5 tips on how to create the best online courses for special needs students

Many students with learning disabilities or physical impairments want to do online courses. This can be quite difficult if there are no courses that consider their special needs. It is not possible for these students to do any course. Here are five tips on how to create courses for them:

1. Groups of online learners with the same needs

Create courses with a specific disability or impairment in mind.

You can create one for learning disabilities, one for students who have hearing problems and one with visual problems. There may be many more to think of.
Try to group students with the same needs together.

2. Special attention to how the material is presented

If you write an online course, you cannot use audio clips for hearing impaired students.

You will have to use text to make it accessible for them.

Students with visual impairments may need only audio clips.

3. Learners have to be able to follow their own pace

Some students want to read the same text repeatedly in order to understand it. Others may want to do the activities again.

Make sure that the material will still be available for them to go back to it.

4. Activities should cater for different needs

The specific activities you have in your course should cater for different students. Not all students may be able to go outside to do certain activities. You will have to be very creative to make all activities possible for all students.

5. Avoid difficult vocabulary

It is important that the vocabulary you use is understandable for all students. Use short and clear sentences with short words. Students with reading difficulties will appreciate clear and concise sentences.

You do not need to shy away from writing courses for these students. Just imagine how they need to cope with certain information and you will be able to adapt the courses for them. A little extra attention to details will make these courses accessible to them.