[Athen] Adding recording functionality for visually impaired students

[Karlen Communications]

Adam:

 

Why is the student reluctant to use your suggestion? It seems reasonable given the effects the accommodation would have on the LMS ecosystem. Just curious as to whether this is an issue of accommodation or preference.

 

Cheers, Karen

 

From: athen-list [mailto:athen-list-bounces at mailman13.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Adam Lipkin
Sent: January 27, 2016 9:00 AM
To: Access Technology Higher Education Network <athen-list at u.washington.edu>
Subject: [Athen] Adding recording functionality for visually impaired students

 

Hi, folks --

 

I'm looking for some guidance based on a request from our school's distance learning program:

 

They have a visually impaired distance learning student, and the school has asked that we accommodate them by adding the ability for the student to record her responses via audio on the discussion boards in Moodle.

 

I've got a few concerns about this as a reasonable accommodation, but want to make sure that I'm treating this fairly.

 

First. the discussion boards in Moodle use a standard text interface, so if the students is already able to enter text, they should be able to do so here. Has anyone heard of situations in which text entry for visually impaired students has been an issue (particularly in DL courses), and if audio was the accommodation?

 

Second, adding new functionality to Moodle is not a simple or easy thing, and requires a reasonable large amount of time and resources to test and ensure that the features don't break other elements (it's not impossible, but since all courses here use the system, adding or changing new functionality mid-semester affects the entire campus). So asking us to do it mid-semester isn't a "reasonable" accommodation unless there's a demonstrated burden.

 

I've also asked if just using a recording tool locally and uploading the MP3 file to the forum would work, but they seem reluctant.

 

Have you heard of any situation similar to this? Anyone have any good advice or guidance (or examples of how this has been dealt with elsewhere) here?

 

Thanks!

 

Adam

 

-- 

Adam Lipkin
Associate Director for Academic Technology

alipkin at brandeis.edu <mailto:alipkin at brandeis.edu> 
781-736-4795
Brandeis University Library and Technology Services
Mailstop 045
Waltham, MA 02454

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