How Does Studying Online Affect the Well-Being of Students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities?

Abstract

The current paper aimed to explore the impact of studying online during the coronavirus pandemic on the well-being of a sample of students (n=74) who were classified as students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in five Dubai-based schools. An online 18-item Likert scale survey was developed and distributed among participants; however, this resulted in no statistically significant findings. However, there was a slight negative trend, suggesting that the students’ well-being was somewhat affected by studying alone in an online context. Ultimately, the study recommended the need to provide counselling programs to improve the well-being of the students with SEND due to the circumstances imposed on them by the pandemic; and highlights the need for more support services for these students when they study online.