Universal design in online and higher education through ICT

Some people go as far as to claim that computer is a gift of god for people with disability. As a quadriplegic person paralyzed neck down as a result of sudden accident and yet who manages to conduct competitive research in earth science, there may not be a better example of this statement than I. In addition, the recent advances in open online education (such as OCW, MOOC, edX) offer new opportunities for people with disability. One of the important challenges for those with disability, sometimes more than the handicap itself, is that they are often shut out from the general public education, and in the end, it is this lack of education that can be a limiting factor in one's life.

Online education can be one of many tools for non-disabled students, and while its effectiveness can be debated among educators and those alike, it can be the only means of accessing information for people with severe disability. Thus it should be explored and investigated further. In Korea, we are developing new online technology and inclusive contents for people with disability, especially in the areas of STEM education for college and precollege level learning. We believe that this is a step towards so-called universal design in higher education and independent living. Furthermore, it is expected that our innovative approach will not only help people with disability but also reach out to a wider community of general mass, including those that are willing to take extra effort to master college-level online courses, improve their scientific skills and expand their knowledge base, which will in turn lead to new job opportunities in this knowledge-based economy and society.