7 Best Online Programs For Special Needs Students

Education should be available for everyone, and these 7 best online programs for special needs students are great platforms that you need to leverage. If your child has special needs, you know very well that he or she will struggle in a regular school. The environment and pace of a public school are not created to cater to the different needs of students. The one-size, fits all curriculum do not address the unique needs of your child. This is why online programs are ideal for special needs students.

Take for example the story of Ryan Fox published in Great Smart. As a student with autism, Ryan had a hard time in class. He couldn’t take notes fast enough nor pay attention at the same time. His mom had to explain the lessons again when he came home. Ryan said that online learning has helped him adapt to the demands of school at his own pace. He said that having ASD makes it hard for him to deal with school chaos. Learning online has made him feel organized, safe, and calm.

Ryan is not alone in this. A lot of special needs students prefer to learn at home. With the accessibility of online education, they can study what they want. They can learn in a relaxed, non-threatening environment without having to deal with the stress of school. Not only that, assistive technologies greatly aid in their learning process. From screen readers to audio transcribers, students can learn despite their limitations.

Although for some families internet access may be a problem, investing on a high-speed internet connection will open doors of opportunities for children with special needs. Just imagine if the 11 Countries with the Highest Rates of Autism in the World leverage and sponsor online programs for their students. They would open more learning opportunities for children with autism. Internet access is a small price to pay in exchange for the quality education students. Online learning is getting more prevalent and it’s showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, in the United States alone, 27 states offer virtual schools so that students can take online classes. It is also expected that online enrollment will grow over the next decade.

Today we’ll be looking at seven online programs for special needs students that will help them thrive in their academics. These programs were ranked and given scores according to their tuition fees (inclusion of free trial), years in the business, and scope. Higher scores are given to the programs with lower fees, longer tenure, and wider scope. The more accessible and comprehensive the program is, the higher rank it is given. These online platforms will not only help students but also their parents and teachers as they help them succeed in their education.  

7. ASD Reading – Review Score: 12

ASD Reading is a specialized online reading program for students with autism. It is founded by Dr. Marion Blank, a world-renowned language and literacy expert from the Columbia University. Her passion for teaching children how to read has led her to establish the Reading Kingdom and ASD Reading. She is also so the Co-Director of the Columbia University Developmental Neuropsychiatry Program for Autism and Related Disorders. It is one of the few programs in the world that’s been successful in teaching ASD students to read.

ASD Reading has a 30-day free trial which can help you gauge if the program is suited for your child. Instead of a tuition fee, parents and teachers are encouraged to buy their materials with prices ranging from $9.99 to $189.99. The focus of this online program is reading, comprehension, and language. There are also materials for basic math, music, and typing.

6. Laureate Learning – Review Score: 13

Next in line on our list of best online programs for special needs students is the Laureate Learning that is a reading and language program tailored for children with special needs. Founded by speech pathologists Dr. Mary Sweig Wilson and Mr. Bernard J. Fox in 1982, this program is known for being research-based. It combines the latest linguistic theory with years of clinical experience. The program caters not only to ASD students but also language impairments, developmental disabilities, attention deficit disorder (ADD), Down syndrome, aphasia, and traumatic brain injury.

Known for its effective instructional design, digital interactive speech, engaging graphics, and amusing animation, Laureate’s programs ranges from $500 to $840 with free syntax assessment. Parents and teachers can choose programs by category namely Early Instructional Games, Early Vocabulary, Expressive Language, Syntax Training, Auditory Discrimination and Processing, Vocabulary and Concept Development, Functional Language, Categorization Skills, and Reading and Spelling. They also have an Autism Package, Language Development Package, and Syntax Package.

5. EdAnywhere – Review Score: 16

Established in 1996 initially for high school families, EdAnywhere has evolved to become a student-centered program providing a safe academic atmosphere. The program’s mission of “Leaving No Student Behind” resonates with parents, teachers, and students with special needs. All of the instructors of EdAnywhere are special education certified. Their program provides opportunities for students to earn a high school diploma.

A strong advocate of homeschooling, EdAnywhere believes in the flexibility of customized learning. They offer courses and online programs for language arts, science, math, social science, and other Common Core subjects. Primarily for middle school and high school, they also have K to 8th technology classes. They have a Text Assistance program for students with learning disabilities, dyslexia, speech disorders, and visual impairments. Their monthly distance access fee for three to six classes is $300. The program may be pricey, but they have multiple accreditations that will greatly help special students who plan to transition to college.

