To reveal in impact and lived experience of the transition to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic for university students with disabilities.

Student Accessibility Services distributed an initial survey to all students registered for their services throughout September 2020 (September 8th, 2020).
Students were asked about:

a. the impact of transitioning online on the students’ course, education and lives;
b. the forms of instructions and assessments that facilitated or impeded their education;
c. the unique accommodation needs for online learning and how these accommodations were disclosed and implemented;
d. services provided through Student Accessibility Services; and
e. their willingness to be contacted to discuss their experiences in more depth.

We also conducted follow-up interviews and in-depth surveys to receive the lived experience of the transition to online education during the pandemic. Students were also provided with an opportunity to share recommendations about their unique needs to faculty, Student Accessibility Services and the university as a whole.

A total of 302 students responded to the survey (222 completed more than demographic information).

We interviewed eleven students, and 34 students completed the follow-up survey to further understand the challenges, advantages, and recommendations related to online education for students with disabilities. The students provided recommendations for administration, instructors, and disabilities services as we transition into our new normal in a ‘post’-pandemic world of education.

We hope to have these results summarized for the Fall 2023.

Principal Investigator

Dr. Laura Mullins, Assistant Faculty, Department of Applied Disability Studies, Brock University

In partnership with Student Accessibility Services

Research Ethics

This study has been reviewed and received ethics clearance through Brock University’s Research Ethics Board [file # 20-035 MULLINS].

If you have any questions about these studies or your rights as a research participant, please contact the Brock University Research Ethics Officer (905.688.5550 x 3035, reb@brocku.ca).

If you have questions about the research, please contact Dr. Laura Mullins at lmullins@brocku.ca.

If you have questions about accommodations and disability supports, please contact Student Accessibility Services https://brocku.ca/health-wellness-accessibility/sas/contact-us/

If you have questions about designing your online course, please contact the Centre for Pedagogical Innovation https://brocku.ca/pedagogical-innovation/.