Why students with disabilities choose online higher education? A case study in the Open University of Catalonia

Abstract

The expansion of distance and online education in the last two decades has opened the possibility of making access to higher education universal around the world, attracting a wide diversity of learners. Learners with disabilities are among this population. These students prefer online learning because of the convenience in terms of flexibility, accessibility, affordability, and comfort. In this paper, we present the preliminary results of a study conducted at the Open University of Catalonia with students with different types of disabilities. Our results claim for more understanding of these learners' expectations and needs in order to promote their inclusion.