Distance Education for Students with Special Needs in Primary Schools in the Period of COVID-19 Epidemic

This study aims to determine what had been done in distance learning applications to enable special education students to continue their education during the COVID-19 epidemic period and how students and their families could benefit from these applications. The research was prepared using a qualitative method and semi-structured interview questions were used to collect the data. In the research ten special education teachers affiliated to MNE (Ministry of National Education), the sample group was analyzed by using content analysis method. The research results revealed that distance education and face to face education were not provided and family education is not given importance; special education teachers expressed both positive and negative opinions about distance education practices in primary education; there is not a sufficient distance education application for students with special needs and no IEP (Individual Education Program) applications in distance education for students with different developmental characteristics; the use of materials suitable for students' needs is inadequate.