MAT Program: Update
Contributed by Joseph Beckett, Program Coordinator for MAT
As the Maryland Accessible Textbook program enters the next the calendar year, its focus, in addition to textbook conversion and accessibility,
will turn to technology and consultation to college and university staff
interested in methods of applying technology and technological accommodations
for student success.
According to the latest data provided by the National
Center for Education Statistics, of undergraduate students self-reporting a
disability, 11% reported having a learning disability. Enrollment statistics
also listed by the NCES found that 20.4 million students were expected to
attend an American college or university in the fall of 2017, meaning more than
200,000 students entering college have a learning disability.[i] Unfortunately, only 17% of
college students with learning disabilities take advantage of learning
assistance resources at their school.
In the fiscal year 2017, 14,892 undergraduate students and
1,154 graduate students were registered with their institutions' disability
services office as students with disabilities. These students represent 3.5% of
all students enrolled in the fiscal year 2017. [ii] This number is steadily
increasing as more students are seeking necessary accommodations.
Common
Learning Disabilities
- Dyslexia - Connected to reading abilities
- Dyscalculia - Associated with difficulties in math
- Dysgraphia - Resulting in specific learning disabilities in writing
- Auditory Processing Deficit - Characterized by a struggle to understand and use auditory information
- Visual Processing Deficit - A weakness in taking on and using visual information
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder - Characterized by high degrees of distraction or hyperactivity
Aforementioned, The Maryland Accessible Textbook program will remain focused on providing services to students with print disabilities but will research and review technology that demonstrates possible multiple applications. We are excited by what we may discover!
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