2004 Summer Institute : Final Report

How do information Technologies create Opportunities and New Barriers for People with Disabilities?

Key barriers related to IT (disabilities services providers’ perspective)

• Students do not know how to use technology before attending post-secondary education
• Some students perceive assistive technology as too complex or taking too long to learn
• Assistive technology assessments are challenging to have done in a timely manner
• Some students face a very steep learning curve and time investment when learning how to use technology while attending school
• Some funding agents do not recognize the need to fund for assistive technology training
• Some institutions have great difficulty accessing assistive technology trainers
• In many institutions, assistive technology is only available in disability resource centres
• Many disability resource centres struggle to keep current with assistive technology
• Many students do not have assistive technology at home
• Many campuses do not have assistive technology in campus computing centres and libraries
• Many library information systems are inaccessible
• Many campus websites are inaccessible
• Some students have compatibility challenges with various assistive technology software
• Assistive technology is often delivered piecemeal and students are left to load the software themselves
• Most faculty are not aware of barriers their courseware sites can create
• Some instructors are reluctant to assist with the use of assistive technology
• Some institutions do not have a policy that requires accessibility of information technology
• Textbooks and CD not available in accessible format from publishers
• Converting print material to alternative format can be very time consuming
• Significant delays in obtaining and using technology create academic difficulties for students

Key opportunities related to IT (disabilities services providers’ perspective)

• Increased independence (less reliance on support services)
• Increased access to information
• Reduced waiting for access to course content
• Enhanced learning as course content is accessible

Successful initiatives

• Some disability resource centres have assistive technologists on staff
• Funding is available for assistive technology
• Funding agents starting to realize the need to invest in training
• Some students complete high school knowing how to use assistive technology
• Some students realize they need to meet with disability service providers in advance in order to have assistive technology in place before they start school
• Some institutions are training faculty in how to make courseware sites and classroom instruction accessible
• Some post-secondary institutional website designers are addressing accessibility

Changes that need to happen

• Train students in K-12 in how to use assistive technology
• Hire assistive technologist trainers in disability resource centres
• Fund training in assistive technology
• Train web designers in accessible web design
• Create textbooks and CDs in alternative format at the point of publication
• Require instructors to create accessible courseware sites and use universal instruction in the classroom
• Have campus computer centres and libraries with universally accessible computer stations
• Create institutional policies that require accessibility be addressed
• Decrease cost of assistive technology

Thanks to the following people for their perspectives on this topic:

• Robin Houston, Bow Valley College
• Tracy Inaba, Bow Valley College
• Marilyn Samuels, University of Calgary
• Bonnie Blankert, Mount Royal College
• Diana Brent, Calgary Board of Education