Benefits that online learning can provide for disabled students

 

Benefits that online learning can provide for disabled students

 

Mobility – no travel required

One interface to work through – rather than lots of books and paper

Confidence- builder, as all students are equal. It promotes freedom and independence

Disabilities are not public

ICT – speech recognition software; screen-readers; tailoring desktop to specific needs, eg. Font size, background colour; audio and video.

Gay and Harrison (2001)state electronic text can be read by students who are blind, vision impaired, dyslexic and by students who cannot hold a book

Online prompts such as course calendars can aid students with short term memory / students who have difficulty concentrating.

Spell checker helps those students with spelling

The use of a PC helps those students who have slow handwriting

Online learning can support students with dyslexia much better because often demonstrations and visuals are more effective and these can be delivered through U-tube and other video mechanisms. Audio and video can be repeated.

Students who have difficulty communicating find online learning beneficial

Students can choose when to study, so if they are feeling emotional then they do not need to stick to a rigid timetable.

The use of online learning resources – eg e-books

Digital audio recording of lectures, streamed online

Alternative devices to work PCs – eg. Head mice, keyboard emulators

E-learning is flexible and adaptable and can remove barriers (Seale, 2006, p.22)

E-learning can be an enriching and stimulating environment which learning can take place (Kelly et al, 2004)

E-learning overcomes issues in hearing communication by students with hearing impairments

E-learning protects students from potential health and safety issues with moving around buildings (Colwell et al, 2002,p.67)

The table below was taken from the Techdis site:-