Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Passport
  • Support WSKG
Donate
  • Donate
  • logo
  • logo
  • Donate
  • Home
  • News
  • TV
  • Your Radio
  • Schedules
  • Arts
  • Education
  • History
  • Science
  • Donate
  • More
    • About
    • Contact Us
    • Passport
    • Support WSKG

WSKG - Local news and arts, broadcasting NPR radio and PBS TV.

WSKG thanks our sponsors...
  • Donate your vehicle to support WSKG

WSKG (https://wskg.org/online-learning-hasnt-worked-for-some-students-with-special-needs/)

  • Donate
  • Home
  • News
  • TV
  • Your Radio
  • Schedules
  • Arts
  • Education
  • History
  • Science
Listen Live WSKG
Listen Live WSKG Classical

Watch Live WSKG TV
Watch Live PBS Kids
Coronavirus Updates
Coronavirus Updates

Online Learning Hasn’t Worked For Some Students with Special Needs

By Celia Clarke | August 17, 2020
More
  • More on children with disabiities
  • Subscribe to children with disabiities
https://wskg.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Special-Ed-Croyle-ReopeningWEB.mp3

TOMPKINS COUNTY, NY (WSKG) – Online schooling has not gone well for Erin Croyle’s kids. Croyle and her husband have three children, ages 10, 7, and 5. Arlo is the oldest. He has Down’s Syndrome, ADHD and some hearing loss.

“It’s kind of, just,” Croyle stops, let out a deep sigh and continues. “It’s, it’s awful,” she said. “And it’s not for a lack of the teachers doing an amazing job. And it’s not for a lack of everyone trying their hardest and their best.”

Photo provided

Erin Croyle and her son. Arlo has Down’s Syndrome and some other medical issues. His doctors say it’s not safe for him or his siblings to return to school this fall. (Photo provided)

Croyle is a member of the Ithaca School Board and works for an organization that advocates for people with disabilities and their families.

This fall Ithaca City School District is allowing parents a choice. They can send their children back to school five days a week, for only a few days or not at all.

Croyle said her three children should go to school five days a week, but it’s not possible. Arlo’s doctors say it’s not safe to send him or his siblings back to school. No one understands the risks should Arlo contract COVID-19 or if there are any long-term effects. So, all the kids will learn at home.

Croyle said there are limits to how much she can get Arlo to engage with online learning.

“I can get him to sit for his class meetings. But to actually do the work that they assign? I found myself doing it for him at times and then I thought ‘this is ridiculous’ and I just stopped,” she said.

At school, Arlo had a one-to-one aide who worked with him during his classes.

The educational aides who work with children who have special needs are trained specialists. Croyle has no such training.

By law, when schools are closed, children with special needs must still receive the same educational supports as they would get if schools are open. Functionally, lockdown restrictions have made that impossible for some children.

Her kids’ education isn’t her only worry. Prolonged isolation also takes an emotional toll.

“Arlo talks about a couple of his close friends all the time. But we’re not able to see them because they aren’t at the same level of quarantine,” Croyle said.

She said she’s trying to accept the idea that this school year will be a lost year. She worries about the affect that a whole year out of school will have on all her children’s development.

“I kind of fear that he’ll be even more of an outsider, not just because he’s lost out on friendships but because of neurotypical kids not being exposed to kids with disabilities for a year,” she said.

Neurotypical meaning kids without developmental disabilities.

The months of isolation and attempts to home school her children have taken their toll on Croyle as well.

“I think it’s important for people to know that for the first time in my life I’m taking an anti-depressant,” Croyle said. “I saw a doctor, I didn’t even expect for it to come up. I just explained how hard everything is and she’s like, ‘Listen, there’s no shame in this. Go for it.'”

She said the medication has helped. She’s less irritable but she admits sometimes she still gets overwhelmed.

“I was in tears this morning just thinking about it,” Croyle admitted at one point. “Because it’s so overwhelming. It’s so impossible and it’s, just, it’s, there’s no end in sight.”

