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Focused on the future of learning.
SUPPORTING ONLINE LEARNERS WITH DISABILITIESDr. Susan MoiseyCentre for Distance Education
Athabasca University
• Founded in 1970
• Currently 41,000 students from 57 countries
• Undergraduate & graduate programs
• Individualized and cohort-based learning models
Mission
Athabasca University, Canada’s Open University, is dedicated to the removal of barriers that restrict access to and success in university-level study and to increasing equality of educational opportunity for adult learners worldwide.We are committed to excellence in teaching, research and scholarship and to being of service to the general public.
Supporting Legislation
Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedoms
– prevents discrimination on basis of race, national/ethnic origin, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or mental or physical disability
Canadian Human Rights Act– Employers/service providers have a
duty to accommodate to ensure equity and avoid discrimination
Students with Disabilities Policy
Definition:Students with disabilities refer to those individuals who are disadvantaged by reason of any verifiable and persistent physical, learning, cognitive, sensory, psychological, or neurological impairment that may affect their academic progress.
* Policy located at: http://ous.athabascau.ca/policy/studentservices/policyforstudentswithdisabilities.htm
Learning Services, Access to Students with Disabilities provides …• Advice• Assessment• Advocacy• Accommodations• Assistive technology• Alternate format materials
Website: http://asd.athabascau.ca
AU Students with Disabilities
Approximately 2,000 students with disabilities accessed ASD services in 2013-14• Course accommodations• Exam accommodations• Assistance with grant
applications• Assistance with online
learning
37
27
29
7
Type of Disability (%)
PhysicalLearningPsych.Sensory
Factors Affecting Online Learners with Disabilities
Barriers• Inaccessible websites and
LMSs• Poor connectivity• Outdated equipment and
software• Need to share home
computer• Lack of ICT-related skills• Interoperability problems• Reliance on text• Synchronous
communication technologies
Facilitating Factors• Flexible study time and
place• Portability• Ability to repeatedly
access learning resources• Provision of multiple
modalities• “Anonymity”• Asynchronous
communication technologies
• Availability of assistive technology
Assistive Technologyprovides learners with tools for …
Reading• Screen readers• Text-to-speech• Text-to-MP3• Screen masking• Screen magnificationNote taking• High lighting• Voice notes
Organizing ideas• Concept mappingWriting• Hand writing
recognition• Voice dictation• Speech recognition• Word prediction
Models of Service Provision for Learners with Disabilities• Intensive counselor support• Brief counselor support• Self-help• Inclusive instructional design
Resources• Duty to accommodate students with
disabilities in post-secondary educational institutions. Located at http://www.albertahumanrights.ab.ca/publications/bulletins_sheets_booklets/bulletins/duty_to_accommodate_students.asp)
• The opportunity to succeed: Achieving barrier-free education for students with disabilities. Located at http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/opportunity-succeed-achieving-barrier-free-education-students-disabilities
• Access for Students with Disabilities website. Located at http://asd/athabascau.ca
