Chapter 19
Accessibility in Online Education
IN THIS CHAPTER
Determining how accessible an online course is
Letting your school know about your disability
Using assistive technology for online courses
According to the American Association of Community Colleges, 20 percent of all students enrolled in community colleges in 2015–2016 reported having a disability. When it comes to accessibility for people with disabilities, we’re being brutally honest in saying that the field of online education is still working on getting it right. Even the most committed institutions rely on individual instructors and outside vendors who aren’t always familiar with the design and development strategies best suited for persons with disabilities. However, we can honestly say that this is a hot topic within the field and that more state and federal laws are forcing institutions to become more aware of the subject.
Does this mean you shouldn’t attempt to take an online course if you have a disability? Absolutely not. The benefits of online education, as we explain in Chapter 2, definitely extend to people with disabilities. Federal laws prohibit any school that receives federal funding, whether private ...
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