UNDERSTANDING DISABILITIES & ONLINE STUDENT SUCCESS

Authors

  • Kristen Betts Dr. Kristen Betts Chief Academic Officer Forbes Education 60 Fifth Avenue, Suite 530 New York, NY 10011
  • Bill Welsh Rutgers University
  • Kelly Hermann SUNY Empire State College
  • Cheryl Pruitt Accessible Technology Initiative, California State University (CSU)
  • Gaeir Dietrich High Tech Center Training Unit (HTCTU) of the California Community Colleges
  • Jorge Trevino Pennsylvania State University’s World Campus.
  • Terry Watson Pennsylvania State University’s World Campus.
  • Mike Brooks Pennsylvania State University’s World Campus.
  • Alex Cohen Drexel University
  • Norman Coombs EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v17i3.388

Keywords:

Disabilities, blind, deaf, invisible disabilities, learning disabilities, online learning, online education, assistive technologies, Universal Design for Learning, accessibility, usability, simulation, demonstrations, military, veterans, screen readers

Abstract

Approximately 11% of all postsecondary students reported having a disability in 2008. Although the percentage of students with disabilities in 2008 closely reflects the percentage reported in 2004, the U.S. Government Accountability Office states that recent legislative changes have the potential to increase the diversity and number of students with disabilities pursing higher education. To support students with disabilities enrolled in higher education and in online learning, it is important to understand disabilities and the resources students need to actively engage in their courses and to achieve their academic goals. This article includes collaborative responses from a diverse group of leaders at eight higher education institutions and organizations who work with disability services and have experience in online learning. Some of the contributors also have disabilities so the collective responses build upon research, professional experience, and personal experience. For this article, the ten contributors answered 20 questions regarding disabilities and online student success as well as provided recommended practices. This article is designed to be interactive. It includes screenshots, simulation links, video demonstrations, and resources to provide a more detailed understanding of disabilities, accessibility, and support resources. JALN readers are encouraged to interact with the simulations and to watch the demonstration videos as a way to learn more about disabilities and supporting online student success.

Author Biographies

Bill Welsh, Rutgers University

Bill Welsh is currently the Executive Director of Disability Initiatives at Rutgers University, in New Brunswick, NJ. He has over 20 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities in higher education. Bill has recently made this change after 14 years as the director of the Office for Disability Services at Penn State University’s 24 campus system. In this position, Bill was responsible for ensuring equal access for students with disabilities throughout Penn State’s multi-campus system. Bill has worked at several other colleges in this same capacity including Drexel University and Burlington County Community College. Bill provides trainings, seminars and consultation on various topics on accessibility and usability on a national level. In addition to his role as director at Penn State, Bill was the co-chair of Penn State’s Accessible Technology and Information (ATI) committee. The charge of the ATI committee is to develop and implement policies, procedures and strategic plans for implementation of University-wide initiatives on web accessibility; accessible technology and information; accessible instructional materials; and procurement practices. Through the efforts of the ATI committee, Penn State has established University-wide communities of practice groups that include: web accessibility review and implementation; accessibility training; a University-wide accessibility web site (http://accessibility.psu.edu); accessible online learning; captioning; assistive and adaptive technology; accessible instructional materials; procurement; and the University Libraries accessibility initiative. In addition, the ATI committee has responsibility for ensuring compliance and reporting of Penn State’s progress in meeting the NFB agreement. As co-chair of the ATI committee, Bill and a team of experts from Penn State developed comprehensive strategic plans, best practices, communities of practice and policies and procedures for university-wide accessible technology and information.

Kelly Hermann, SUNY Empire State College

Kelly Hermann has been the Director of the Office of College-wide Disability Services at SUNY Empire State College since 2005. Ms. Hermann is responsible for ensuring that all students with disabilities are granted equal access to the programs, activities and courses at all of the college’s 34 locations throughout the State of New York and online. She was awarded Empire State College’s award for excellence in professional service in 2008 for her work in establishing the office of collegewide disability services. Ms. Hermann has significant experience providing accommodations for adult learners with disabilities, including veterans, in online courses. She has presented her work in online accommodations and with wounded warriors transitioning to college at various state and national conferences, including the New York State Disability Services Council, the Association for Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD), the Sloan-C Asynchronous Learning Networks, the National University Technology Network (NUTN), the Council for College and Military Educators (CCME) and the National Association for Developmental Educators (NADE). As a recognized leader in the field of accessible online learning, Ms. Hermann has been asked to present at several colleges and universities on universal design and online learning and has also delivered audio conferences and webinars for the Sloan Consortium, Eduventures and Thompson Interactive on related topics. Ms. Hermann was the chair of AHEAD’s standing committee on public policy from its inception in 2008 until 2012 and co-chairs AHEAD’s Online Learning and Distance Education Special Interest Group. In 2008, Ms. Hermann was named by then-Governor David Patterson to New York State’s Instructional Materials Advisory Council. The council is mandated by NY’s Chapter 219 e-text law, which requires publishers to provide electronically formatted textbooks to students with print based disabilities. Academically trained in speech and language science, Ms. Hermann has worked in higher education with students with disabilities since 2000 and is currently a doctoral student in educational administration and policy studies at the University of Albany. Her research interests include the application of universal design to educational technology, including online learning, and international disability policy.

