Welcome to Boot Camp
Additional Information for Administrators
Students with Disabilities in Online Education - Traditional Institutions, Nontraditional Classrooms
Day 1 - AM Session
(1) Welcome to the Virtual World of Online Learning and Accommodations
- Why is it any different than our regular classrooms?
- Why can't the existing disability services unit handle this? We ARE part of the institution!
- Hybrid classes, hybrid students, online only - apples, oranges, and prickly pears
(2) Legally speaking - What Are Our Responsibilities, and Why?
- Do 504/ADA even apply to online classes? Who says?
- How does FERPA impact when you are dealing with online communications?
- Don't forget those hybrid students!
(3) Technology - Helping With the Solution or Part of the Problem?
- What does it mean to have an accessible website/presence?
- Why isn't an accessible website enough?
- What is assistive technology (in this context)?
- Do we have to provide the assistive technology? Who says?
- Don't forget those hybrid students!
Day 1 - PM Session
(4) Framing Your Service Delivery System: Policies/Procedures/Accommodations
- Why can't we use the same policies they use in the existing DS unit?
What policies should every online program have in place?
- Why do we need that policy?
- What should the policy include?
What procedures should every online program have in place?
- Referrals/Direct contact - where do we begin?
- How do I collect documentation, and what should I do with it?
- How do I communicate with online students?
- Don't forget those hybrid students!
Day 2 - AM Session
(5) What kind of accommodations might we need to arrange - and how do we do it?
(6) Forging New Alliances on Campus
- Reaching out (anew?) to academic advisors, financial aid, tech staff and MANY more
- Are their services accessible?
- Who does the administration assign to the role of accommodating students with disabilities online? Have they put their money where their assignment is?
- Working closely with the existing DS unit on campus - how to open negotiations and agree on responsibilities
- Try "shared responsibility" rather than abdication!
Day 2 - PM Session
(7) Practical "To-do" lists
- Reviewing your institution's online learning management system
- Reassessing the appropriateness of your traditional policies/procedures to online learning situations/students
- Identifying the "players" on your campus who share both control and responsibilities for making online education truly accessible
(8) Group think - problem solving and discussion of case studies
(9) Developing an Action Plan