Students with disabilities gain an advocate

by Lynda Hills

Hadian

Shohreh Hadian is hoping to help UVic operate with its eyes closed. By concentrating on visually impaired students, she researched how universities offer Web-based courses and identified important barriers to accessibility.

"Online learning is attractive to disabled students," Hadian says. "They benefit from this environment because they can take courses from home at their own pace."

Hadian, who graduates this month with a master's degree in computer science, has found that one of the key components to online education is accessibility.

"If you don't have access to something, you can't use it," she says. "For example, if you have to wait a long time for things like pictures to download, or if you have recurring problems with the server, then that hinders the learning process."

Hadian chose this focus for her work because she had several visually impaired students in her class while teaching computer science at Vancouver Community College. She experienced first-hand the challenges these students face in a conventional classroom setting.

Visually impaired students typically use a software package called JAWS that reads a computer screen out loud. If the learning tools such as WebCT, the browser and the adaptive technology are not integrated properly, it can hinder the learning process. The study also looked at the instructor's perspective. For an adaptive program to work effectively, she discovered, it has to be done at the basic design and development level.

For example, three years ago the main UVic website used to be "flashy," she says. It now has less graphics and more text, allowing JAWS to read it easier. "Now, while pleasing to the eye, it's also more accessible,"she says.

Born in Iran, Hadian studied in Georgia and lived in Vancouver before moving to Victoria five years ago with her family. She's currently an instructor in the computer science department at Camosun College. While studying for her degree, she taught full-time and looked after her young family.

"It was an exciting and fruitful time, but very long, trying and, at times, challenging," she says. "I persevered because I picked a topic that was close to my heart."

Hadian found her motivation by concentrating on the disabled students she believed she could help. "I realized I couldn't walk away from it, I had to get the information out into the community for the sake of my students with a visual impairment."