Strategies for Students with Disabilties

Strategies for Students with Disabilties

Megan White

Special Education Teacher

Pickens County School District

Challenges of Serving Students with Disabilities Online

• Much of the training and professional development for online teaching is not geared towards students with disabilities.

• Teacher preparations for all teachers just starting out with online teaching has been limited and differs significantly from traditional teaching.

• Research and general know how of online teaching students with disabilities remains scarce.

• When working with students with disabilities online much more planning may need to be involved so students can be supported with addition programs and services that are put in place in the student’s Individualized Educational Plan (IEP).

Professional Development

• Though Professional Development may be scarce particularly in the area of Student with Disabilities, it is important to become familiar with online learning platforms that will be used within the online class.

• It may be more difficult to be prepared for situations that may arise in the online setting but obtaining and continuing to gain certifications in direct instruction, behavior management, and social skills can and will be useful even if not often used in an online setting.

• Every online class is a continued learning opportunity for teacher's to grow on and improve in.

Involving the Families

• Teaching online provides a unique experience, getting to know students through seeing more of their home, including siblings, parents, pets etc. can actually amplify your understanding of each of your students.

• Given that you are communicating early and successfully with parents while students are learning online can help in the process of teaching online.

• Involving parents can help educators meet IEP goals and accommodations.

Accessibility features

• It is important when choosing distance learning tools to utilize tools that have accessibility features that support students accomodations work towards helping them reach their goals.

• Communication is key and cna help students achieve success when they are able to share their understanding through various formats.

• Technology can become confusing and therefore it is important to form routines with students with disabilities so that they may become more familiar with the understanding of a program and not be required to constantly learn new platforms.

Support Students Opinions

• Speak with your students on their opinions on programs they find enjoyable and easy to use in and outside the classroom, though this may not work for all situations but student's voice is important too.

• Be sure to continue to speak with students on their particular goals and how this wish to meet them.