Autism Distance Learning

Distance learning, also known as remote or online learning, became a prevalent mode of education during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the aim of minimizing the spread of the virus and ensuring the safety of students and educators, many schools and educational institutions shifted to remote learning as an alternative to traditional in-person classes. That was a year of 2020.

I vividly remember the day our school decided to close on March 13th of 2020 promising to open back up after the spring break. After all, schools stayed closed for a long time.

Autism Distance Learning

Distance learning presented unique challenges for students with special needs. Even though students with special education needs typically have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) that outline their specific learning goals and accommodations. Adapting these IEPs to the online learning environment required careful consideration to ensure that students’ individual needs were still met. Furthermore, autism distance learning posed challenges in providing students with special education services, such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, or one-on-one support. we had to find creative solutions to deliver these services remotely, such as through teletherapy or video conferencing platforms (e.g., zoom). During the first week, I have created individualized workbooks based on each student’s IEP goals and send them over their home along with necessary learning tools home. Even so, we see the greater challenges as the phase of distance learning progressed.

Luckily, our district did great job on providing students with special education needs specific assistive technologies or accommodations to access and engage with online learning materials. However, students’ engagement and attention during the short zoom meetings were incredible low.

Parents played a crucial role in supporting their child’s distance learning, especially for students with special education needs. They had to collaborate closely with me, attend virtual meetings, and provide additional support and guidance to help their child navigate the online learning environment.

It is important to note that the impact of distance learning on students with special education needs varied depending on individual circumstances, resources available, and the level of support provided by schools and educators.

After all, I was called back to the campus to provide an in-person class with students with severe autism. It was September 28th of 2020.