Special education adapts to distance learning

PHOTO: Senior Francesca Bastino enjoys swimming after her online WebEx classes are completed.

By Manpreet Kaur,

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

Senior Francesa Bastino rolls out of bed, hops in the shower, gets dressed and then takes out her laptop to open up WebEx. Bastino, a student in the special education program, is starting the online learning process that has proven to be more effective for her than in-class learning. 

The Davis High special education department has been trying to keep in touch with its students and has been providing them with resources, including online counseling, Best Buddies club meetings and online communication with the student’s behaviorist. Bastino enjoys learning from home and doesn’t feel that those resources are necessary. 

Bastino’s mother, Deborah Rains, believes that online learning has been going really well for Bastino. “I think online learning has been going better than in class learning,” Rains said.

Being in a more comfortable setting plays an important role when it comes to focusing. “[She’s] much more engaged and stays focused [at home but] gets antsy in a classroom setting,” Rains said. 

Rains also enjoys having the extra time to spend with her children. “I’m enjoying that we cook together, plan meals and play games,” she said. 

Bastino relishes in the extra free time because she can now “dance and just hangout.” However, quarantine does come with some downsides. 

Being isolated from friends is one of the negatives. “I haven’t seen friends and I miss my teachers,” Bastino said. However, she still FaceTimes her friends and “talks about friends’ stuff.”

For students who are feeling isolated like Bastino, there are many available resources such as the social-emotional support that is provided by the district, counselors and other support providers. 

Specifically for the special education program, the Best Buddies club meetings are something to participate to keep one self entertained. 

Yuliya Pankova is the club advisor for the Best Buddies club and is in charge of the special education department at DHS. Pankova believes that students that are part of Best Buddies did a good job of organizing events and meetings. 

“I would love to thank our students for stepping up […] It was amazing to see how patient and preserving they were,” Pankova said. 

The outcome was also positive. “[By] April 16. every inclusion student had participated in distance learning in one way or another,” Pankova said.

Bastino also has the opportunity to participate in the Best Buddies club meetings being hosted through Zoom and can join them in playing games like a Scavenger Hunt, Trivia and Charades, to name a few. 

Bastino doesn’t attend many of these games because she enjoys spending that time swimming and hanging out with her family. “We have a good routine,” Rains said. “They [the children] are doing really well”.