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Enhancing Success for Students with Learning Disabilities in Higher Education

Enhancing Success for Students with Learning Disabilities in Higher Education. Speakers Susan A. Vogel, Project Director Amy Bauer, Project Coordinator Roger Pugh, Project Achieve Elizabeth Leake, Associate Director of CSS Nancy Castle, Instructor, e-Learning course

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Enhancing Success for Students with Learning Disabilities in Higher Education

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  1. Enhancing Success for Students with Learning Disabilities in Higher Education Speakers Susan A. Vogel, Project Director Amy Bauer, Project Coordinator Roger Pugh, Project Achieve Elizabeth Leake, Associate Director of CSS Nancy Castle, Instructor, e-Learning course Steve Zecker, External Evaluator 40th Annual International Conference Learning Disabilities Association February 27, 2003 Chicago, IL

  2. A Project funded by Illinois Board of Higher Education (2001-2004) Awarded toNorthern Illinois UniversitySusan A. Vogel, Project DirectorAmy Bauer, Project CoordinatorPartners Southern Illinois University – Roger PughSauk Valley Community College – Keith BosUniversity of Illinois – Lizanne DeStefano

  3. Mission To create a more welcoming environment for students with disabilities

  4. Vision To increase academic success and graduation rate of students with disabilities so that they will be able to experience all of the benefits and rewards of higher education

  5. Goal To encourage positive change by increasing faculty, administrators, and supportive professional staff’s awareness and knowledge of disabilities, legal mandates, accommodations, campus support services, policies and procedures, and accessibility of online information

  6. Self-study Year One • Awareness Activities • Dedicated Collection of Resources • Web Site Accessibility • Computer Labs • Syllabi Statements • Institution-wide Policies • Knowledge and Practices • Topics of Interests and Delivery Mode

  7. Awareness Activities at NIU

  8. Awareness Activities Assumption Campuses are more welcoming to students with disabilities when there is heightened awareness and knowledge about disabilities.

  9. Awareness ActivitiesFaculty Development & Instructional Design

  10. Web Site Accessibility at NIU

  11. Web Site Accessibility Assumption Access to information online for those with print disabilities can be enhanced when web sites meet W3C and Section 508 criteria sometimes signaled by the Bobby Approval icon.

  12. Web Site Visits Web sites were visited to determine: • If they displayed the Bobby Approval icon • If the sites displayed [Text Only] • If the text only version had a Bobby Approval icon • If the sites displayed the W3C icon • If the sites were accessible even though no icon was displayed

  13. Web Site Visits Web sites were visited based on the assumption that they were the most frequently visited by prospective and present students with disabilities. • Web sites included:

  14. Computer Labs Assumption Assistive technology (AT) is very important to some students with disabilities’ academic success. Computer labs were visited. • Hardware& software • Lab layout • Lab attendant knowledge of the AT

  15. NIU Syllabi Review

  16. Syllabi Review Assumption When faculty include in their syllabus a paragraph inviting students to confer with them regarding needed accommodations, it creates a more welcoming environment.

  17. Identified Themes in NIU Syllabi

  18. Syllabi Review (cont.) Five themes related to disabilities were identified in the syllabi reviewed.

  19. Theme One NIU abide by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 19743.

  20. Themes Two Student success is of utmost importance to instructor

  21. Theme Three • Student should contact instructor early in the semester (38). • In the first 2-3 weeks of class (6) • Early in the semester (15) • As soon as possible (8) • No time specified (9)

  22. Themes Four and Five • Students should contact the instructor if their disability might impact negatively on performance in this course (2). • Students are referred to CAAR office (20) if they might need an accommodation and have not yet registered with CAAR

  23. University-wide Policies and Procedures

  24. Policies and Procedures Assumption When there are university-wide policies and procedures that respond to the needs of students with disabilities and when they are widely disseminated in print and online, students with disabilities will achieve higher levels of academic success, retention, and graduation rate.

  25. Policies & Procedures(A National Overview) • Literature was reviewed regarding higher education institution-wide policies and procedures pertaining to students with disabilities (in print and online).

