Benefits of Online Education for Disabled Students

Disabled students comprise a larger percentage of the U.S. population. According to a recent study conducted by the Disability and Information Technologies (Dis-IT) Research Alliance, 49 million Americans (or 16% of the overall population) are disabled; the most commonly reported disabilities included learning disabilities (42% of respondents), mobility impairments (23%), ADD or ADHD (20%), psychological or psychiatric conditions (16%), and health- and medical-related impairments (15%). Based on data from the Social Security Administration, CNN Money reports the number of disabled U.S. citizens is continuing to rise. The number of Americans with little or no previous employment who filed disability claims has risen nearly 30% over the last decade, while the number of disability claimants who have held steady careers rose 44% during the same period. There are several reasons for this steady climb, including the recent economic recession, an aging baby boomer population, and advances in technology that can identify disabilities more easily.   

Attaining educational objectives for such disabled students is almost impossible. So, online education has made its way into their lives. Presley Universities is among such online universities that offers numerous online courses to disabled students. Online education at Presley University offers disabled students some additional perks, most notably the convenience and flexibility to accommodate individual needs. 

• Convenience

Traditional colleges and universities have fully accessible physical facilities and necessary accommodation to meet the needs of disabled students however it may be difficult to navigate between buildings, down hallways, and through classroom doorways. However, with online education, there is no such problem. Online learning provides convenient access for disabled students. It helps them to study without any special arrangements. They do not have to manage travel and transportation issues because online classes may be taken from the convenience of one’s own home. 

• Flexibility

In addition to the convenience, online learning offers students with disabilities flexibility also. Online courses of Presley University are increasingly developed with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) standards. This means the information for the course is presented in multiple ways. In an online class, for example, a reading assignment may already be available in regular text (e.g., as a .pdf file) and as an audio file (e.g., MP3). This automatically gives all students the flexibility of reading or hearing the information, saving it for use with assistive learning software. It involves more interaction with media like visuals, graphics, and closed-captioned videos.

Similarly, online students also have the flexibility to be engaged in the course, to express themselves, and to interact with classmates and/or the professor using a variety of means. For instance, if it is more feasible for you to reply to your professor or classmates with an audio file than a typed response, this is usually possible in an online course. Additionally, online classes typically make more use of assignments and activities built upon one another to result in a large project by the end of the term/semester (a system known as "scaffolding), which provides more flexibility and freedom for managing your time to work on the big project. They also enable adaptive learning techniques, which allow students to complete activities and meet course objectives largely at their own pace and ability level. Students will be able to take as much time as they need to reach the required level of competency. This is especially helpful for students who may require additional time to complete assignments. 

• Anonymity:

Online courses of Presley University are known as a great leveler, meaning typically no one sees anyone else or knows anything about them other than what participants choose to share. This allows disabled learners to successfully remain anonymous about any disability they may have if they so choose. Also, because online courses are naturally and increasingly developed with the concept of Universal Design for Learning (UDL). Therefore, there is rarely a need for a disabled student to feel compelled to disclose to classmates. Instead the focus is on building an online community of learners who work together toward a common goal. 

• Funding Opportunities

Students with disabilities not only receive tuition assistance from Presley University, but also about financial aid for any necessary accommodations for educational use. If you are employed, check with your employer for educational assistance programs, especially if your educational goals or the assistive/adaptive technology is directly related to your job. Ask for deals on software, equipment, and furniture locally and online.