What is Accessibility?

Let's think about accessibility in the online education environment. Accessibility refers to ensuring that course content and associated instructional activities, regardless of form or structure, can be accessed and used by all people, regardless of their abilities. The term accessibility is commonly used in relation to people with disabilities, because this group is most likely to be disadvantaged by course structure.

Why Make Distance Education Courses Accessible?

Committed, proactive distance educators strive to make courses accessible to all students who can benefit from their courses.

• The goal of providing people access to learning opportunities is one of the foundations of distance education. The tenet of universal access should apply to all people not just able-bodied ones or those with typical learning abilities.

• There are laws that protect persons with disabilities from discrimination. Lack of accommodation is a form of discrimination.

• Making courses accessible is the right and honorable thing to do.

U.S. Disability Statistics

People with disabilities represent a sizable segment of the U.S. population. You may have a disability. If you don't, there's probably someone in your immediate family who does. Nearly 20% of Americans have some kind of disability. About half of them, or 10% of the population, are severely disabled. The likelihood of developing a disability increases dramatically with advancing age. About 50% of people age 65 or older have some kind of functional impairment.

People with disabilities often describe computers and information technology as empowering tools. Many are avid Internet users. Most of those who use the Internet say it has significantly improved the quality of their life.

Laws

There are two key federal civil-rights statues that have bearing on accessibility. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 stipulates that no individuals with disabilities shall be excluded from participation in the services, programs or activities of a public entity. The ADA requires higher education institutions to provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities.

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is another law affecting accessibility. A 1998 amendment to this law, know as Section 508, contains specific language requiring that electronic information (e.g., Internet-based information) be made accessible to people with disabilities. Section 508 requirements apply to Federal government agencies. Federal agencies were required to comply with the Section 508 standards by June 2001.

What types of disabilities are there and what assistive devices are available?

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