EXPLORING PARENTS' EXPERIENCE ON DISTANCE LEARNING FOR STUDENTS WITH ASD

M. Efstratopoulou, S. Delligianidou, M. Sofologi

Abstract


During the lock-down period, many educational programs have been changed making possible to continue the learning process for learners with disabilities and particularly for students with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD). However, changing daily routines can result for elevated anxiety and stress for ASD learners. The aim of the study was to explore the experience of parents on Distance Learning with their children with Autism and Developmental disabilities. A qualitative research design was used, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents of ASD students discussing about benefits and challenges of the distance learning procedure. Parents’ responses indicated some benefits of the DL procedure during lockdown situations, however many challenges for both the ASD students and their parents were reported. Training for both parents and teachers were highly suggested to overcome the challenges during DL and improve the experience. Their overall experience and their suggestions can be used to improve the quality of the distance learning process for students with Autism and Developmental disabilities.

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Keywords


ASD, distance learning, qualitative design, interviews, parents

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejse.v7i1.3525

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