Online Education for Special Needs Students

For students with special needs who desire to pursue higher education, traditional schools offer various potential problems. Online colleges have the solution.

Travel

The ability to study from home is a huge reason many students choose online school. For those with disabilities, online colleges offer a lot of advantages. Online students who utilize wheelchairs, powerchairs, walking canes, or have compromised mobility in general don’t have to be concerned about traditional classrooms being accessible.

Pace

Students with learning disabilities such as ADHD, dyslexia, visual processing disorder, or dysgraphia can work at their own pace through online school. Traditional schools often create time pressure, over-stimulation of the senses, and distractions for students with special needs. At home, students can take as long or little as they need to focus and study material.

Mental Health

Many students with mental illness are unable to keep up with traditional education due to exhaustion. Those with psychological or psychiatric disabilities, post-traumatic stress disorder, or clinical mood disorder may have episodes that keep them from attending traditional classes. Online schools provide these students the freedom to map study times according to mental health status.

Social Anxiety

Individuals with autism spectrum disorders, such as Asperger’s syndrome, tend to have difficulties in social situations. Assignments that involve groupwork or speaking in front of crowds can be frustrating for these types of students. Online classes allow them to communicate in forms they’re more comfortable with, like forums.

Technology

Technology has made self-led, at-home education possible for special needs students. Speech-recognition programs like Dragon NaturallySpeaking can help individuals with little or no ability of controlling their hands to dictate essays using their voice. Subtitled lectures can ensure deaf or hard of hearing students never miss a word. Screen-reader software lets blind or vision-impaired students listen to their text books.

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