Students with autism in an alternative classroom during COVID-19 pandemic: experiences shared by special educators in India

Introduction: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the students with Autism faced difficulties in teaching-learning due to campus closures. The special schools opted for alternative classrooms i.e. online mode. Due to certain specific and unique characteristics, the learning experiences of students with autism would be different from neurotypical students. Objectives: To know about the challenges and facilitators of the alternative classroom through the teacher's narratives. Method: The virtual interviews recorded by 15 special educators from special schools in Kolkata city and its outskirts, selected using purposive sampling were analyzed through inductive thematic analysis. Results: The generated themes reveal the challenges of setting up and adapting to the online classes faced by special educators, students, and their parents. The study findings also inform about the advantages gained during the pandemic such as parental involvement for better learning in a safe space. Conclusion: A combined mode of teaching might be appropriate for the future to bring out the best in the learners.