Despite all of the difficulties and frustrations, Croyle believes her family is lucky. She and her husband have jobs, they can work from home and when the stress becomes overwhelming, they rely on each other.

She also reminds herself that her family is not alone. There are many other parents of kids with disabilities dealing with the same problems. That gives her a little comfort.

Recent Posts

  • In PA primary, two state budget leaders’ experience used against them

    HARRISBURG, PA (WSKG) – Pennsylvania Republican voters appear to want to replace two key state budget negotiators with a pair of far-right challengers. Rep. Stan Saylor (R-York) and Sen. Pat Browne (R-Lehigh), both longtime incumbents, are well-respected in state political and policy circles.

  • Proposed constitutional amendment would ensure abortion rights in New York

    ALBANY, NY (WSKG) - New York state lawmakers are considering a change to the state’s constitution that would enshrine the right to abortion as part of a larger guarantee of equal rights. The sponsor of the measure said it’s needed now more than ever.

  • Uncertainty still clouds New York’s 23rd Congressional District special election

    VESTAL, NY (WSKG) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has yet to call a special election for the 23rd Congressional District after Rep. Tom Reed resigned last week, as Republicans remain perplexed about how to handle filling the vacancy. Under New York state statute, the governor must schedule a special election within 10 days after a seat in congress is vacated, meaning Hochul must call the 23rd District by Friday.

  • Binghamton residents hold vigil for victims of Buffalo shooting

    BINGHAMTON, NY (WSKG) — Binghamton residents held a vigil Thursday night, honoring the victims of the Buffalo shooting. Around a hundred people gathered in downtown Binghamton.

  • Gillibrand, Stefanik weigh in on baby formula shortage “national emergency”

    CANTON, NY (NCPR) — New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is proposing new legislation she says will get baby formula to families quickly as the US faces a shortage. Speaking to reporters Wednesday, the Democrat said the bill would lift some restrictions on importing baby formula from the E.U, Canada, the U.K., and Japan, which could get more products on shelves within a week after the bill is signed.

WSKG thanks our sponsors...

About WSKG

WSKG connects you to local and global news and the arts online, on the radio, and on TV. NPR and PBS affiliate.

CONTACT US
email: WSKGcomment@wskg.org

phone: 607.729.0100

address: 601 Gates Road Suite 4, Vestal, NY 13850-2288

DONATE

Pay an underwriting invoice


  • WSKG
  • Arts
  • Education
  • Science
  • News
  • Your Radio
  • Schedule
  • TV
  • About
  • WSKG Staff
  • Contact Us
  • Jobs
  • Public Reports & Policies
  • Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
  • Protect My Public Media
FCC PUBLIC FILES
WSKG-FM
WSQX-FM
WSQG-FM
WSQE
WSQA
WSQC-FM
WSQN
WSKG-TV
WSKA
Disabled and need assistance with the online FCC public file?
Contact Gary Talkiewicz
WSKG
601 Gates Road
Vestal, New York 13850
607-729-0100
gtalkiewicz@wskg.org

Full Frequency Information Listed Here

WSKG

89.3fm   Binghamton
91.1fm   Corning, Elmira
88.7fm   Hornell
90.9fm   Ithaca
89.9fm   Odessa
91.7fm    Oneonta
90.5fm   Watkins Glen

WSKG Classical

91.5    Binghamton
105.9  Cooperstown
90.7    Corning
88.1    Greene, Norwich
92.1     Ithaca

WSKG HD TV

Binghamton
46.1 Broadcast TV
7 Time Warner Cable
1221 Time Warner Digital Cable

Elmira
30.1 Broadcast TV
8 Time Warner Cable
1221 Time Warner Digital Cable

Oneonta, Cooperstown
8 Time Warner Cable
1221 Time Warner Digital Cable

Hornell
1221 Time Warner Digital Cable

© Copyright 2022, WSKG

Built with the Largo WordPress Theme from the Institute for Nonprofit News.

Back to top ↑