Online Learning: A Nightmare in Special Needs Education

Online Learning is hard for students with special needs. You know why? Read on.

Imagine a parent speaking to their special needs child, explaining it as easy as possible, that there is a sickness out there and that they won’t be going to school. Now imagine how confused these kids would be. How anxious would they have been on not being able to see their friends at school, kids like them? How frightening would it have been to see such a dramatic change in their learning environment? Read on to see how online learning is an ordeal for special needs students.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected educational sectors across the globe. Many schools, universities, and colleges have been shut down in order to curb the virus. Thus, educational institutions have resorted to online learning and teaching. However, this path of online learning that students are travelling at the moment is not a smooth one.

Not everyone learns in the same way. Special needs students require additional attention and care while learning. Students with attention and behavior deficits need direct one-on-one instruction with multiple prompts or redirection, and this cannot be done easily through a screen. Students that have autism, ADHD and hindrances in speaking require in-person experience. Occupational therapy is a hands-on experience where the teachers hold their hands, and this becomes impossible in online learning. Physical and speech therapy is also difficult because they all are in-person therapies.

In online learning, teachers are unable to adjust their teaching according to student feedback. It becomes harder for teachers to give each student individual attention while still keeping the others engaged. Parents have come forward stating how, without face-to-face interaction, students lose attention and focus in their classes. They don’t sit in their places and constantly move around.

Not getting the socialisation that they’re used to and the lack of direct interaction with their peers is very hard on them as well. It would be difficult for them to grasp the situation and the reasons why they are unable to go to school and be with their teachers and friends. Accessing the web and logging into their classes would be frustrating for them. They cannot sit in front of the screen for extended periods of time. Disruption to their routine could disrupt their behavioral conduct too. Behaviors like grabbing and biting, out of anxiety, intensify particularly in kids with autism.

There are roughly 7 million students with special needs in the United States. Teachers and parents alike, struggle in ensuring the best for these students during the pandemic. Universities like Northeastern University are providing remote services and online meetings with specialists using Microsoft Teams and Zoom during the pandemic.

Engagement is key to success in online learning. Regular check-ins on their social and emotional well-being and establishing a positive relationship would help immensely. It is best to use the same software and routines that the students are familiar with as much as possible. Staying in contact with the parent/caregiver to find out what the student likes or dislike and their learning problems would help immensely. Using a weighted blanket and compression vests are other tactics that would keep the kids focused.

Hanan Ashraf Muhammad