Skip to main content

News and Knowledge

Parenting is never easy, but parenting during a pandemic poses entirely new challenges. For many, if not all of us, school is going to look different this year. For parents of children with special needs, this burden is unique as we take on the role of teacher, paraprofessional, and therapist, all while juggling work, family, and home life.

For many children, no virtual program can replace all of the services received while attending school. The long-term changes to daily schedules due to school closures can mean loss of important skills or lead to increased anxiety/problem behaviors. To help increase the successful outcomes of distance learning, it is important to keep the following in mind.

Know your school’s plan.

It will definitely be a challenge for school districts to implement personalized education as they navigate how to translate Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for online learning platforms. While instruction and services may look different during this transition, it is important that you retain all of your rights under federal law. You will have to advocate more now than ever for your child. If your child’s IEP is due for annual review, request a virtual IEP meeting. If you’re concerned about regression and recoupment issues, ask if the district has a plan for “COVID-19 compensatory services.” If you feel that your child’s IEP is not being met, call a meeting to discuss how to ensure services can be implemented.

Communication is key.

Communication with educators, service providers, and your family members will be necessary to ensure the best possible virtual experience for everyone. It will be important to share both challenges and successes to help everyone thrive, learn, and grow during this time.

  • School: Whether it is weekly calls/emails or even daily check-ins with your child’s teacher, keep the lines of communication open and flowing. This will help manage everyone’s expectations as well as create a dialogue for help and support.
  • Service providers: From in-home ABA to speech or occupational therapy, home service providers play an important role in caring for your child. Therapy may continue in your home with some modifications. Continue to communicate with service providers regarding expectations during therapy as well as what strategies you can use during virtual learning.
  • Family members: The shift to virtual learning will create unique challenges for your child. Use social stories, videos, and other visuals to explain the new situation. In addition, communicate with family members regarding their responsibilities to create consistency while everyone adapts to the new routine.
Create a learning space(s).

Creating a learning space for your child does not require a home makeover. Nor does the space have to be perfect; it just needs to be functional for your child’s needs. Organize all the materials required for your child’s learning in one place. If you are using multiple spaces within your home, place materials on a rolling cart or in a basket. Making visuals for rules/schedules/token boards may be helpful and should be included in your learning space(s).

Establish a routine and focus on the positive.

Try to be patient and realistic as you adopt a new schedule. Don’t feel pressure to exactly replicate school/therapy at home — it is unrealistic. Instead, develop a modified version of your child’s school routine that is practical and easy to follow. The new routine should take into consideration transitions, breaks, outside/free play, and the demands of other family members. We know that most children thrive on routine; by creating a home schedule, you will create a predictable environment for your child to succeed during distance learning.

Stay connected.

Staying connected with teachers, friends, therapists, support groups, etc. may help you and your child adapt more easily during the transition to virtual learning. If possible, set up times to video chat with the people your child regularly interacts with.

Remember the importance of self-care.

As we attempt to manage the stress of virtual learning coupled with the continual changes that COVID brings, we need to ensure that we are making self-care a priority. Remember, you are not alone; reach out to other parents and share the responsibilities with other family members if possible.

Regardless of the efforts made by dedicated educators and parents, if virtual learning resumes this fall, we will need to continue to be creative to ensure our children with special needs do not fall further behind. The suggestions above are a good start to make positive strides during distance learning, but change must take place to meet the individualized needs of children with disabilities. Unfortunately, we are in unprecedented times and there are no research-based best practices to guide special education teachers tasked with moving instruction and services online. Given those challenges, as we prepare to start school this fall, the key to success will be taking it one day at a time.

 


Carla Wyrsch has been a devoted educator and advocate for children with disABILITIES since 2002. A certified special education teacher with a background in applied behavior analysis, she has spent her entire career working with children with autism. Her experience spans a variety of settings, including residential treatment facilities, military bases, public schools, and the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Lerner School for Autism. In addition to her work with children on the spectrum, she enjoys providing coaching sessions to both professionals and parents in the areas of behavior modification and other best practices.