The Impact of Covid-19 on Parents of Children with Disability: Educational Needs and Challenges

Abstract

During the Corona pandemic, parents of children with disabilities experienced unprecedented situations. The aim of this study was to identify the educational needs and challenges which prevented parents from providing adequate support to their children during the outbreak. An online survey was launched on June 4, 2020, to gather information from 638 parents of children with disabilities. The findings revealed that 60% of parents need assistance in implementing Individual Education Program activities. Similarly, 71.7% of parents reported that the centers had only spent less than one-hour on-line per day educating the children. Significant challenges emerge as a result of parents’ inability to cope with the load and their loss of hope in helping children, which varies depending on the severity of the condition, with severe disabilities posing the greatest challenge. According to the study, special education centers should follow defined protocols that focus on parents' educational needs, as well as establish proactive approaches for providing support to parents of children who require special care.