Towards another kind of borderlessness: online students with disabilities

ABSTRACT

Online learning is crucial to success for higher education institutions. Whilst the existing literature predominantly focused on its economic advantages, we focused on its inclusivity. At an online learning unit of a UK university, the number of students with disabilities (SWD) is three times higher than the national average. Having a degree makes significant financial and psychological differences in the lives of SWD. Though recent literature focused on inclusivity of online learning, an appraisal of first-hand experience of SWD studying online is a missing perspective. Accordingly, we aimed to explore their experience, using thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews involving ten SWD. Three themes emerged: (1) having control over studies as an advantage of online learning, (2) personal touch helps SWD’s online learning, and (3) challenges SWD experience with the social element of online learning. Our findings will help to develop the inclusivity of online learning to a new level.

KEYWORDS:

• Online learning
• disabilities
• sense of control
• personal touch
• social learning

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yasuhiro Kotera

Mr Yasuhiro Kotera is Academic Lead for Counselling and Psychotherapy and Chair of the research ethics committee at University of Derby Online Learning. His research areas include student mental health and academic motivation.

Vicky Cockerill

Mrs Vicky Cockerill is Senior Lecturer in Nursing at the University of Derby. Her specialities include learning disabilities, child and adolescent mental health, and cognitive behavioural therapy.

Pauline Green

Dr Pauline Green is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE and an Academic Lead for Social Work and Social Care at University of Derby Online Learning. Her research areas include emotional resilience and social work education.

Lucy Hutchinson

Mrs Lucy Hutchinson is Academic Lead for Education at University of Derby Online Learning. Her specialities include diversity and inclusivity of higher education.

Paula Shaw

Mrs Paula Shaw, a National Teaching Fellow, is Academic Manager for Inter-professional domain at University of Derby Online Learning. Her specialities include online pedagogies and open educational resources.

Nicholas Bowskill

Dr Nicholas Bowskill, a Senior Fellow of Advance HE, is a Lecturer in Education at University of Derby Online Learning. His research areas include group-based theories and practices for learning, teaching and using technology.

No funding was applied for in relation to this work. Authors declare no conflict of interest.

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and its supplementary materials.