4. Time4Learning – Review Score: 16

Founded in 2003, Time4Learning, that ranked 4th on our list of best online programs for special needs students provides a comprehensive curriculum from elementary to high school. The program includes lesson plans, automated reporting, and homeschool resources. They have a curriculum for special needs students that help build and reinforce reading, writing, and math learning. The programs are individually set for each child and the student progresses at his or her own rate. Children with ADHD-like behavior may struggle with textbooks and non-interactive environment but with Time4Learning engaging programs, they can become more focused and successful in learning.

They have a fixed tuition fee of $19.95 monthly per student from PreK to 8th Grade. From 9th Grade to 12th Grade the cost is $30 monthly per student. Time4Learning offers language arts from K to 5th Grade including phonics, fluency, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, reading comprehension, writing processes, and more. They also have a math curriculum which covers number theory, value and meaning, measurement, geometry, number sense, geometry, spatial reasoning, data analysis, probability, pre-algebra, and more from PreK to 8th Grade. With their comprehensive coverage and affordable fees, Time4Learning is indeed one of the 7 best online programs for special needs students.

3. K5Learning – Review Score: 17

K5Learning is an online math and reading program for K-5 students. Founded in 2007, this program offers award-winning lessons and worksheets along with progress reports for parents. Aside from its 14-day, full access free trial, K5Learning’s materials are very affordable with prices starting at $1.29 to $75 for comprehensive bundled workbooks. The program covers reading (phonemic awareness, phonics, sight words, vocabulary, and reading comprehension), math (numbers and operations, geometry, measurement, time, money, algebraic thinking, and data analysis), and spelling (advanced spelling and vocabulary program for language skills improvement).

K5 also has a special needs program that has been recognized as a finalist for two consecutive years by the SIIA CODiE for the best instructional solution for the special needs students category. The program has been proven to work well for students with ADD/ADHD, autism, Asperger’s syndrome, dyslexia, and other learning disabilities. Their research-based and individualized program makes it suitable for students who struggle with reading and math.

2. Smart Tutor – Review Score: 18

Fittingly founded in a home office back in 2000, Smart Tutor, next on our list of best online programs for special needs students was first used by the homeschooling founders themselves and their children. In 2008, the program received the BESSIE award for Best Educational Software in the Early Elementary and Upper Elementary categories. It also won the Parents’ Choice Awards in 2013 for the Website category. They have a 14-day free trial which allows you to access their reading and math curriculum.

Designed for students K-5, Smart Tutor was designed to adapt to the different learning styles of digital learners. This award-winning program has been effective for students with special needs, struggling or at-risk students, and advanced or gifted students. Their curriculum is also aligned with Common Core standards. The non-threatening, educational games and stories of this program make learning fun for students! Smart Tutor has monthly rates of $13.99 per child and $8.99 for each additional child. Their annual rate is $119.99 per child and $89.99 for each additional child. They also have a free resources portal!

1. Zane Education – Review Score: 25

Zane Education is our top choice on the list of best online programs for special needs students for many reasons. Having been in the education industry for 25 years through its sister company Zane Publishing, this program provides K-12 materials for all subjects that are aligned to the Common Core. The best part is that they have separate sections for special needs students. If your child has ADD or ADHD, there’s a page for that. If your child is gifted or advanced, Zane provides tools and information on how you can teach him or her more effectively. They have specific pages for ASD students, children with learning and reading difficulties, disabled students, visually and hearing impaired learners, dyslexic students, and other special needs.

You can avail the Zane program for free with a lot of resources or choose from their different subscriptions. The Gold Membership gives students full access to all 1,500 curriculum videos for K-12 levels for only $17.99 per month or $197.89 per year. If you only want access to the grade level specific to your child, you can get the Silver Membership and pay only $12.99 per month or $142.89 per year. They also have a Bronze Membership, which is specific only to a particular subject for only $8.99 per month or $98.89 per year.

These 7 best online programs for special needs students can help propel your child to succeed in their learning journey. They have multiple curriculum options, engaging tools, and resources for parents and teachers. Education is now more accessible than ever. Online learning is the game changer that has leveled the playing field for all students. There are no more boundaries that special needs students cannot cross.