtual learning for two kids who have special needs is much harder. As I’m giving my son support in his class, I turn around and see my daughter practicing writing with her toes. That’s pretty typical”
Alicia Burgstahler, CNN Health
Here are a few things parents do to support their children.
Create the Right Environment at Home
Parents understand the unique needs of their children and create an environment helping them focus and learn. Parents eliminate unnecessary noise and lighting. Parents assist children in setting up and using assistive devices. These devices include screen readers, speech-to-text software, or customized keyboards designed for physical limitations.
Structuring a Schedule for Rest and Study
Students with special needs experience anxiety and difficulty staying focused. These students struggle to manage their schedules independently. Parents step in to assist, creating a schedule balancing study time and rest. This schedule helps students feel more at ease and improves their concentration on tasks.
Track Successes and Failures
Parents monitor assignments and deadlines closely. The monitoring helps children to stay on track with their educational goals. This monitoring is especially useful for children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Communicate with Educators
Communication between parents and teachers becomes critical for students who require Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Parents help bridge the gap by discussing learning strategies with educators. Parents and teachers evaluate the successes and challenges of the children and suggest solutions. These solutions turn into an educational plan for the students. The plan is updated whenever parents or teachers see the need for adjustments to better support the students.
Support During Emotional Swings
Students with special needs experience emotional instability. Many ordinary things can upset, anger, or trigger other strong emotions in students. These emotions affect their productivity. Parents encourage them and use calming techniques. These techniques include deep breathing exercises to reduce anxiety, visual schedules to provide structure and predictability, and sensory breaks with activities like fidget tools or quiet time in a low-stimulus environment.
What Is the Role of a Teacher in Special Education?
Teachers personalize education for students with special needs, apply methodologies helping them better understand the material, and support them in other ways. We have explained the role of a teacher in more detail in this article.
How Does Online Schooling for Special Needs Students Work?
Digital learning for special needs students is a solution saving exceptional children from the indifference of traditional schools. Here is how it works for kids with special needs.
Digital Platforms and Tools
Online learning takes place using digital platforms and various tools. Digital platforms are where students access their educational plans, learning materials, and complete knowledge assessments. Students use different digital tools for various tasks. They use Zoom for video calls, WhatsApp for ongoing communication, and much more.
All these instruments provide personalized learning experiences by adapting the content to meet students’ needs, such as extended time for tasks or visual aids.
Learning Plans Based on Student Needs
Online education offers the opportunity to personalize materials and teaching approaches for students with special needs. Parents and teachers work together to develop a personalized learning plan for each student. This plan helps students deal with their educational journey despite any challenges they face.
Assistive Technologies
Students in online learning utilize assistive technologies. These technologies include screen readers, speech-to-text software, and communication devices. These tools help bridge the gap between their learning challenges and the educational content.
Different Formats of Educational Materials
Online platforms provide students with educational materials in various formats. These formats include audio, video, text, and different combinations of these formats. Presenting information in multiple formats helps students find the learning style which works best for them.
Social Support Through Online Communities
Students with special needs face more challenges compared to typical students. Such students find it harder to initiate a conversation or understand its context. Some students struggle to communicate with others due to emotional instability.
Students with special needs face many communication challenges, and traditional school staff often do not provide support in addressing these issues. Online education offers these students access to various support groups where they can find understanding and assistance.
Learn More About Legacy Online School Special Education
Legacy Online School cares about students with special needs. Legacy Online School has certified, skilled teachers from diverse cultural backgrounds. Many of them have over 5 years of teaching experience, and some even more than 20 years! Our teachers improve their skills and methods continually to help students with special needs reach their full potential. Learn more about how we work with students with special needs on our school’s website.
