T7 - Accessibility Through Technology

A Pocketful of Tools: Mobile Solutions to Bring to the Internship

General use technology is widely accepted in the post-secondary classroom. What happens when students move into a clinical setting to fulfill their internship requirements? Students with disabilities may require the accessibility features of PCs and mobile devices while other students view them as productivity tools. Concerns arise regarding privacy, distraction, and contamination of mobile devices with biohazards. How can educators support students in utilizing PCs and mobile technologies while assuring their responsible use during internships?

Presenters: Alice Havel, Susie Wileman, Catherine Fichten and Mary Jorgensen

Making PowerPoint, Excel, Google Docs and Teams More Accessible to Your Students

Over 20% of students have a disability. Many use screen readers that employ the accessibility features in general use computer technologies. We will showcase how to make technologies faculty use to prepare their teaching materials more accessible to their students. To do so we will demonstrate accessibility features in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Google Docs and TEAMS. A “take away” resource of videos and text files wil be provided.

Presenters: Catherine Fichten, Roberta Thomson, Alice Havel and Susie Wileman

The Impact of Marginalization and Intersectionality on Post-Secondary Students with Disabilities’ Use of Assistive Technology: A Scoping Review of the Literature

This project investigated the impact of privilege, marginalization, and intersectionality on assistive technology (AT) use among post-secondary students with disabilities. The research highlighted that while AT can reinforce marginalization, thoughtful implementation can enhance independence. Intersecting factors such as specific disabilities, socio-economic status, and context (e.g., STEM) create complex challenges. Emphasizing Universal Design for Learning in online education and AT development is crucial for equitable access.

Presenters: David Pickup, Evgueni Borokhovski, Richard F. Schmid, Christine Vo and Fichten Catherine