“This will likely affect his entire life”: Parents’ views of special education services during COVID-19

Research continues to emerge about the impact of COVID-19 on education; however, reports about the impact on students receiving special education services are more limited. This study examined parental views of distance learning for students with disabilities during the COVID-19 crisis. Using a survey disseminated via social media, we examined parents’ views (N = 153) of PK-12 education for students receiving special education services during COVID-19. Results indicated three main themes: (1) special education and related service hours were decreased during virtual learning; (2) parents reported that their children were unable to participate in virtual learning without significant adult support; (3) parents often were unable to provide their children with assistance due to other commitments including work and childcare.