With all the buzz surrounding distance learning, one of the things that seems to not be discussed is how distance learning benefits or hinders the learning experience for high school students with disabilities. This blog post will take an in-depth look at both the pros and cons of distance learning for high school students with physical disabilities, learning disabilities or behavioral issues. The distance learning professionals at Trio Wolf Creek online high school in Chisago Minnesota understand that each high school student is different so not all of the pros and cons of distance learning discussed in this blog post will apply to everyone.

Before we dive in, let’s take a moment to explain who Trio Wolf Creek is and how they know so much about high school distance and in person learning. Trio Wolf Creek is a hybrid Minnesota distance learning high school that provides a tuition free hybrid distance learning solution to high school students anywhere in the state of Minnesota. If you live in Minnesota then you can enroll in Trio Wolf Creek for free. They have been offering the highest quality high school education in MN for over 20 years which is why they have repeatedly been recognized as one of Minnesota’s premiere online learning institutions. Trio Wolf Creek is accredited by NCA Advanced Education. Information regarding the NCA-Advanced Ed Accreditation process and standards can be found at their website:http://advanc-ed.org/

The first thing we are going to look at is how online learning benefits or hinders high school students with physical disabilities. There are many physical disabilities however for this particular blog post we are going to refer to high school students that have physical limitations that may affect their ability to access and utilize educational materials. Some examples of physical limitations that Minnesota high school students may be afflicted with include but are not limited to vision impairment, inability to verbally communicate, mobility issues such as requiring a wheel chair or other mobility aid, and hearing impairment. We realize that there are a wide variety of physical disabilities that we did not reference in our examples and acknowledge they exist however the purpose of this blog post is just go over some of the pros and cons of online high schools and how it relates to high school students with disabilities as opposed to a comprehensive list of every possible physical disability a high school student may be afflicted with.

Online learning providers like Trio Wolf Creek use the most current distance learning software to ensure that all their high school students can have the best online learning experience possible. Online learning providers utilize software like Schoology that have built in features that work with modern web browsers to help students with both hearing and sight impairment issues. In the case of sight impairment, modern browsers have audio readers which transcribe the information on the webpage audibly. Images have what is called an “alternate text” that the reader uses to audibly describe images on the web page. Navigational links contain “title tags” which audibly describe the link thus allowing the user to easily navigate the website and quickly find the information the student is looking for. For physical disabilities such as missing appendages or neurological disorders that affect a student’s motor functions, there is software that allows voice commands to interact with the website. As time goes on and accessibility technology continues to advance, online high school providers in Minnesota and the rest of the United States will be able to better accommodate students with physical disabilities.

The downside of distance learning for high school students with physical disabilities is when it comes to physical education and more hands on lessons like you would find with subjects like science. Hybrid distance learning providers like Trio Wolf Creek are better equipped to handle these instances because in addition to providing high quality high school education online, they also have a campus that is fully accessible to individuals with physical disabilities. The Trio Wolf Creek high school campus meets all the standards and requirements as defined in the American Disabilities Act of 1990. For unique circumstances that require special equipment or some kind of special assistance you can always feel free to give the online learning experts at Trio Wolf Creek a call at 651-213-2095 and discuss the student’s special needs and see if they are a good fit.

Not all disabilities are physical in nature. Distance learning is a great high school option for students with behavioral issues or learning disabilities as well. In fact, in many ways an online high school is the best option. The biggest and most obvious reason that distance learning is better suited for high school students with learning disabilities or behavior issues is because learning at homes allows the student to learn at their own pace by being able to customize the way and the speed in which the curriculum is presented. Some high school students can pick things up very quickly, so they are capable of just taking the online curriculum with little to no supervision. In other cases, the student may require a little more assistance. In some cases, the student’s parents or siblings at home can provide the added assistance. In situations where that is not possible, professional distance learning providers like Trio Wolf Creek are staffed with licensed teaches and learning managers who are ready and willing to work with students one on one when required. A traditional brick and mortar high school usually does not have the flexibility to be able to offer individual students a customized learning plan like an online high school can.

Another reason that distance learning solutions are better suited to high school students with learning disabilities or behavioral issues is the different types of distractions. Both traditional high school and online high school have their own unique set of distractions that students will have to deal with. At home, a high school student is surrounded by a lot of temptations like television, video games, going outside and everything else not school related. Whether or not a student can self-motivate and focus is the biggest determining factor for students learning at home. By comparison, gossip, bullying, rumors, hormones and being surrounded by peers are the biggest distractions for students in a more traditional high school environment. Students with behavioral issues tend to be triggered easier by other students making the isolation of distance learning an optimal learning environment. Students that have social anxiety, are prone to bullying, or are uncomfortable around others would in many cases thrive when enrolled in an online high school vs a traditional high school. Every student is unique so whether to enroll in an online high school or not is really a decision best made on an individual basis. When making that decision, it’s important to ask the question “can this student focus on school work when surrounded by so many distractions”.

Distance learning schools and in particular hybrid online high schools like Trio Wolf Creek offer a different option for high school students with disabilities or behavioral issues. In comparison to a traditional brick and mortar high school, a hybrid high school or online high school offers a variety of benefits and advantages but is not without its challenges. At the end of the day, when it comes to choosing the best learning environment for your high school student, it really comes down to the individual student and the specific needs of that student. If you are interested in learning more about online high schools in Minnesota or are looking to enrolling a student in a MN online high school then contact one of our online learning experts at Trio Wolf Creek today at 612-213-2095. Find out today why Trio Wolf Creek is recognized as the premiere online hybrid high school in Minnesota.