Accommodations for Disabled Students

In the traditional classroom learning environment accommodations have long been made for students with impaired physical abilities. Since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, schools have made special effort to ensure that a much larger group of learners can actually partake in the learning process, and of course, this is a good thing for everyone. With that said, now the methods by which people are becoming educated have changed, the ways we facilitate learning for larger groups of people must change as well.

In online education, we see three important factors that relate to the accommodation of students with disabilities. First, there are some obvious and other less obvious reasons that extra strategy and assistance must be focused on this population specifically within web-based courses. Secondly, in some ways, online degrees are already more user-friendly in many cases. Finally, some of the efforts that institutions have taken in order to ensure that their online pupils are being offered fair opportunity and access to education.

Why is offering accommodationss important?

The primary reason that it is important to offer assistance for students is that they need it. It is common sense that if a person wants to become educated, that they should be able to but the specific ways that their dream becomes a reality is not always as easy to put a finger on. Online degrees in comparison with their campus counterparts are relatively young, so now is a crucial time in the development of these programs as the popularity of the online option grows. The second important reason and the one that is the likely motivator for most of the help that students receive is the fact that it is the law. The text of the law clearly states that participation cannot be denied to a person that is otherwise qualified, due to a disability. Therefore help is offered. Of course, it is also important to colleges to make accommodations because they don’t want to miss out on the chance to include these learners.

Online degrees are already more accommodating

In many cases, the obstacles to learning that some students find are already alleviated simply by being able to learn in the online format. Because electronic learning tools like the computer and the Ipad when used from the comfort of one’s own environment are more user-friendly than maneuvering through a campus and classroom carrying books. Some will find online degrees create a more inclusive path to learning without extra effort. In addition to physical access, most computers are now equipped with accessibility options including magnification and audio to text conversion.

However, there are conditions computers will not fix. With issues like dyslexia or attention deficit disorder, it may be more difficult to focus on large portions of text to complete assignments. In some of these situations, online classes prove again to be a superior in that they favor media-rich presentations and audio lectures that can be replayed at the student’s own pace. Additionally, the asynchronous environment of online classes can be a major advantage when considering the additional time that many students need to level the academic playing field for the completion of assignments. With this advantage students no longer have to be concerned with the pace of the classroom and can be more comfortable in their learning.

How are schools making online degrees more accommodating?

Even with the level of ease and convenience that comes with an online degree program, there are still some people who will find themselves unable to participate. This, of course, is unacceptable and institutions around the country are constantly finding new ways to make the online learning environment more accessible.  Some colleges have actually gone so far as to create a separate non-discrimination policy for online courses to ensure that they focus specifically on the accessibilityy issues associated with distance education.  Other schools have chosen to enroll teachers of online courses in classes and seminars that teach methods of inclusion specific to web-based teaching and learning.

Educators know steps must be taken to make access to education a reality for all students. Educators however do not have much direction in this effort. The incorrect idea that a class can undergo minor tweaks to make it more accessible often proves to be a stumbling block for those who would hope to accommodate online learners. However, the Center for Disability Services at Central Washington University has researched and discovered that it is more helpful to the student, cost effective, and time-saving to create new online courses written specifically with accessibility in mind.

Since online degrees are the fastest growing portion of higher education, it is no wonder that the demand for increased accessibilityy has risen. Fortunately, online colleges are responding to this need with real solutions for students who want to pursue and further their education. Thanks to advances in technology and groundbreaking legislation like the Americans with Disabilities Act, today education is more accessible than it has ever been.