Despite decades of advocacy and federal mandates, many college students with disabilities say classroom technology still isn’t accessible for them.
A national survey of 501 college students, conducted by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin, found that more than 40 percent identified as having a condition that may qualify as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Yet, some reported that the digital tools used in their classes remain inaccessible.
The findings, published in a new report by the National Disability Center for Student Success, point to a growing disconnect between campus-wide accessibility efforts and the tools individual instructors choose to use. While assistive technologies like screen readers and captioning software are increasingly available at the institutional level, students say many course-specific platforms are not compatible or accessible.
“We’re seeing a gap between what’s offered and what’s actually usable in the classroom,” said one of the lead researchers. “That gap is affecting learning outcomes.”
The report urges colleges to close that gap by involving students with disabilities in tech decisions and ensuring accessibility is built into every classroom tool—not added after the fact.
