DISTANCE LEARNING: POLICIES
AND PRACTICES THAT PROMOTE
ACCESSIBLE DESIGN
Sheryl Burgstahler, ph. D.
Terry Thompson
AccesslT
University of Washington
Box 355670
206-543-0622
sheryl b@red . cac .washi ngton . edu
The widespread availability of the Internet has led to an explosion of distance
learning (or, e-learning, online learning) offerings worldwide. Although some
claim online learning will bring education to anyone anywhere at anytime, this
goal cannot be realized unless distance learning programs offer courses that
are accessible to all potential students, including those with disabilities.
Although specific technical issues must be addressed to make a specific
distance learning course accessible ‘to students and instructors with
disabilities, system-wide and less technical policy and practice issues need to
be addressed as well. A study, in collaboration with postsecondary institutions
nationwide, was undertaken to explore program policies and practices related to
making distance learning courses accessible to qualified students and
instructors with disabilities. The research questions were:
1) What are program-level policies and practices
related to delivering courses that are fully accessible to students with
disabilities and what are examples of each?
2) What activities might be undertaken to promote greater accessibility of
distance learning courses?
A literature review was conducted and the following steps were employed in this
exploratory research:
1) Build a draft list of accessibility indicators based on the literature
review and prior work,
2) Collect input and examples from distance learning programs to further refine
items on the list,
3) Apply the indicators to one distance learning program as a case study, and
4) Summarize results and recommend further research.
Ten indicators of accessibility of distance learning programs were developed.
They address the following issues for four stakeholders:
1) Students and potential students: Distance learning programs committed to
accessibility assure that students and potential students know of the programs’
commitment to accessible design, how to report inaccessible design features
they discover, how to request accommodations, and how to obtain alternate
formats of printed materials; the distance learning home page is accessible and
all online and other course materials of distance learning courses are
accessible to individuals with disabilities.
2) Distance learning designers: Distance learning programs that are committed
to accessibility assure that course designers understand the program’s
commitment to accessibility, have access to guidelines and resources; and learn
about accessibility in training provided to course designers.
3) Distance learning instructors: In distance learning programs committed to accessibility,
publications and web pages for distance learning instructors include a
statement of the distance learning program’s commitment to accessibility,
9uidelines regardin9 accessibility, and resources; and training for instructors
includes accessibility content.
4) Distance learning program evaluators: Distance learning programs committed
to accessibility have systems in place to monitor accessibility efforts and
make adjustments based on evaluation results.
Results of this exploratory study suggest that incorporating accessibility
considerations in policies, procedures, and communications of a program:
* requires efforts related to students, course designers, instructors, and
evaluators;
It progresses more quickly with an individual champion of the cause;
* requires approval and implementation at a variety of levels;
* becomes easier once some initial accessibility policies, procedures and
communications have been implemented; and
* is an ongoing process that may be implemented in incremental steps.
The ten indicators developed in this study and examples of their applications
in distance learning courses nationwide will be presented in this talk. Time
will be allowed for discussion, resources will be presented, and useful
handouts will be provided.
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