AccessSTEM

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), also referred to as Autism, is a developmental disability characterized by impairments in social interactions and communication, as well as a pattern of repetitive or obsessive behaviors and interests. Symptoms can vary from mild to severe. There is no known cure for ASD, but interventions have been identified that can reduce behavioral symptoms and improve academic, employment, and social outcomes. The cause of ASD is not known; however, evidence suggests that both genetic factors and environmental triggers may play roles.

The Online Learning Consortium, previously known as the Sloan Consortium (Sloan-C), is a consortium of institutions and organizations committed to quality online education. The Online Learning Consortium shares effective practices in order to promote quality education that is accessible and affordable for anyone, anywhere, at any time. The Online Learning Consortium recognizes practices with the following characteristics:

Background

My name is Allison and I'm a chemistry major. I am hard of hearing and wear hearing aids in both ears.

Background

My name is Roberto and I am a premedical student majoring in biology. I have a severe-to-profound bilateral hearing loss and use hearing aids and speech reading (watching the movement of a person's lips) to maximize my communication skills. I have some knowledge of American Sign Language but not enough to effectively use a sign language interpreter as an accommodation.

Background

My name is Hien and I am a fourth-year medical student preparing for rotations. I have a heart condition that requires a pacemaker and I cannot be within 20 feet of microwaves, but my rotation sites may put me in proximity to medical microwaves.

Access Issue

Completing the rotation may expose me to unsafe levels of microwaves. I want to be safe, but I also want to be able to keep my disability confidential while maintaining the widest possible selection of rotation sites.

Yes. There are many tutorials on how to create accessible websites. A few popular free web-based tutorials are listed below.

• Techniques and Concepts, WebAIM
• 508 Web Accessibility, Jim Thatcher

Background

I am a computer science major, and my name is Sean. I have a psychiatric condition called Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). I was first diagnosed in grade school by a child psychiatrist. I also have some social phobias and physical tics, but the OCD is what most affects my academic work. I take medication that controls some of my symptoms.

The Gill Advanced Learning Laboratory (GALL) at Lamar University provides a unique science learning environment for students with disabilities. It is funded in part by a grant from the National Science Foundation's Research in Disabilities Education (RDE) program.

Background

My name is Lisa. I am a full-time graduate student majoring in women's studies. I have a seizure disorder.

Access Issue

I began experiencing an increase in the frequency of my seizures as a result of the glare from the computer screens used in the computer lab. Therefore, I could not use the campus computers for assignments or research.

Disability-related issues can be easily integrated into many areas of study. The Center on Human Policy, Law, and Disability Studies (CHPLDS) website, contains a vast selection of materials and resources to help educators integrate disability studies into social studies, history, literature, and related subjects.