A Complete Guide to Individualized Education Plan

Students with physical or learning disabilities have specific educational needs. However, many times, traditional schools struggle to implement individual education plans in their mainstream settings.

In the past few years, the world is witnessing a paradigm shift with innovative solutions across the globe. And now that digital learning is the new normal, it is easier to implement an individualized education plan for our Indian students.

What is an individualized education plan, and why do we need it for our Indian students?

Be with us to know all about IEP.

What is an Individualized Education Plan?

An individualized education plan helps special students receive the right education that is tailored to their needs. These programs offer educational solutions for many challenges such as special teacher shortage, and the problem of accommodating different learning needs in a traditional classroom.

Why do we need an IEP in India?

Let’s find out!

Individualized Education Plan– The Need

According to UNESCO’s ‘State of the Education Report for India 2019’, around 7.8 million children (between 5 and 19 years) live with disabilities in India.

Only 61.18% of these attend educational institutions. And 26.68% of our disabled students never attended an educational institution.

With these stark realities and the growing number of learning disabilities around us, an individualized education plan, is certainly a need of the hour!

Learning Disabilities are on the Rise

Globally, special education and individualized education plans (IEP) are tailored educational solutions to impart specialized instructions to all eligible students. These include all students with physical and learning disabilities.

In India, learning disabilities range from 2.16% to 30.77% across different studies. And the breakup of the most common ones are:

Learning Disabilities	%
Learning Disabilities (6 to 12 years)	10.70%
Dyslexia	6.20%
Dysgraphia	6.30%
Dyscalculia	4.90%

Individualized education plans are a great support for India’s demographic dividend. Because this solution empowers our differently-abled students with high-quality education. And helps them make the most of the inclusive designs of our visionary education system.

How Does Online Schooling Help Special Students?

Physical and learning disabilities create multiple barriers to a student’s sustained learning process. But with online education, these students get all the necessary support and that too with some great advantages/preferences.

Let’s break down these benefits one by one for you!

Academic Benefits of Individualized Education Plans

Academic outcomes matter.

An individualized education plan improves both the understanding and retention of content. It aims at accommodating unique learning needs by assessing a student’s strengths and weaknesses. The features of virtual learning (like pacing options, flexibility, and technology support) further make the program/course engaging for the student. They can reach their full potential. And they continue to thrive better as per their preferences without any academic pressure.

Online schooling gives students more control of their learning with a much-needed flexible learning schedule. This way, they feel less intimated. And master concepts by advancing at their own speed.

Many special students often need repeated instructions, again all this can be easily managed with virtual content.

Social Benefits of Individualized Education Plans

Peer acceptance, facing bullies, and making friends can be challenging for many disabled students. Virtual schooling also addresses this range of problems. This choice extends a safer alternative with positive social interactions.

For instance, it is more comfortable to attend a class and interact with peers with confidence in an online school. Because the online classroom culture promotes healthy discussions under the able guidance of trained online teachers. Top online schools also go the extra mile with a small classroom size to improve the quality of teaching and learning.

Accessibility at its Best

Technology makes things easier for differently-abled students. It is a great support to extend the learning window (24/7/365) and helps special students access great educational content at their preferred time and location.

Virtual resources also cater to a wide variety of learning preferences. These are available in different formats. And can be used easily across a wide variety of conditions (disabilities).

Let’s take you through the specific advantages of IEPs:

Online Schooling– The Best Pick!

Safety Guaranteed

Online schooling creates a safe haven for disabled students within the comfort of their homes. With this option, they need not travel, or miss classes due to their dependence on a guardian. In most cases, special students also need extra support to meet their learning goals. With assistive technology, real-time monitoring, and adaptive instructions, these students get just the right support that they need to reach their actual potential.

Assistive Technology Support

Text-to-speech, screen readers, recognition tools, word highlighting tools, and multiple virtual resources help students overcome their learning barriers.

These technology-based solutions help in overcoming challenges like mobility, comprehension, vision, and auditory, defects, etc. And digital learning successfully creates an ULTIMATE learning environment for differently-abled students (backed by the power of assistive technology).

The Bottom Line

Despite many policies in place, appropriate education is still a challenge for many disabled students. Many times, they are left behind, or keep struggling to keep up with their peers in a traditional classroom.

Thankfully, our Indian constitution safeguards the rights of disabled students in all possible ways. To integrate these students into the mainstream education system, we already have the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 in place. An individualized education plan is a perfect solution in this digital world. Let’s embrace this option, and empower our special students in a truly inclusive learning environment.

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Thanks for Reading!

Frequently Asked Questions

How does an individualized education plan help differently-abled students?
India is home to millions of disabled students. An individualized education plan is a one-stop solution to help these students. Online schooling and technology-based solutions eliminate barriers to learning through convenient educational models. This helps the differently-abled students thrive academically in a safer and engaging learning environment.
Why do we need an individualized education plan option in India?
60% of disabled students in India drop out of school after class 10^th due to teacher shortage. To overcome such challenges, online schooling offers better educational solutions to retain and empower these students within the mainstream system.