Cheryl Pruitt, Accessible Technology Initiative, California State University (CSU)

Cheryl Pruitt is the director of the Accessible Technology Initiative with the California State University (CSU) Office of the Chancellor. Cheryl has been a key leadership person responsible for implementing the Accessible Technology Initiative across the 23 CSU campus system. Cheryl has 11 years of experience in the accessibility field working towards and promoting access for all. Additionally, she has seven years of experience teaching accessible web and software design and development in postsecondary education. Cheryl has been active in developing and implementing the CSU accessibility strategy that focuses on integrating accessibility into the campus culture through business process improvement. She has also been active in establishing CSU Accessible Technology Network (CSUATN) that leverages the accessibility expertise across the 23 campus CSU system.

Gaeir Dietrich, High Tech Center Training Unit (HTCTU) of the California Community Colleges

Gaeir Dietrich is the director of the High Tech Center Training Unit of the California Community Colleges located at De Anza College in Cupertino, California. She is a nationally recognized expert in the area of alternate media and is a founding member of the AHEAD E-text Solutions Group and co-developer of the AHEAD E-text Institute. Gaeir serves on several advisory boards which include Bookshare, the Alternate Text Production Center, AHEAD, and the Silicon Valley Independent Living Center. She led the Veterans Resource Center project for the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. And in 2010-2011, she served as the chair for the national advisory commission on Accessible Instructional Materials in Postsecondary Education.

Jorge Trevino, Pennsylvania State University’s World Campus.

Jorge G. Trevino is a Navy veteran of twenty-four years retiring as a US Navy Chief Petty Officer in 2004. While on Active duty, he spent over eight years as an Educational Service Officer on board the USS Paul Hamilton DDG 60, USNS Comfort T-AH20, and the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda Maryland. While on active duty he also completed an AA in Liberal Arts and a Bachelor in History and Political Studies from Chaminade University of Honolulu, a Master’s of Science in Management and a Doctorate in Business Administration with a specialization in Homeland Security Policy from the National Graduate School & University. Dr. Trevino is currently an Academic Adviser for the Pennsylvania State University World Campus Military programs in Business, Turf Grass Management and Organizational Leadership, a Lecturer in Organizational Leadership Studies for the College of Liberal Arts at the Pennsylvania State University and a Principle Investigator for a study on methods of disclosure concerning Veteran on-line Students with Disabilities.

Terry Watson, Pennsylvania State University’s World Campus.

Terry L. Watson is the Disability Contact Liaison for Penn State World Campus. Prior to Mr. Watson arrival at World Campus, he worked in Student Affairs for 5 years. During this time, Mr. Watson worked with students in transition (SIT) and non-traditional students (Adult Learners/Veteran/Active Duty). Prior to Mr. Watson Student Affairs profession, he worked in the Mental Health field as a Behavioral Specialist for the State of Maine for 8 years. Mr. Watson did his undergraduate and graduate work in Human Development at the University of Maine, Orono.

Mike Brooks, Pennsylvania State University’s World Campus.

Michael Brooks is an Educational Technologist with Pennsylvania State University’s World Campus. In his role, he manages a group of Educational Technology Consultants, and specializes in the accessibility and usability of electronic information. His responsibilities focus on the user experience, particularly in terms of instantiating accessible technology within online courses. His expertise in these areas has been developed through formal education and training, conducting user testing, and working directly with users of varying abilities. Since starting with Penn State, Michael has provided usability and accessibility consultation on projects, course designs, and educational web technologies implemented across various colleges and units at the University. He has developed a wide range of training and seminars on the topic of accessibility, and presented them at internal, national and international events. He currently serves on several accessibility advisory committees regarding accessibility strategic planning and design practices, both internal and external to Penn State.

Alex Cohen, Drexel University

Alex H. Cohen is currently a PhD student in marketing at the LeBow College of Business at Drexel University, where his research focuses on accessibility marketing. Prior to beginning his doctoral program, Alex taught courses as an adjunct professor in Drexel University’s School of Hospitality Management. He has over 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, holding positions such as director of sales and marketing, general manager, and senior VP of operations. As a nontraditional student, Alex completed his master’s degree in hospitality management in an online program at Drexel University. Diagnosed at age 20, Alex has a degenerative retinal disease known as retinitis pigmentosa, which has robbed him of most of his vision. Alex lives in downtown Philadelphia with his wife and two young sons.

Norman Coombs, EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information)

Norman Coombs, Ph.D. is the CEO of EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information) as well as professor emeritus from the Rochester Institute of Technology where he taught history for 36 years. He pioneered RIT's distance learning program and was given Zenith's "Master of Innovation" award for his uses of distance learning to mainstream students with disabilities and also was chosen as New York State CASE, (Council for the Advancement and Support of Education), "Teacher of the Year" award in 1990 for using computers in teaching. In 1998, he was selected Man of the Year Award by AHEAD, in 1999, he received the Strache National Leadership Award from the CSUN Center on Disabilities, in 2000, he was the recipient of the Francis Joseph Campbell Award of the American Library Association for work in helping libraries to meet the needs of customers with disabilities and in 2007 received the Richard Johnson Pioneers in Educational Technology Award from the Western Cooperative on Educational Technology. Coombs, who is blind, has found adaptive computer technology has transformed his life, and he eagerly works to spread this information to benefit others. Dr. Coombs teaches distance learning classes for RIT, he has taught at a distance for San Diego State University, the New School for Social Research, the university of Washington, the University of Southern Maine, for Environment Canada and for EASI Corp. He has lectured on distance learning and on making information systems accessible to students with disabilities across the US as well as in Canada, England, Ireland, Hungary, Mexico, Switzerland and turkey. He is the author of 3 books: • Making Online Teaching Accessible (2011) • Information Access and Adaptive Technology (1997) • Black Experience (1972)

Published

2013-10-09

Issue

Vol. 17 No. 3 (2013)

Section

Integrating Accessibility into Online Higher Education

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