What government, agencies, and organizations can do to improve access to computers for postsecondary students with disabilities: recommendations based on Canadian empirical data.
Computer, information and adaptive computer technologies have the potential to enhance the lives of people with disabilities but also to deny them equality of access to education, jobs, and community life. In a series of three studies we investigated the computer technology needs and concerns of approximately 800 postsecondary students with disabilities. Our data show that the vast majority of college and university students, regardless of sex, age, programme of study, or type of disability, can and do use computer technologies to help them succeed. A variety of government and non-governmental organizations provide computer supports for postsecondary students with disabilities. Here, we describe key aspects of our findings concerning what these organizations can do to improve the availability of technologies to students with disabilities in postsecondary education and formulate recommendations based on an environmental barriers perspective on disability. Although the research is focused on the experiences of Canadians, many of the findings and recommendations are relevant for other countries.
Fichten
C S
CS
Department of Psychology, Dawson College, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. md71@musica.mcgill.ca
Barile
M
M
Asuncion
J V
JV
Fossey
M E
ME
D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D003201:Computers; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006076:Government; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012656:Self-Help Devices