Assisting students with disabilities in distance education: an exploratory study into their experiences

ABSTRACT

The escalation in DE presents both opportunities and challenges to students with disabilities. For students with disabilities, DE technology can help them read when they cannot see and learn when they have the desire to study. However, when the proper care is not taken in the development of these technological resources and tools, DE courses can be inaccessible to these students. The current study seeks to investigate how to assist students with disabilities in DE environments, and ultimately, to improve the role that technology plays in the distance education of students with disabilities in the higher education arena.

References

1. Kinash, S., & Crichton, S. 2007. Supporting the disabled student. In M. G. Moore (Ed.), Handbook of distance education (2nd ed.), pp. 193--204. New York, NY: Routledge.
2. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). 2011. Digest of Education Statistics. Retrieved March 15, 2012, from http://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d09/tables/dt09_231.asp
3. Roberts, J.B., Crittenden, L.A., & Crittenden, J.C. 2011. Students with disabilities and online learning: A cross-institutional study of perceived satisfaction with accessibility compliance and services. The Internet and Higher Education, 14(4), 242--250.
4. The Sloan Consortium. 2011. Going the Distance - Online Education in the United States. Retrieved February 25, 2012, from http://sloanconsortium.org/publications/survey/going_distance_2011

Index Terms

• Applied computing

  • Education

    • Distance learning

    • E-learning