Legal Obligation | Origin: EL111
This is a general discussion forum for the following learning topic:
Assistive Technologies for the Online Learner --> Legal Obligation
Post what you've learned about this topic and how you intend to apply it. Feel free to post questions and comments too.
Providing for learning assess and the ability for students with learning disabilities equal access under the ADA.
This caught my eye: "By law, instructors and post-secondary administrators cannot speak to parents about their children’s progress, intent, course loads, counseling services, mental health, grades, medical conditions, or disabilities as they did in the K-12 environment." This seems counterintuitive.
I learned that no change or alteration of the academic program is allowed to suit students with disabilities.
It is important and necessary to provide what is needed to meet the lesson objectives and ensure materials are available and useful to all students to be successful in achieving their goals and to follow the laws set for us regarding education.
It is manadated by federal law to allow for accomodations for students with disabilities. This isn't new for me, but my understanding has increased through this module. Accesibility is important for any and all students to be successful, no matter their disabilities.
It's important to take into consideration all the different possible impairments and disabilities within the classroom setting and ensure that there are various formats/ways to obtain the course information for all students.
We have a legal responsibility to ensure we are providing the tools necessary for students with disabilities to learn.
I found it interesting that Lectures must include closed capture or could be open to a lawsuit for not being accessible to all.
While completing this module I reviewed the laws that are important to provide inclusive education, and ways to provide and comply with them.
I learned that the students are protected against discrimination based on race, national origin, and color; that they will be have an equal education. Then several years later, the people is protected with the Civil Rights Act.
Accommodation for students with special needs is easy to see and understand in the In Class programs yet the same concepts and considerations must be extended to on line courses. It may seem obvious but remains important to be compliant with all applicable laws.
A major takeaway I took from this presentation is how to be accomodating. Accomodations does not mean changing the curriculum for a student with disabilities, but rather, providing the appropriate tools and resources to help them be successful with the curriculum.
I lerned about the ADA. Online instructors often cannot identify disabilities. Students need to find the disability center on campus and report their disability(s) by having it documented. There are resources and information that can help them with any educational disabilities.
I learned that providing accommodations extends outside of the classroom. I know now that if I have a student with a disability who needs to use the library, that they can expect the library to have accommodations. I want to find out who to direct them to at our library.
It was great to get a refresher course on Brown VS Topeka Board of Education 1954, Civil Rights Act 1964 and Rehabilitation Act of 1973. I was also surprised that 75% of students are disabled . I find that very hard to believe. Why are so many people disabled ? Just curious of what is going wrong in America. I do believe that everyone should be able to access data in means in which they can excel and grow.
I was surpirsed to hear that the number of "disabled" students was so high. With so many regulations, Acts, and programs, it is such a challenge for educators to be aware. It is extremely challenging when the students themselves are not utilizing resources available to them. WIth this new information, I'm definitely going to be more mindful of how I coduct my class.
Several laws have been passed in order to make sure that people with disabilities a given the same opportunities as anyone else. It is our job as educators to familiarize ourselves with such legislation in order to better accomodate our disabled students. We must also be conscious of the differences between different pieces of legislation.
It is particularly interesting to see how laws have evolved since the Civil Rights Act to accommodate for disabilities. I appreciate that more consideration and support is being provided. It does seem challenging to provide an opportunity for different learning modalities while also needing to limit some types of these modalities but I suppose some creativity can go a long way.
While there has been tremendous progress through the years, the advent of technology and various pedagogical practices that benefit some students clearly can be a hindrance to others. Developing a curriculum is a challenge on many, many levels, not the least of which is providing the appropriate levels of challenge and access to a diverse group of learners.
