Data is everywhere, but not always accessible to everyone. Conventional data visualization tools and guidelines often assume a standard user, neglecting the neurodivergent needs of individuals with cognitive disabilities. These disabilities can create significant obstacles in data-driven reasoning, including difficulties in processing complex…

Despite the pervasive use of wireless technology in today's society, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have limited access to technology. Technology is underutilized by this population for a variety of reasons including cost-related barriers and cognitive inaccessibility of devices and software applications. The lack of…

This qualitative exploratory case study looked at the challenges of perceived accessibility that needed to be addressed for visually impaired students to succeed in degree completion within the online learning environment. The biopsychosocial model of disability examined how human and environmental factors (social, biological, and psychological)…

Novice programmers need well-designed instruction and assessment informed by research and critical perspectives to conquer the historical challenges associated with completing introductory computer programming courses successfully. These issues include high dropout and failure rates, the struggle to acquire and retain basic programming knowledge,…

In 2001 under No Child Left Behind, states were required to create an alternate assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities using alternate achievement standards. In 2003, all states had created an alternate assessment. All fifty states independently developed, implemented, and revised their alternate assessments. By 2014,…

Transition-age Hispanic youth with disabilities have been noted to underutilize vocational rehabilitation (VR) services (Castruita Rios et al., in press), and have lower successful employment outcomes than compared to their White peers (e.g., Sima et al., 2015). The inclusion criteria of participants for this study consisted of the following…

With the increasing number of students enrolling in distance education, there is a need to consider the accessibility of course materials in online learning environments. Four major groups of disabilities: mobility, auditory, visual, and cognitive are explored as they relate to their implementation into instructional design and their impact on…

Teaching children to read has been one of the primary functions of education systems throughout history; however, not all children are adequately prepared for reading success. Students with disabilities, particularly those identified with Specific Learning Disabilities, demonstrate lower rates of reading proficiency than their nondisabled peers.…

Services offered through Part C of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act improve cognitive, behavioral, and physical skills for children less than 3 years old at risk for or with a disability. However, there are low enrollment rates into services. Various Lead Agencies oversee services through Part C, and states determine…

When teachers or technology coordinators publish a website, they are providing a product for a diverse group of people. That's why website design should follow accessibility guidelines. Websites should be accessible to those with visual, hearing, movement, cognitive, and speech disabilities. Good design means greater accessibility for all. This…

The introduction, in the United Kingdom, of the Special Education Needs and Disabilities Act (SENDA) published and approved in 2001, has removed the exemptions given to educational institutions by the Disabilities Discrimination Act (DDA) of 1995. This applies to learning web sites and materials that must now undergo "reasonable…

These proceedings contain the papers of the 12th International Conference on Cognition and Exploratory Learning in the Digital Age (CELDA 2015), October 24-26, 2015, which has been organized by the International Association for Development of the Information Society (IADIS), co-organized by Maynooth University, Ireland, and endorsed by the…

Discusses an evaluation of WebCT (Web Course Tools) in practice at University of New South Wales (Australia) to assess the accessibility of WebCT for people with sensory, cognitive, and physical disabilities. Topics include evaluation methodology; learner-centered courseware design model; course evaluation by students; staff perceptions; and…

Focuses on the major HTML coding techniques used when making Web pages and online courses accessible to students with disabilities. Examples of accessibility features provided are not difficult for most Web authors to incorporate into their Web pages. With a few adaptations, Web page developers can make online information accessible to students…

Web sites today should meet Web accessibility guidelines to comply with a host of regulations and guidelines for people with disabilities. Recent estimates state that 20% of the U.S. population has a disability and that 10% of the on-line population is disabled. Our aging population also experiences similar issues. This session will help you…