Accessibility in Online Courses: An Autoethnography of a Blind Student and Her Instructor

• In Event: Accessibility and Customization in Online Learning

Abstract

Online education has recently gained more significant attention because it makes it possible to keep our students engaged in learning in the non-contact lifestyle caused by the COVID-19 pandemic situation. In this unexpected, challenging era, accessibility to online courses has become crucial for providing all students with equal opportunities in learning. This autoethnography study shares the experiences of a blind student who took online courses in a master’s program and the instructor who had the student in his classes at a university in the Midwest area of the United States. This study will contribute to the online learning researcher’s and practitioner’s community by providing an authentic anecdote for consideration regarding how to improve the accessibility of online courses.

Authors

• JaeHwan Byun, Wichita State University

• Ashley Elizabeth Neybert, Wichita State University