Supporting Students with Special Needs in an Online Environment - Southeast Academy Online

Supporting Students with Special Needs in an Online Environment

Supporting Students with Special Needs in an Online Environment

As of the 2022–23 school year, approximately 7.5 million students ages 3–21 received special needs education. This is about 15% of all public school students in the country. As educators, it is important for us to know that not all students learn the same way, have the same academic strengths, or require the same amount of one-on-one support. Here is some information about online special needs education, as well as some tips for adapting curriculum to meet a student’s needs.

Eligibility for special needs education

For many educators, the key to a successful special needs education program is providing individualized support. If a student has a learning disability or special needs, teachers and school administrators will develop an Individual Education Program (IEP) for the student. In an online environment, this is especially important since teachers are not able to provide one-site support.

In order to successfully develop an IEP, educators will need to identify which disability categories a student falls into, so they can design an education program tailored to their specific needs. According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), basic categories of disabilities can include: Autism, Deaf-Blindness, Emotional Disturbance, Orthopedic Impairment, or Speech or Language Impairment, among many others. Additionally, instructors at Southeast Academy can adapt an existing IEP to better suit an online learning environment, including all appropriate accommodations and supports for the student.

When educators are aware of a student’s special education needs, they are able to work with families and school staff to ensure that the student is set up for success in an online learning environment.

Adapting your curriculum to meet special needs

There are many resources and tools available for educators looking to adapt curriculum to best support special needs students. A special needs student often has a different starting point from their peers; they might be reading at a lower grade level, struggling with math or grammar, or unable to keep up in a traditional classroom setting due to hearing or visual impairment.

Since general education standards and curriculum typically don’t level the playing field for special needs students, educators can target specific areas where these learners need support. Fortunately, in an online learning environment, there is more flexibility for students to learn at their own pace and receive individualized attention from their instructors.

Here are some more tips for instructors seeking to better support their students with special needs:

  • Measure progress for each student at independent levels. IEPs are great tools for tracking individual students’ progress toward predetermined academic goals.
  • Encourage students to become active learners through exploration and discovery. Online learning allows students to take charge of their own learning, all with their instructors guidance.
  • Balance learning with fun! If your students are enjoying themselves during school hours, then your lessons will have a more lasting impact.
  • Incorporate some multimedia learning opportunities into your curriculum. This is perfect for children with short attention spans, autism, processing disorders, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities.

There are many tools and resources for educators seeking to better support their students with special needs. Overall, just make sure that you understand their individual needs, that they feel connected to the curriculum and subject matter, and that their progress shows continual improvement.

Support for all students at Southeast Academy

At Southeast Academy, we are committed to providing all students at all levels with a holistic and rigorous education experience. Our online programs are designed to cultivate character and foster personal growth, ensuring that our students are prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the future. Our instructors use placement testing and individualized student instruction, allowing students to excel in their academics and devote extra time to any subjects in which they struggle.

By focusing on self-discipline, independence, integrity, critical thinking, and communication, we help students develop into responsible, ethical, and capable individuals.

Enroll today to start building a brighter future through character and academic excellence.

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