2020.05.27

Support and academic accommodation for 2020 Spring Semester web-based classes

Support and academic accommodation for 2020 Spring Semester web-based classes

April 30, 2020

Disability Resource Center Ritsumeikan University

 

 

   Following the resumption of web-based classes from May 7, the DRC has contacted many faculty members regarding support and accommodations through documented requests from individual students with disabilities. Through this DRC webpage, we would like to provide detailed examples of accommodations for students with disabilities in web-based classes as general guidelines for faculty members, as well as currently available DRC services. Please refer to the following guidelines based on the relevant situation.

   Educational barriers that students with disabilities experience mainly arise due to restrictions on information accessibility, including the following factors:

1) difficulty in seeing (visual information processing),

2) difficulty in hearing (auditory information processing), and

3) difficulty in managing things on time (delay in the areas of input and output of information processing).

   The following lists of examples of suggested accommodation will continue to be revised in accordance with the changing situation, including feedback from faculty members, the state of students with disabilities, and the introduction of novel assistive technologies.

1) Difficulty in seeing (visual information processing)

Related disabilities: Visual Impairment/Developmental Disorders (Learning Disorders)
Main difficulties: The texts / charts of the presented teaching materials (resume, etc.) are not able to be seen at all, hard to see, or hard to understand by only seeing.

Suggested examples of support/accommodations:

  ・Support and/or arrangement requested to faculty members:

  ・Prepare enlargeable materials (digital data)

  ・Add auditory information such as narration or notes, which can be converted speech on a PC, to teaching materials such as PowerPoint

  ・Avoid the use of demonstratives (this and that) and explain the location of information by using concrete terms such as page numbers during recorded or live streaming video lectures.

  ★Support and/or arrangement that the DRC can provide:

  ・Prepare class materials (e.g., class contents) converted to text data in advance.

  *Please remember that it takes longer depending on the volume of materials and whether figures and charts are included. Requests need to be submitted at least a week in advance.

 

2) Difficulty in hearing (Auditory information processing)
Related disabilities: Hearing Impairment / Developmental Disorders
Main difficulties: Audio teaching materials (e.g., videos, live streaming for web-based lectures, etc.) are not able to be heard at all, hard to be heard, or are hard to understand by only listening. 


Suggested examples of support/accommodations:

  ・Support and/or arrangement requested to faculty members:

  ・Use the subtitle function if it is available when you use video (VOD) or live streaming for web-based classes.

  ・Record lectures and group discussions so that students can view them at a later date.

  ・Provide text-based class content or scenarios in advance for video or live streaming lectures.

  ・Present visual information (books, academic papers, etc.) that explains web-based classes and video materials.

  ・Speak slowly and clearly. Remove mask to show the speaker's mouth (video (VOD) presentation and live streaming lectures).

  ・Use chat and bulletin board functions to exchange opinions, and questions and answers.

  ★Support and/or arrangement that the DRC can provide:

  ・Provide transcription of video (conversion of audio information into text)
  *Please note that this process takes a certain amount of time. Pease make a request to the DRC at least 2 weeks prior to the use of video or live streaming. Also, please take into consideration and allow a certain extension of the deadline for assignment submission as this process takes time.

 

3) Difficulty in managing things on time (Delay in the areas of input and output of information processing)

Related disabilities: Hearing Impairment/Physical Disability/Developmental and Mental Disorders/Other

Suggested examples of support/accommodations (mainly requested from faculty members)

  ・Some students take longer to access, take notes on, and comprehend the presented information, as well as to complete the assignments on time.
  →Before starting the class, post the course outline and/or materials on manaba+R.

  →Please respond flexibly to the extension of deadlines.

  →Please adjust the methods of conducting web-based tests and/or quizzes flexibly.

  ・Some students overlook or miss important information or instructions. 

  →Please post class materials and assignments online for more than three days/ Please respond to any individual requests for providing related information.

  ・Some students are not good at knowing when to ask questions or to consult.

  Please accept individual consultation requests based on student needs.

  ・Some students have difficulty managing tasks, deadlines, etc.

  Please accept individual consultation requests based on student needs.

  ・Some students find it difficult to leave in the middle of live streaming classes when they feel sick or need to go to the bathroom, and then become mentally stressed out.

  Please accept individual consultation requests based on student needs.