"Distance
Learning" is a useful educational option for students with
severe disabilities, who may be able to take courses or earn
undergraduate and graduate degrees without ever leaving their
homes. These sites help students and professionals find distance
learning courses and learn more about them. We encourage visitors
to investigate potential distance learning programs carefully
to ensure that they are accredited by recognized authorities.
This typical
about.com guide links to hundreds of resources on dozens of topics
relating to distance learning. Though a bit difficult to navigate,
the subject panel is a good place to start. For example, the
section on Accrediting
Associations provides links to regional associations which
are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Geared for
distance education providers, this page from the Texas Technology
Access Project provides links to web-based resources about making
distance education more accessible to people with disabilities.
This excellent
manual from the California Community Colleges covers legal requirements,
basic requirements for providing access, access guidelines for
specific modes of distance education instructional delivery,
print media, audio conferencing, video conferencing/video transmission,
instructional software, and more.
The DETC
is a nonprofit educational association that "serves as a
clearinghouse of information about the distance study/correspondence
field and sponsors a nationally recognized accrediting agency
called the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and
Training Council." Its member institutions offer more than
500 different academic, vocational, and avocational courses by
mail or by telecommunications. Its web site includes a directory
of accredited institutions, an index to subjects taught, and
a guide to degree programs, as well as extensive information
about distance education and distance educatioin resources.
Based at
the University of Wisconsin, this comprehensive guide to distance
education includes general information, news, research, technology,
and more.
DLN is "the
dissemination project for the Star Schools Program, a federally
funded distance education program which offers instructional
modules, enrichment activities and courses in science, mathematics,
foreign languages, workplace skills, high school completion and
adult literacy programs." Its web site includes current
research, news items, a searchable database to find current information
on the courses and resources available from the Star Schools
projects or peruse its library of information on distance learning
topics.
Just in
its formative stages, this page features links to resources relating
to distance and electronic learning for students with disabilities.
Topics range from an online slide presentation on distance learning
and disabilities to an article on using streaming audio and video
to enhance distance learning.
This special
issue of Information Technology and Disabilities is all
about distance learning! Articles include "Universal Design
of Distance Learning," "A Survey of Online Instructional
Issues and Strategies for Postsecondary Students with Learning
Disabilities," "The Design of Accessible Distance Education
Environments That Use Collaborative Learning," "Distance
Learning and Disability: A View from the Instructor's Side of
the Virtual Lectern," and "Issues in Preparing Visually
Disabled Instructors to Teach Online: A Case Study."
Peterson's
is widely known for its printed and electronic college directories.
This is Peterson's online database of accredited distance learning
courses, which you can search by name or degree category.
R1edu.org
is a gateway to distance learning opportunities offered by twenty-eight
of North America's major research universities. You can search
courses offered by R1edu.org universities by subject area, type
of program, and institution.
This association
and its web site are geared primarily for professionals in the
distance learning field. The "Links to Programs" page
is still under development.