Students with Disabilities and Online Learning in a Pandemic

Abstract

The effects of COVID-19 have included many temporary school closures which led students moving from a face to face setting to a virtual learning environment. Online learning may present unique challenges for the parents of young students with disabilities. These challenges that parents of students with disabilities face are explored through a qualitative approach in an interview with a parent. Challenges are highlighted through themes from the interview such as technology issues, lack of student engagement and social interaction, and additional responsibilities for the parent. Based upon the information from the interview, parental supports and supplemental resources supplied to families are identified that can be used to assist in overcoming the online learning challenges.