  26. Policies and Procedures (National Overview-cont.) • The policies and procedures of 23 institutions described in the DO-IT Faculty Room web site were analyzed in light of the literature and online reviews. • A master list was created consisting of the 16 polices and procedures most frequently described was created.

  27. 16Types of Policies (National Overview-cont.) • Academic Standing • Accessibility • Library • Computer labs • Classroom Laboratories • Admissions Procedures • Appeal of Denial of Admissions • Appeal Policy and Procedures • Course Substitution • Financial Aid

  28. 16 Types of Policies(National Overview- cont.) • Grievance Policy and Procedures • Housing • Parking • Privacy/Confidentiality • Reduced Course Load • Registration • Service Animals • Transportation • Web Communications

  29. Campus Polices • A campus-wide search to determine which policies already in place • How do students learn about them • Availability online and linked • Availability in print

  30. Survey on Students with Disabilities Faculty Administration Supportive Professional Staff Students with Disabilities

  31. Knowledge, Willingness, and Practices • Legal Mandates • Disabilities • Accommodations • Accessible Web Sites • Policies and Procedures

  32. Needed Information • Support services on campus • Policies and procedures • General information about disabilities • Testing accommodations • Legal mandates • Web site accessibility • Assistive Technology • Universal Instructional Design

  33. Most Effective Methods for Providing Information Based on Faculty, SPS, and Administration Input • One-on-one consultation • Web sites • Workshops • On-site seminars • On-site speakers • Videos • Distance Learning

  34. Highlights of Events(2001- to the present)

  35. Highlights of Year One • Top level university administrators including the President and Provost took a leadership role in advocating for enhancing accessibility of information to students with disabilities • Courses are being offered on web design accessibility and instructional considerations for students with disabilities

  36. Highlights of Year One (cont.) • Information Technology Services took a leadership role in making the campus more accessible by: • Recommending that web-based communication comply with Section 508 criteria • Upgrading assisitive technology software in the ITS computer labs

  37. Highlights of Year One (cont.) • Governing bodies advocate for accessibility on campus • Information Technology Services (ITS) provide expertise in accessibility of web-based information • ITS addresses need to train computer lab assistants in AT and software for students with disabilties

  38. Highlights -Year Two

  39. Highlights-Year Two • Developed and distributed a brochure to all faculty, administration, & supportive professional staff regarding Enhancing Success Project • Made presentation to President’s Commission on Disabilities • Met with key administration to discuss Year One findings and implications

  40. Highlights-Year Two (cont.) • Provided information on the project at the disAbilities Fair • Offered a graduate credit e-Learning course about disabilities, legal issues, accommodations, and higher education policies and procedures -- Spring 2003

  41. Enhancing Success Web Site

  42. Enhancing Success Web Site will provide information and/or link to … • Legislative mandates • Information on disabilities • Accommodations for Students with Disabilities • PowerPoint presentations • Clips from videos available in Founders Library and others linked to ITS and DO-IT Faculty Room Web Sites • Other institutions’ policies and procedures • NIU’s institution-wide policies and procedures • Award-winning web sites on disabilities • Information on web site accessibility

  43. Enhancing Success Web Site - Strategy Exchange An interactive site, The Strategy Exchange, will be a place where faculty, administrators, supportive professional staff, and students with disabilities can post and/or learn about helpful strategies and accommodations

  44. Enhancing Success Web Site will also include include …. • Recommended publications (many available in full-text) on topics related to college students with disabilities • Hard copy of all publications and four videos will be available in the main Library.

  45. Web Accessibility Collaboration

  46. Web Accessibility – Progress to Date • Each partner received a web accessibility grant • Web accessibility training workshops provided on campus including Jon Gunderson (UI-Urbana) all-day workshop on web design accessibility Spring 2003

  47. Future Activities • Distribute Mid-point Summary • Mini Presentations and Discussions • Recommendations and Actions • Follow-up Study of Alumni with Disabilities • Third Year Evaluation

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