Technology has become more prominent in recent years. It has made its presence felt in various fields and has completely transformed education. Today, physical classrooms have taken a backseat, and both students and teachers have relied on online education.
While online classes have made a lot of things easy, there are a few points that educators must take into consideration. Since there’s no physical interaction between teachers and students, supporting students with special needs in the online class is a major concern.
With online education taking center stage, there are several ways educators can support students with special needs academically. This blog aims to provide you with a few tips to help specially abled students overcome the challenges of transitioning to online learning.
Learning should be equal for everyone. However, with the shift to online learning, students with disabilities have found it difficult to cope with the learning environment. So, before we give away the ways to help with special education needs, let’s understand the challenges, especially for students with special needs:
A. Limited Accessibility to Assistive Technology
Numerous learning platforms do not provide adequate resources or tools for learning for students with special needs. For example, students with visual impairments will face problems accessing content that is not compatible with screen readers. Similarly, deaf students face problems understanding materials that are completely dependent on audio or video without proper captions.
B. Lack of One-on-One Support
This is a major concern among online students. Online learning lacks the much-needed one-on-one support. However, when it comes to special education students, the concern grows tenfold. In most cases, parents or caregivers step in to help students or connect with online class help for special needs. The service providers help students experience better social-emotional stability and increased independence.
C. Technological and Connectivity
Learners with special educational needs often face problems with technology. Limited access to the internet or unfamiliarity with assistive technology are constant problems in online schooling for special needs students. Further, many students do not have access to any technology at home, thus hampering their overall learning experience.
These are common problems for learners with special needs. Since there are students with a variety of disabilities, it is difficult to pinpoint one or two ways to help them. The following section will take you through some of the common ways to help in online learning for special needs students.
Online Learning for Special Needs: Tips to Help Students with Disabilities
To ensure a good online learning environment for students with special educational needs, here are a few ways educators and institutions can implement:
A. Understanding Individual Needs
Students have different learning styles. It is crucial to assess each student’s strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles to implement a strategy. Develop individualized education plans (IEPs) or personalized goals with specific accommodations. This can help cater to specific student needs and help them learn.
B. Create Accessible Learning Environments
It is necessary to create accessible learning spaces to ensure a good educational experience for students with special needs. Screen readers, captioning, adjustable fonts, etc., can make learning easy for specially abled students. Further, it is also essential to modify learning materials for different learning styles.
C. Adapting Microlearning Strategies
Breaking down content into smaller, digestible chunks makes learning easy for students with special needs. Students with learning disabilities often find it difficult to understand learning management systems and cope with their online courses. Adapting to microlearning strategies can help them learn and handle the extensive online courses.
D. Instructional Strategies
Implementing the right instructional strategies can be of great help for students with special needs. Providing clear, step-by-step instructions, using visuals, checklists, and demonstrations can help specially abled students cope with remote learning needs. Further, incorporating videos, interactive simulations, and hands-on projects and assignments can also help students deal with their online courses. Placing a ‘take my online class for me’ query can also be a great way to get the necessary support from experts.
E. Continuous Communication
It is necessary to ensure continuous and effective communication with students with special needs so they don’t have problems with their online programs. Since active communication among classmates is restricted in online learning, students, especially those with special needs, face a lot of difficulties. In this case, instructors must schedule regular one-on-one checks and encourage proper communication with families. They must also share resources and training with parents for home-based special education support.
F. Encouraging Participation and Inclusion
An effective way to deal with these students is by encouraging participation and inclusion in a virtual learning environment. Inclusive learning can motivate students to participate in learning projects. Further, it is also important to celebrate every progress and recognize achievements to build confidence.
G. Using Assistive Technology
Assistive technology for students can make learning easy. Training students and caregivers on the ways to use accessibility features on devices and online platforms can be of great help for these students. Institutions must make the most of technological advancements and work to integrate specialized apps for note-taking, organization, and sensory support.
H. Supporting Mental Health and Well-Being
Managing stress and anxiety is one of the most important aspects of online learning. While stress and anxiety are common across all learners, for those with special needs, it is higher. Instructors and institutions must proactively work on sharing strategies to manage stress, anxiety, and emotional challenges. Promoting mindfulness and self-care practices is of utmost importance to help specially abled students learn in a flexible environment.
How Does Online School for Special Needs Students Work?
Online schools for special education emphasize personalized learning plans based on a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). An online school offers flexible scheduling and a less distracting home environment. The schools use accessibility tools for special education for a better understanding of the instructions.
The institutions deliver lessons in multiple ways online, including virtual classrooms, one-on-one meetings, and various tools for live or self-paced lessons. Further, the schools recruit specialized teachers, use specialized software like text-to-speech, and teletherapy for customized support and therapies. These help remove barriers to sustained learning.
To End with,
Supporting every student with special needs in an online environment is crucial to help them stay on par with others. With online learning being the only mode of education, it is essential for instructors and institutions to incorporate strategies for supporting specially abled students.
Additionally, instructors need to identify the challenges and opportunities of online learning and help the learners do well. Students can also request for help from websites offering online class support services for special needs students who need additional support.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the benefits of online learning for students with disabilities?
Online learning offers flexibility, allowing students with ADHD or physical disabilities or any other disability to learn at their own pace. Further, the fact that online education allows students to learn comfortably adds to the advantages of online learning and can be beneficial for students with special needs.
2. How does virtual classroom technology address the unique needs of students?
Students with unique needs, especially those with visual or intellectual disabilities or other such medical conditions, can use the accessibility features that the virtual classroom technology offers. These features make learning activities accessible for such students studying online.
3. How can personalized learning benefit students with dyslexia?
The individual learning paths in distance learning can help students with dyslexia showcase their learning without being stressed. Availing inclusive education services can be of great help in these cases.
4. How students with diverse needs reap the benefits of online education?
Online graduate students learning in higher education programs and other courses offer access to quality education from anywhere. Further, diverse learning activities and teaching methods can support individual learning styles and accommodate disabilities. As a consequence, it leads to a comfortable learning experience.
5. What are the specific needs of online students with disabilities in an online setting?
Online students with disabilities may require assistive technology, accessible materials, and accommodations. These will help them demonstrate what they have learned in a virtual classroom environment effectively.
6. How does the Disabilities Education Act influence learning in an online classroom?
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is incorporated to ensure that people with disabilities receive appropriate support, individualized education plans, and accessible instruction. The act influences the learning for various students. The federal law states that every child receives a free and appropriate education. Further, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA Part B) was incorporated to provide federal funding to support services for children aged between 3-21 with disabilities.