Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

This study investigates the correlation between how learners are classified in terms of disability and their perceptions of (1) the effectiveness of online instructional methods, (2) their self-efficacy levels, and (3) the accommodations they need. Conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown, the study included 278 higher education students with disabilities who participated in an online survey, with 50 of them undergoing in-depth interviews. Using an embedded mixed methods design, the research aimed to explore participants’ experiences with online classes. Data triangulation was employed to better comprehend the adequacy of accommodations and accessibility in online learning. The findings indicate that individuals with disabilities experience diverse benefits and challenges in online learning, influenced by their specific disability classifications and social contexts in which they engage with the learning environment. Further research is necessary to gain a more profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by students with disabilities in the realm of online learning.

Keywords

accommodation disabilities online learning self-efficacy online instruction higher education

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Alqurashi

(2016). Self-efficacy in online learning environments: A literature review. Contemporary Issues in Education Research, 9(1), 45–52https://doi.org/10.19030/cier.v9i1.9549

Alqurashi

(2019). Predicting student satisfaction and perceived learning within online learning environments. Distance Education, 40(1), 133–148. https://doi.org/10.1080/01587919.2018.1553562

Burgstahler

(2021). What higher education learned about the accessibility of online opportunities during a pandemic. Journal of Higher Education Theory & Practice, 21(7), 160–169. https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v21i7.4493

Campanile

Cerilli

Varadaraj

Sweeney

Smith

Zhu

Yenokyan

Swenor

B. K.

(2022). Accessibility and disability inclusion among top-funded U.S. undergraduate institutions. PLoS One, 17(11), e0277249. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277249

Carter

R. A.

Rice

M. F.

(2016). Administrator work in leveraging technologies for students with disabilities in online coursework. Journal of Special Education Technology, 31(3), 137–146. https://doi.org/10.1177/0162643416660838

Cavanaugh

Repetto

Wayer

Spitler

(2013). Online learning for students with disabilities: A framework for success. Journal of Special Education Technology, 28(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1177/016264341302800101

Clarke

Braun

(2021). Thematic analysis: A practical guide. Sage.

Coduti

W. A.

Hayes

J. A.

Locke

B. D.

Youn

S. J.

(2016). Mental health and professional help-seeking among college students with disabilities. Rehabilitation Psychology, 61(3), 288–296. https://doi.org/10.1037/rep0000101

Cresswell

J. W.

Clark

V. P.

(2011). Mixed method research. Sage.

10.

Creswell

(2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed method approaches. Sage.

11.

Davis

(2020). Disability and campus mental health. Mental Health America. https://mhanational.org/get-involved/2020-disability-and-campus-mental-health-report

12.

Fennelly-Atkinson

LaPrairie

K. N.

Song

(2022). Identifying accessibility factors affecting learner inclusion in online university programs. Distance Education, 43(4), 556–573. https://doi.org/10.1080/01587919.2022.2141607

13.

Ginsberg

S. M.

Schulte

(2012). Instructional accommodations: Impact of conventional vs. social constructivist view of disability. The Journal of Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 8(2), 84–91. https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/josotl/article/view/1702

14.

Kim

W. H.

Lee

(2016). The effect of accommodation on academic performance of college students with disabilities. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 60(1), 40–50. https://doi.org/10.1177/0034355215605259

15.

Kinash

Knight

(2014). Disability in a digital world: Online pedagogy for enabling learning. In Patel

(Ed.), Online learning: An educational development perspective. Nova Science Publishers.

16.

Lambert

D. C.

Dryer

(2018). Quality of life of higher education students with learning disability studying online. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 65(4), 393–407. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2017.1410876

17.

Lee

O. E.

Kim

S. Y.

Gezer

(2021). Factors associated with online learning self-efficacy among students with disabilities in higher education. American Journal of Distance Education, 35(4), 293–306. https://doi.org/10.1080/08923647.2021.1979344

18.

Lindsay

Cagliostro

Carafa

(2018). A Systematic review of barriers and facilitators of disability disclosure and accommodations for youth in post-secondary education. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education, 65(5), 526–556. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2018.1430352

19.

Lomellini

Lowenthal

P. R.

(2022). Inclusive online courses: Universal design for learning strategies that impact faculty buy-in. In The instructional design trainer’s guide (pp. 101–111). Routledge.

20.

Lomellini

Lowenthal

P. R.

Snelson

Trespalacios

J. H.

(2022). Higher education leaders’ perspectives of accessible and inclusive online learning. Distance Education, 43(4), 574–595. https://doi.org/10.1080/01587919.2022.2141608

21.

Lowenthal

P. R.

Lomellini

(2023). Accessible online learning: A preliminary investigation of educational technologists’ and faculty members’ knowledge and skills. TechTrends, 67(2), 384–392. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-022-00790-1

22.

McManus

Dryer

Henning

(2017). Barriers to learning online experienced by students with a mental health disability. Distance Education, 38(3), 336–352. https://doi.org/10.1080/01587919.2017.1369348

23.

National Center for Education Statistics . (2018). Number and percentage distribution of students enrolled in postsecondary institutions, by level, disability status, and selected student characteristics: 2015-16. National Center for Education Statistics. https://nces.ed.gov/programs/digest/d20/tables/dt20_311.10.asp

24.

National Center for Education Statistics . (2020). Beginning postsecondary students: 2012/2017 (report No. 2020-238). National Center for Education Statistics. https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2020/2020238.pdf

25.

Rice

M. F.

Dunn

(Eds.), (2023). Inclusive online and distance education for learners with dis/abilities: Promoting accessibility and equity. Taylor and Francis.

26.

Singh

R. C.

MacDonald

J. E.

(2022). Students with mental health (dis) Abilities’ storied experiences within distance education. Distance Education, 43(4), 508–525. https://doi.org/10.1080/01587919.2022.2141609

27.

Terras

Leggio

Phillips

(2015). Disability accommodations in online courses: The graduate student experience. Journal of Postsecondary Education and Disability, 28(3), 329–340.

Supplementary Material

Please find the following supplemental material available below.

For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.

For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.

0.00 MB

0.01 MB

Exploring the Impact of Disabilities and Accommodation on Students’ Online Learning Experiences

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References

Supplementary Material