Focused on the future of learning. SUPPORTING ONLINE LEARNERS WITH DISABILITIES Dr. Susan Moisey Centre 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 removal of barriers that restrict access to and success in university-level study 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 mental or physical disability –prevents discrimination on basis of race, national/ethnic origin, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or mental or physical disability Canadian Human Rights Act duty to accommodate –Employers/service providers have a duty to accommodate to ensure equity and avoid discrimination

Students with Disabilities Policy Definition: verifiable and persistent 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:

Learning Services, Access to Students with Disabilities provides … Advice Assessment Advocacy Accommodations Assistive technology Alternate format materials Website:

AU Students with Disabilities Approximately 2,000 students with disabilities accessed ASD services in Course accommodations Exam accommodations Assistance with grant applications Assistance with online learning

Factors Affecting Online Learners with Disabilities Barriers Inaccessible websites and LMSs Poor connectivity Outdated equipment and software Need to share home computer Lack of ICT-related skills Interoperability problems Reliance on text Synchronous communication technologies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 Technology provides learners with tools for … Reading Screen readers Text-to-speech Text-to-MP3 Screen masking Screen magnification Note taking High lighting Voice notes Organizing ideas Concept mapping Writing 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 /bulletins_sheets_booklets/bulletins/duty_to_acco mmodate_students.asp) /bulletins_sheets_booklets/bulletins/duty_to_acco mmodate_students.asp T he opportunity to succeed: Achieving barrier-free education for students with disabilities. Located at achieving-barrier-free-education-students- disabilities achieving-barrier-free-education-students- disabilities Access for Students with Disabilities website. Located at

Contact Dr. Susan Moisey Centre for Distance Education Athabasca University