Evaluating a Department Support Program for Accessibility (Practice Brief).

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Evaluating a Department Support Program for Accessibility (Practice Brief).
Authors: Karasewich, Tara A.1 13tk29@queensu.ca, Sonoda, Kaitlyn L.1 19kls@queensu.ca, Caplan, Nikki A.1, Norris, Meghan E.1 meghan.norris@queensu.ca
Source: Journal of Postsecondary Education & Disability. Winter2025, Vol. 38 Issue 4, p717-724. 8p.
Subject Terms: *Special needs students, *Disabilities, *Psychological adaptation, *Postsecondary education, Web accessibility, Accessible design
Abstract: Postsecondary education must be accessible to students with disabilities, but implementing timely and effective accommodations can be challenging for students, instructors, and institutions. In this paper, we describe a new system that was created to support students and instructors at the departmental level, in which instructors work with an accommodations assistant to make a priori decisions about the adjustments that can be made in their courses and students communicate about their needs for accommodation with the accommodations assistant. After this departmental system was used for one academic year, we evaluated its effectiveness through surveys sent to students and faculty. The feedback we received was positive. On average, the students in our sample said that the support system made it easier for them to navigate receiving accommodations. Similarly, the faculty in our sample said that the support system saved them significant time and effort. This departmental support system can thus be viewed as an effective first step in providing more support to both students and faculty and creating an accessible learning environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Journal of Postsecondary Education & Disability is the property of Association on Higher Education & Disability (AHEAD) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: ehh
DbLabel: Education Research Complete
An: 190430712
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Evaluating a Department Support Program for Accessibility (Practice Brief).
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Karasewich%2C+Tara+A%2E%22">Karasewich, Tara A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> 13tk29@queensu.ca</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sonoda%2C+Kaitlyn+L%2E%22">Sonoda, Kaitlyn L.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> 19kls@queensu.ca</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Caplan%2C+Nikki+A%2E%22">Caplan, Nikki A.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Norris%2C+Meghan+E%2E%22">Norris, Meghan E.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> meghan.norris@queensu.ca</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Postsecondary+Education+%26+Disability%22">Journal of Postsecondary Education & Disability</searchLink>. Winter2025, Vol. 38 Issue 4, p717-724. 8p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Special+needs+students%22">Special needs students</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Disabilities%22">Disabilities</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+adaptation%22">Psychological adaptation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Postsecondary+education%22">Postsecondary education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Web+accessibility%22">Web accessibility</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Accessible+design%22">Accessible design</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Postsecondary education must be accessible to students with disabilities, but implementing timely and effective accommodations can be challenging for students, instructors, and institutions. In this paper, we describe a new system that was created to support students and instructors at the departmental level, in which instructors work with an accommodations assistant to make a priori decisions about the adjustments that can be made in their courses and students communicate about their needs for accommodation with the accommodations assistant. After this departmental system was used for one academic year, we evaluated its effectiveness through surveys sent to students and faculty. The feedback we received was positive. On average, the students in our sample said that the support system made it easier for them to navigate receiving accommodations. Similarly, the faculty in our sample said that the support system saved them significant time and effort. This departmental support system can thus be viewed as an effective first step in providing more support to both students and faculty and creating an accessible learning environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Journal of Postsecondary Education & Disability is the property of Association on Higher Education & Disability (AHEAD) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=190430712
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 8
        StartPage: 717
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Special needs students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Disabilities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological adaptation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Postsecondary education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Web accessibility
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Accessible design
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Evaluating a Department Support Program for Accessibility (Practice Brief).
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Karasewich, Tara A.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Sonoda, Kaitlyn L.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Caplan, Nikki A.
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Norris, Meghan E.
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 12
              Text: Winter2025
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 23797762
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 38
            – Type: issue
              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Postsecondary Education & Disability
              Type: main
ResultId 1