Photo Courtesy Of Special Education teacher Kathy Erwin.

Photo Editing Courtesy of junior Linnea Marks.

  With San Luis Obispo High School learning virtually for almost a year now, many students are eager to return to campus. Though SLO County still remains in the purple tier, some people have had the opportunity to return to in-person school, including the students and staff involved in the special education program. 

  “I think that special education students returning to campus is amazing and I’m so happy for them. I think that learning online would be especially difficult for them, so the fact that they have the opportunity to go back is so great. I am a bit jealous, I’d love to go back, but I think that only having a few students vs. everyone is a lot safer for everyone,” said junior and Best Buddies member Makenna Siebenlist.

  Virtual learning is challenging enough for a multitude of students, however, special education students and staff face even more obstacles throughout the day than many would realize.

  “At school, special needs students rely on personal, hands-on attention from trained specialists. The tools that other children are using for remote learning such as Zoom often aren’t accessible…..Students with cognitive and physical impairments often cannot sit in front of a computer and attend classes online, where they miss out on many important services of in-person instruction like physical and speech therapy,” said news outlet www.mlive.com.

  Fortunately, SLOHS has been able to welcome back, as of September 9, 2020, many of the special education students in order to improve their quality of learning.

  “Our School District worked closely with the local health department and the State CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] to provide teachers with a safe and thorough plan for coming back to school. This lengthy document included how to use PPE [Personal Protective Equipment] gear, how to ensure social distancing in the classroom, reminding of often and thorough hand washing, allowing for classroom disinfecting schedules, and safe transitions from home to school and back. All students react differently to the precautions that are now needed. Over this last year, most students have adapted well, since they all want to stay safe and healthy. I have not experienced students having issues with these protocols,” said Special Education teacher Kathy Erwin.

  This experience for special education students has been quite beneficial, but moreover is alleviating on the educators of these students.

  “I believe the major benefit of returning to ‘in-person’ learning is the joy and pleasure of being around other people. We need each other (face to face) in ways that we never realized it. Human connection is different for everyone, and for me, it is the only way to be an effective teacher. I enjoy my students and nearby support staff, but miss and need many SLOHS people and features. My students and I miss the library, cafeteria and office staff greatly. We all miss the PE coaches, classes, gyms and track activities. I miss my teacher colleagues for lunches and meetings and the laughter,” said Erwin.

  Though SLOHS has not yet re-opened for all students, due to the county’s current case numbers, one can appreciate the opportunity that has been granted to special education students and staff to be able to better apply their mindset in a physical environment.
Source: Mlive.com