-A guide for parents to assist with homeschooling and Speech-Language Pathology.

These unprecedented times are accompanied by challenges for parents. Many parents are experiencing dramatic changes in their work schedules, while others might have the fortune of being considered “essential,” and are able to continue their normal work regimen (as normal as might be expected).
To add to these drastic changes, parents nationwide have experienced a complete overhaul of their children’s’ daily routines. Most notable is the result of school closings across the country, with many canceling all school activities through the end of the school year. This has caused tremendous anxiety amongst parents, who are now tasked with wearing the additional hat of “educator.” (It’s not surprising that “homeschooling” has been a trending term on Google in recent weeks). Many families are left with concerns about their child’s education, particularly amongst children who might require additional resources, such as those listed in their Individualized Education Plan. Additionally, families are struggling to establish a sense of normalcy, while wondering if these new circumstances are, in fact, the new normal.
In this article, we are going to provide 5 action items that all parents can address, in sequential order. It is our hope that these resources might help ease anxieties, provide a sense of assurance that your child is remaining on-track and give you tools to empower your family to take charge of your child’s education.

STEP ONE: KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

As noted by Education Week, forced widespread school closures in the United States has resulted in an unprecedented disruption of K-12 schooling.
School closures due to coronavirus have impacted at least 124,000 U.S. public and private schools and affected at least 55.1 million students.
There are at least 98,000 public schools and at least 34,000 private schools in the U.S., according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Those schools educate almost 50.8 million public school students and 5.8 million private school students.

Public and Private Schools, from Primary to Intermediate, nationwide are adjusting to the immediate need to keep students on track through the remainder of the school year. In New York, which leads the nation in the rate of infections, New York City’s 75,000 public school educators are facing a challenge unlike anything in their careers. For students to avoid permanent setbacks, the success of remote learning is critical.

Take Action:
You can track school closures at Map: Coronavirus and School Closures, created by Education Week. Use the map, charts, and table at this link to see detailed state-level information about school closures. This page is updated at least once a day on weekdays and at least once on the weekends.

Examine your school district’s website, and actively engage with any online portals established for your child’s online learning experience.
Many PTA resources are adopting remote conference calls. These platforms provide a great forum for parents to express concerns, pose questions and make suggestions. Additionally, these meetings can provide more insight other than what is publicly available.

STEP TWO: TAILOR YOUR CHILD’S EDUCATION FOR THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS.

Schools are transitioning to formats for remote learning with plans that account for the “core” curriculum. However, in this unprecedented circumstance, it is likely that specialized education that your child may require might be overlooked… and despite the pandemic, these specific challenges for students with special needs is not new.
The federal education department has known for years that states have struggled to develop remote learning policies for students with disabilities. A 2016 report from the now-shuttered Center on Online Learning and Students with Disabilities, (a federally funded research collaborative), found that 38 states lacked clear guidance or policies on who should provide special education services in an online school setting. John Eisenberg, the Executive Director of the National Association of State Directors of Special Education says that the situation has not improved much in the years since this study was released.
The new reality has left some districts scrambling to find resources and train staff before they can even begin efforts to teach students online—and those are just the states that have action plans. “[The Coronavirus pandemic] has triggered a re-examination of options. Some places think [online learning] is too hard to do for students with disabilities,” Eisenberg said. “But that’s not the message we want to send to the country.”
The Council of Chief State School Officers has urged the federal education department to provide clarity on special education equity for students with disabilities in an online environment. “The guidance that came out, there is some interpretation about that being fairly limiting and causing confusion,” said Carissa Moffat Miller, Executive Director of CCSSO.
A spokeswoman from the U.S. Education Department said the agency expects to release additional guidance on issues such as special education in the near future.
Now that schools are closed for weeks, or even through the end of the school year, states must also provide guidance to schools on a host of special education issues. Among them are how to comply with deadlines to determine student eligibility for special education services and with mandates governing Individualized Education Program hearings, matters that are regulated on the Federal level, and beyond the control of the district.

Take Action:

If your child has an Individualized Education Plan or requires additional assistance as a result of a disability, contact your school district to understand how these programs will translate for remote learning.
Learn more about how schools have employed remote learning in the past, such as:
- How School Districts Benefit from Telepractice.
- Case Studies: How School Districts Cope with Challenges Surrounding Special Education

STEP THREE: SEEK OUT SECONDARY RESOURCES.

While school districts nationwide serve a primary resource for education, in both private and public school settings, children can benefit from specialized treatment outside of their school’s curriculum. Services such as RemoteSpeech.com have well-established platforms that have specialized in providing tailored assistance in a remote setting, for speech-language pathology. These services have been proven to be highly-effective, whether employed to supplement a child’s primary education or when integrated into their school’s agenda.

Take Action:

If you are new to telepractice, learn more with the following articles:

If your child is receiving speech-language therapy, keep up-to-date on the latest announcements by the American Speech Hearing Association (ASHA). ASHA is urging payers and policymakers to ensure adequate access to audiology and speech-language pathology services during this unprecedented time. ASHA’s website will be updated as new information becomes available during the current coronavirus/COVID-19 situation.
What to Know Before You Provide Telepractice Services

STEP FOUR: TAKE INITIATIVE.

Once you have exhausted the resources available from your child’s school and through accredited service providers, you can take a hands-on approach and keep your kids on-track at home!
We have collected a series of fun games for parents to print out, and help keep their kids on track! For these games, all you will need is some cardstock, a printer, scissors, a few miscellaneous items found around the house and some time! These games are the perfect cure to cabin fever, and amongst children who might require creative methods to motivate.

In addition to hands-on engagement, consider downloading some of our favorite games related to speech-language pathology. Whether you are a speech-language pathologist or a parent, these fun resources will help you stay on track with your goals while keeping your child entertained!

STEP FIVE: STAY INFORMED.

In these uncertain times, the best defense against fear and anxiety is staying informed. Once you’ve gained a clear line of communication between your child’s school and accredited professionals, be sure to keep up-to-date on how Covid19 is effecting your community.

Take Action:

Click here for a listing of Covid19 news, organized by State. Once you locate your state, be sure to bookmark the page and check back often for the latest news and developments that impact your community.
Have questions about your child’s Speech-Language Pathology?
- Contact us by email at:
  - East Coast- info@abingtonspeech.com
  - West Coast – jamie@abingtonspeech.com
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About RemoteSpeech.com

RemoteSpeech provides one point of contact for complete, higher-level services, beginning with the country’s best Speech-Language Pathologists and School Psychologists. Contact us today and allow our passionate professionals to assist you.

The Process:

Schedule a consultation
Click here to schedule a complimentary assessment by one of our licensed partners
Proceed with RemoteSpeech Formal Evaluation
Establish Attainable Goals
Therapy Begins!

Click Here to Learn More About Our Telepractice – Remote Speech-Language Therapy!