Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020 | 2:57 p.m.
Wellness checks, one-on-one support and teachers reaching out to pupils daily will ensure students with special needs stay engaged in learning, according to Clark County education officials.
Clark County School District teachers will work with parents of special needs students to create individualized education plans once school begins Aug. 24 with a full-time distance education model.
“It’s really important our families understand it’s about a collaboration,” said Monica Cortez, interim assistant superintendent of the Student Services Division.
The district provided an update on plans for special needs students today.
The amount of real-time online instruction will vary from student to student based on their needs. Cortez said planning distance education is allowing the district more time to reflect on students’ specific needs.
School Board member Danielle Ford said parents and teachers agree special needs students should be prioritized for in-person learning when it becomes available.
Michael K. Barbour, associate professor of instructional design at Touro University California, said whether a special needs student is successful in an online learning environment depends on the severity of their disability.
Technology can more easily accommodate students with mild disabilities, while those with disabilities that impact physical movement are more reliant on in-person assistance, Barbour said.
In a live classroom, a teacher’s aide can assist with hands-on lessons, he said. “Doing that in an online environment would rely on the parent,” Barbour said.
