Students with disabilities are entitled to equal access to post-secondary education by Individuals with Disabilities Act, Section 504 and Section 508 as well as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Disabilities and requirements and/or items to consider when teaching isn't anything new but something to always be thinking about
I knew many of the requirements by the ADA however new to me was closed captions needed.
It was a very informative section. I am not a US citizen so this section provided me the knowledge on the steps taken by the US government to ensure the accessibility of learning to all learners regardless of their physical characteristics. In my country and educational institute, we have similar regulations and rule to protect the right of disabled people.
I learned that having the course content provided in a variety of ways and also communicating with the Office of Disability Services is a great way to ensure all course material is given to all students.
Awareness is one of the relevant factors that I have learnt from this topic. The information that I post online can cause conflicts especially if I fail to follow the required policies set by the educational institution. Awareness is therefore an essential factor that I have learnt from this topic.
This module makes me quite thankful to my mentor teacher who helped me get started in education. His guidance on course creation and syllabus writing defacto included provisions for this legal responsibility, and he very well communicated it to me. The content of this section was familiar but worth review.
Accommodations required should be established prior to ensure that there will be no issue concerning the translation of materials in accordance with an individual’s disability or learning style.
We must accommodate all students whether they are handicap or not. Our teaching institutions should provide the online instructors with the necessary tools to teach handicapped students.
Equality of education whether one with out disability or one with disability is being enforced by law.
It's the institution's responsibility to be ADA compliant and we instructors can assist by making sure our materials are accessible.
Helpful to better understand IDEA, Rehab act 504 & 508B & ADA.
It's frustrating when student have not contacted the Office of
disabilities services and expect instructors to make changes to accommodate the challenges they're encountering.
Realizing how important it is to not only make sure students have the access to the work, but to make sure it is ADA compliant.
This material was something I have first hand knowledge of as I have a son with disabilities. The transition from K-12 to college can be very difficult. There is a great deal of structure for students with disabilities and a 504 plan in place. In college, there is often not as much structure and students with disabilities tend to struggle during the transition. It is important for students to utilize the Accessibility office to set up a plan for success
Nee to make sure that learining materials are available to all students, which includes close captioning when required.
It is very important that instruction know the law regarding disability accommodation.
With the student population that I have received over the years that have had IEP's in the public school system, it is a struggle. In the beginning, it is not always known to the instructor which is a challenge as well. Once identified it can be a lift to set the student up for success on the instructional team. Instructors do not have, for the most part, formal educational training so they are left at a disadvantage. Due to this a workaround that I have used is to meet with the student(s) that seem to struggle with getting their work done, performing at an expected level of competency, or understanding the content of the curriculum. This has been addressed by having weekly meetings for those that are underperforming and open office hours where any student can log in and ask questions. These seem to have worked for my students so far.
I was aware of the accommodations required for students with documented disabilities. I have experienced this as a parent helping my child navigate services in the post-secondary environment. It is key that students are informed early on in Admissions that they must be proactive in communicating their disability and needs. I want to learn more about how our institution is addressing this in the new hybrid / online environment.
Creativity is key to ensuring all students have access to the course information. Besides our legal obligation, we are abligated as educators to make sure students understand the course contents
On top of planning our lessons we need to keep in mind th ADA, Does the school provide those things listed below? I know most are trying to get away from supplying telecommunications products, paper for copies, and want to maintain a low budget.
the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) set forth by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) (http://www.w3.org/TR/WCAG/). Areas which are covered by these national standards include:
- Software applications
- Operating systems
- Web-based internet information and applications
- Telecommunication products
- Video and multimedia products
- Scanners, copiers, desktop and portable computers
The real question is how can a teacher adapted to special needs if we have not been fully taught about how to communicaite with this group.
