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7.5 million kids with disabilities received education during the 2022-2023 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.
Special online courses are one of the learning formats used by these children to receive their education. The abundance of such courses on the market makes it harder to find the right ones for your child. We will explain how parents can avoid mistakes and what to look for when choosing a course.
What Makes Online Courses the Best Choice for Students with Disabilities?
Many online schools develop specialized programs designed to meet the needs of students with various types of disabilities. These schools offer what traditional schools cannot. Online schools provide students with the freedom and protection from bullying arising from their differences. These are just a few reasons why online schools and their programs become a top choice for parents consistently. We looked at various reasons why parents prefer online schools and their programs in detail in this article.
How to Choose the Right Special Online Course?
“There are so many resource lists out there. Teachers are overwhelmed. Parents are overwhelmed. It’s link after link after link”
Lindsay Jones, EdSource
Parents consider several factors when choosing an online special education course for their child. Below are seven of these factors.
Child’s Disability Group
A child may have various problems. These challenges can be related to mental, physical, emotional, or other abilities. It is best for parents to consult with a specialist before enrolling the child in a program. This approach helps parents understand their child’s unique needs and provides insight into which areas to focus on when choosing a program.
Level of Personal Involvement
Parents are the closest people to a child with disabilities. Online education requires more involvement from parents to help address the challenges it brings. We discussed the difficulties of online learning and how to overcome them in this article. Parents assess objectively whether they can dedicate a big amount of time to their child’s education. Those who find this challenging choose online programs offering substantial support from the program’s teachers.
Expertise of Online School Specialists
Parents check whether the teachers and other specialists involved in the online program have the knowledge and experience working with children with the specific type of disability their child has. Some specialists tend to generalize all children into one group, but this is incorrect and indicates the specialist’s experience is not sufficient. Parents choose experts with experience which is a good fit for their child’s unique needs.
Program’s Coverage of the Child’s Needs
Parents review the program carefully and pay attention to its focus areas. Parents compare the program with their child’s needs and assess the overlap. Parents choose a program which fully meets their child’s requirements. Online programs do not always detail these aspects, so in such cases, parents contact the program’s teacher or the school representatives to get more information.
Support Level from the Online School
The level of support provided by the school offering the online program is especially important for parents who cannot dedicate much time to their child’s education. Parents contact the school to clarify the level of educational and technical support offered. Technical support is equally important, as online learning can lead to various technical issues. These issues will require financial and time investments from the parents if the school does not provide sufficient assistance.
Flexibility for Changes
Students with special needs require freedom in making adjustments. Parents look at the schedule and options of the online program. Good online programs offer multiple formats and are open to changes if the family’s situation shifts.
Intuition and Trial Class
Parents pay attention to what their intuition tells them after reviewing the program and speaking with the school’s representatives. Parents look for another program if something feels wrong. Many schools offer a trial class, which helps clear up any doubts if they exist.
Our school’s specialists have selected the top 5 courses for 2024 to make it easier for parents to search and choose the right one. Parents can review this list here.
Why Is Legacy Online School the Best Choice for Children with Special Needs?
Legacy Online School has been part of the online education market for several years. We have made it our mission from the very beginning to make education accessible and understandable for every student. Our school specialists recognize students with special needs as a unique group. They understand the challenges of this group and develop specialized programs to help them overcome those difficulties. Our teachers possess theoretical and practical experience working with children from various disability groups. We collaborate with specialized professionals who contribute to program development.
Parents choose our school to provide a brighter future for their children. Education at Legacy Online School gives high-quality learning for students and offers parents advice and methods to support their children in their personal lives.
Contact us to discuss your child’s needs and create a personalized educational plan.
