Learning Disabilities

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Learning Disabilities

• Online Accommodations

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Introduction

• 10-15 of student population on average campus
  acknowledges a disability
• 29 of that group report having a learning
  disability
• LD students fastest growing group of students
  with disabilities on college campuses

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Introduction

• 85 of jobs require at least some education
  beyond high school, compared with 61 in 1991
• Nearly 1/10th of online users in general have
  disabilities

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Introduction

• Estimated 500,000 students with disabilities are
  enrolled in higher ed (as of 2001)
• Students with disabilities are served by 98 of 2
  yr and 4 yr public institutions, 63 of private 4
  yr institutions, 47 of private 2 yr institutions

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Introduction

• Graduation rate for students with LD is only 3.5
  compared to 62.1 for students without LD

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Definition of Learning Disabilities

• No one universal definition
• Generally, cognitive impairment that makes
  learning difficult.
• Usually involves difficulties with written
  communication and sometimes with memorization

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Accommodation Difficulties

• Lack of technical expertise
• Lack of access to necessary files
• Limitations within LMS
• Inexperience with accommodations online

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Common LD Difficulties

• Poor reading comprehension/speed
• Spelling difficulties
• Rote memorization and recall extremely difficult
  for some LD students

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Common LD Difficulties

• Extreme fatigue caused by reading
• Headaches caused by reading
• Written text can move or shimmer
• Difficulty resuming tasks when interrupted

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Common LD Difficulties

• Working memory difficulties Organization
  difficulties
• Difficulties with math (often to the point of
  phobia)
• Difficulties with listening and understanding
  verbal information

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Why are Accommodations Important?

• Americans with Disabilities Act covers learning
  disabilities as well as physical and mental
  disabilities
• Section 508 also includes learning disabilities
• Students should not be restricted from learning
  simply because they have a learning disability.

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Section 508

• Requires federal agencies to implement standards
  to ensure that individuals with disabilities,
  who are members of the public seeking information
  or services from a federal agency, have access to
  and use of information and data that is
  comparable to that provided to the public who are
  not individuals with disabilities

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Most common accommodations

• Modified assignments
• Modified tests
• More time on assignments
• More time on tests

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Instructional Design suggestions

• Use Word docs for notes and long reading
  assignments. Students can modify background
  colors, font face, font size, line spacing, etc.
• Break content into smaller modules. Put all
  files/materials related to each module together.

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Instructional Design suggestions

• Make sure that information is presented in
  multiple formats (text, multimedia files, images,
  etc).
• Include written scripts of all audio and video
  materials.
• Make course notes and PowerPoint shows available
  to students in advance.

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WebCT suggestions

• Selective release
• Group manager
• Test settings
• Assignment settings
• Learning modules

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Contact information

• Mary Dziorny
• Technical trainer/WebCT Support
• The University of Texas at Dallas
• Mary.dziorny_at_utdallas.edu