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Distance Learning and Students with DisabilitiesMore and more, colleges are offering learning opportunities that are outside the boundaries of the traditional classroom. Chattanooga State now offers courses on-line, part on-line/part traditional (known as hybrid courses), and by video. In addition, most traditional courses now have some kind of on-line component to them. Faculty use this piece to post assignments; students submit completed assignments, and may be required to participate in on-line discussions about the course via the Web.Distance learning still requires effective accommodations and assurances of program access. Chattanooga State is working to make all on-line course content accessible to students who may need to use adaptive computer equipment, but there are still some things that may be difficult for those students to access. Distance learning also requires a great deal of self-management skills on the part of the student. The ability to set a schedule and stick to it, creating a study environment conducive to on-line learning, and developing good organization skills are all critical pieces. For these reasons and others, students with disabilities should consider carefully whether distance learning is the right choice for them. Students are responsible for contacting Disabilities Support Services (DSS) to discuss accommodations that may be necessary for a distance learning course. The DSS staff person will contact the instructor and verify that the student is registered with the office, and will require certain accommodations to be able to access the course. Students should also notify instructors that they are registered with DSS as early in the semester as possible so that the instructor can begin to consider what options might be appropriate to accommodate the student. Often, it may take very creative thinking on the part of the student, the instructor, and the DSS staff person to find accommodations that work in the distance learning environment. Chattanooga State is responsible for making course content accessible on the computer, but students should be aware that Chattanooga State is not responsible for installing computer hardware or software in the student’s home that it does not provide to any other student enrolled in a distance learning class. Students considering distance learning courses should review the technology requirements for a course to determine if they have the memory, speed, hardware, software, and audio/visual plug-ins necessary for completion of the on-line course. Distance learning is not an accommodation in and of itself. It is an alternative academic program to traditional courses, and will not be applied as a disability accommodation for programs at the college. |