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Beyond the Disability Resource Centre: Providing Equitable Access to Learning for all Students

Presented at 1:45 pm in Colorado I-J on Thursday, November 20, 2025.

#41123

Speaker(s)

  • Laura Barker, Miss, Genio
  • Delmar Williams, , Genio

Session Details

  • Length of Session: 1-hr
  • Format: Lecture
  • Expertise Level: Beginner
  • Type of session: General Conference

Summary

This presentation showcases a successful model for broadening access to AT to all students to create a more inclusive and equitable learning environment. The higher education landscape is shifting, resulting in increased demand for academic support services. Institutions are seeing a surge in non-traditional students, including adult learners returning to education and first generation students. These trends underscore the need to adopt more inclusive and equitable approaches.

Abstract

This presentation will explore how one college has made an assistive technology (AT) software available to all students to create a more inclusive and equitable learning environment.

The presentation will focus on the journey of advocating for and implementing a campus-wide licence for Glean, a note taking accommodation software. The presenter will outline a case study undertaken with an institution, sharing their experience of navigating the challenges and celebrating the successes of this process.

The higher education landscape has shifted dramatically in recent years. The pandemic has exacerbated mental health and executive function challenges in students, leading to increased demand for academic support services. At the same time, the profile of the student population is evolving. Institutions are seeing a surge in non-traditional students - for example, the institution this presentation focuses on saw: a 36% increase in the Latinx population a huge increase in adult learners returning to education and an influx of dual-enrollment students

These trends underscore the need to adopt more inclusive and equitable approaches - and this presentation addresses these challenges by showcasing a successful model for broadening access to AT. We will review one institution's experience of implementing a pilot study for Glean with students with disabilities, which yielded positive results in student outcomes. This pilot data, coupled with the focus of the college's strategic plan, provided a compelling case for expanding access to AT for all students.

The presenter will draw on data from this pilot study to demonstrate the positive impact of the software on student outcomes at the institution. Attendees will have time in the session to discuss strategies for broadening access to AT at their own institutions.

Keypoints

  1. Campus-wide AT can align with and support institutional goals.
  2. All students deserve equitable access to learning, including those who may not qualify for disability services
  3. Discuss strategies for collaborating with key stakeholders, including faculty, DEI directors, and IT staff.

Disability Areas

Cognitive/Learning

Topic Areas

Assistive Technology, Uncategorized

Speaker Bio(s)

Laura Barker

Glean’s personal study app supports learners of all abilities to learn independently and effectively.

Trusted by more than 750 institutions globally, Glean empowers 100,000s of learners to reduce stress, boost confidence, and improve grades.

And it works: 95% of users believe Glean helped them be a better learner.

Delmar Williams