For those of you who are getting involved in supporting distance learning programs, the following articles, which just appeared in a special issue of Information Technology and Disabilities, may be of interest.

Axel


-----Original Message-----
From: Prof Norm Coombs [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2002 1:16 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Information Technology and Disabilities E-journal Jan. 2002


ANNOUNCING:
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND DISABILITIES
http://www.rit.edu/~easi/itd.htm

Volume VIII, No. 1 
January 2002

SPECIAL ISSUE: DISTANCE EDUCATION AND DISABILITY

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CONTENTS
http://www.rit.edu/~easi/itd/itdv08n1/contents.html

ARTICLE 1:
Universal Design of Distance Learning
http://www.rit.edu/~easi/itd/itdv08n1/burgstahler.htm
Sheryl Burgstahler, Ph.D.
University of Washington

This article presents an overview of access barriers to distance 
learning by people with a variety of disabilities, and identifies 
elements of "universal design" that can render distance education 
programs accessible to the widest possible student population.

ARTICLE 2:
A Survey of Online Instructional Issues and Strategies for 
Postsecondary Students with Learning Disabilities
http://www.rit.edu/~easi/itd/itdv08n1/cook_gladhart.htm
Robin A. Cook, Ph.D., C.R.C.
Marsha A. Gladhart, Ph.D.
Wichita State University
Wichita, Kansas

This paper addresses a gap in the education literature concerning 
issues and considerations relevant to engaging in online instruction 
with adult learners who have learning disabilities. Contained within 
are a brief background survey of the context in which online 
instruction has become popular; a comparison of online versus 
traditional pedagogy techniques, and a discussion of some of the 
popular technology used in postsecondary institutions to deliver online 
learning. Finally, the authors describe how aspects of online learning 
impact students with learning disabilities, and offer suggestions for 
instructional strategies and appropriate accommodations and 
modifications. 

ARTICLE 3:
The Design of Accessible Distance Education Environments That Use 
Collaborative Learning
http://www.rit.edu/~easi/itd/itdv08n1/schenker_scadden.htm
Katarina T. Schenker
Doctoral Student, Malmö University
Lawrence A. Scadden, Ph.D.
Research Mentor, Malmö University

Malmö University in Sweden is conducting a project 
entitled "Accessibility and Learning in Higher Education, Learning and 
New Media." This integrated research, development and training project, 
located in the School of Teacher Education at Malmö University, is 
supported by funding from the Knowledge and Competence Development 
Foundation of Stockholm. A multidisciplinary team representing the 
Center for Teacher Education, the Department of Information Technology, 
and the University Library Services is conducting the project. Private 
companies in the region interested in computer-supported educational 
products are also participating. This article reports the goals and 
efforts of the pilot project designed to study the development and 
testing of optimal methods for facilitating learning through the use of 
information technology by all students, including those with 
disabilities. 

ARTICLE 4:
Distance Learning and Disability: A View From the Instructor's Side of 
the Virtual Lectern
http://www.rit.edu/~easi/itd/itdv08n1/lance.htm
G. Denise Lance, Ph.D.
In this case study, Dr. G. Denise Lance describes her own experience as 
an online faculty member with a disability (cerebral palsy). The 
author, who teaches an online course on inclusion in education, 
discusses the potential impact that her own disability might have on 
her students. 

ARTICLE 5:
Issues in Preparing Visually Disabled Instructors to Teach Online: A 
Case Study
http://www.rit.edu/~easi/itd/itdv08n1/tobin.htm
Thomas J. Tobin, Ph.D.

This essay explores the methods by which an online support staff may 
assist a visually-impaired faculty member to teach online, with special 
emphasis on identifying which strategies for assisting visually-
impaired students are transferable to the process of assisting visually-
impaired faculty, as well as identifying areas of concern specific to 
helping a visually-impaired faculty member to prepare and to teach an 
online course. 

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Note: EASI has four month-long online training courses starting February 4
(still time to register)
Barrier-free Information Technology
Beginners' Barrier-free Web Design
Advanced Barrier-free Web Design
NEW COURSE: Business Benefits of Accessible Information technology
All of these workshops can be counted toward the new Certificate in
Accessible Information
http://easi.cc/workshop.htm


Norman Coombs, Ph.D.
Cell (949) 922-5992
Professor Emeritus, Rochester Institute of Technology
http://www.rit.edu/~nrcgsh
CEO, EASI (Equal Access to Software and Information)
        http://www.rit.edu/~easi