The impact of the COVID-19 school closures on families with children with disabilities: A qualitative analysis

The unprecedented school closures in response to COVID-19 have been associated with a number of negative impacts on students and their families. In addition to these difficulties, parents of students with disabilities are faced with prepandemic stresses and challenges that may be exacerbated by the school closures. This qualitative study aimed to investigate the experiences and struggles of parents of children identified with a disability during the COVID-19 school closures. The 15 participants were parents of children with a range of disabilities, including Autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, and learning disabilities. The analyses revealed four major themes: school connection, virtual learning, potential impacts for students, and managing change. The experiences of these caregivers during the COVID-19 school closures and subsequent shift to remote learning have implications for educational and treatment planning. Recommendations for how school psychologists and school teams may best support students with disabilities and their families are included.