Lynch, Sinead
ORCID: 0009-0001-1983-1782, Brunton, James and Farrell, Orna
ORCID: 0000-0001-9519-2380
(2025)
Experiences of disabled students in online education: a systematic review.
Distance Education
.
ISSN 0158-7919
Abstract
A mixed-methods systematic review of the academic and psychosocial experiences and requirements of disabled students in online
higher education was conducted to understand what is known
and identify potential areas for improvement. Five databases were
searched for full-text, peer-reviewed journal articles published in
English between 2017 and 2023, focusing on students enrolled in
dedicated online education courses in higher education. Preliminary
searches resulted in 1229 studies, of which 14 were extracted for
thematic synthesis. Five themes were found: (1) The importance of
staff-student relationships; (2) Flexibility makes it easier; (3)
Challenges related to disability; (4) A need for adaptable support
services; (5) Isolation and stigma in peer relationships. Findings
showed that while the flexibility of studying online offers an additional access route into higher education for disabled students,
gaps in academic support and adaptable accommodations add
additional barriers, while fear of stigma from peers creates feelings
of loneliness and exclusion.
Metadata
| Item Type: | Article (Published) |
|---|---|
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Accessibility; disabled students; higher education; inclusion; online learning; students with disabilities |
| Subjects: | Social Sciences > Education Social Sciences > Teaching |
| DCU Faculties and Centres: | DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science and Health DCU Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science and Health > School of Psychology DCU Faculties and Schools > Institute of Education DCU Faculties and Schools > Institute of Education > School of Policy & Practice |
| Publisher: | Routledge |
| Official URL: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01587... |
| Copyright Information: | Authors |
| ID Code: | 31645 |
| Deposited On: | 14 Oct 2025 13:40 by Gordon Kennedy . Last Modified 14 Oct 2025 13:40 |
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