Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that affects an individual’s ability to read, write, spell, and sometimes speak. It is characterized by difficulties in decoding words, recognizing letter sounds, and processing written language, despite normal intelligence and adequate educational opportunities.
Over the years, school students with dyslexia have been facing innumerable challenges in conventional schools. Online schooling has emerged as a blessing for dyslexic students. It provides not only flexibility, customization and ease of accessibility but also specifically tailored support for dyslexic learners
This article explores the unique benefits of online schooling for dyslexic students, highlighting how it can empower them to thrive academically and personally.
1. Individualistic Learning:
Customization of learning techniques to suit individual needs and learning styles of dyslexic learners is the most significant advantage offered by online schooling.
Online platforms provide adaptive technologies, interactive lessons, and multimedia resources that cater to diverse learning capabilities. Content is presented in visual, auditory, and kinaesthetic mode for dyslexic students depending on their specific needs. This greatly enhances learning both in terms of grasping concepts and effective retention of information.
2. Comfortably paced learning:
Traditional classrooms enforce rigid schedules and a pace that may not align with learning abilities of dyslexic students. Online classes can be scheduled and paced as per a dyslexic student’s individual aptitude. They can take breaks when needed, revisit challenging concepts and do their coursework at a comfortable pace. This greatly reduces stress and anxiety experienced while meeting academic targets.
3. Assistive Technologies:
Assistive technologies in online education platforms greatly aid dyslexic students in overcoming reading and writing challenges. Some examples of assistive technologies are: text-to-speech tools, speech recognition software and spell-checkers to name a few. These enhance reading comprehension, writing proficiency, and overall academic performance of dyslexic students and empower learners to engage with academic content more independently and confidently thereby fostering a sense of autonomy and self-efficacy.
4. Improved Well-being:
Dyslexic students are usually overwhelmed by sensory stimuli, social pressures, and distractions of a traditional classroom. Therefore, the controlled and low-stimulus learning environment of an online class (without external disruptions) improves the learner focus on academics. Moreover, peer comparisons and performance pressure are eliminated which leads to easing of anxiety. Thus, online schooling helps build a positive attitude towards learning resulting in overall well-being of the student.
In this way, it is amply evident that online schooling is modern technology’s boon to dyslexic students. With increasing awareness of special learning needs of dyslexics, educationists are implementing need-based learning solutions. Among these, online schooling is the most impactful solution and must be put into practice so that it benefits maximum learners who are dyslexic.