The term “special” is typically used to describe something that is better or greater than the average. In terms of education, however, the term is often used to describe students who are different or differently abled. Special education focuses on helping children with disabilities learn and, just as every student is different, so are the various approaches to special education.
Parents and teachers have always had their work cut out for them when it comes to educating and caring for special needs students, but the COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges that may last for years to come. In this article, we’ll discuss the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on special education and provide useful information for both parents and teachers.
What is Special Education?
The term “special education” generally refers to a set of services provided to students who have unique learning needs. In terms of federal law, according to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), however, special education is defined as: “Specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability.”
In order to qualify for special education services, students must have an identified disability that affects their ability to learn. Eligible disabilities may include the following:
- Intellectual disabilities
- Speech or language impairment
- Hearing impairment
- Visual impairment
- Serious emotional disturbance
- Traumatic brain injury
- Orthopedic impairments
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Developmental delay
- Specific learning disabilities
Federal law requires schools to provide an appropriate education for all of their students with disabilities, regardless their disability or its severity. It also requires that six