Students with disabilities: Mobile device ownership, usage, and perspectives on mobile learning

The world has seen growth in the availability of mobile devices, and the use of these devices is gradually being implemented in the post-secondary environment. Unfortunately, although there is a growing body of data on the use of mobile devices by post-secondary students in general, there is little information available on the ownership and use of mobile devices by students with disabilities. This paper discusses a research project that focused on surveying post-secondary students with disabilities as to the mobile devices they currently own, how they use their mobile device(s), and their perspectives on using mobile devices for learning. The students surveyed owned one or more mobile devices that they used for many purposes including learning activities. Students also indicated that they had an interest in using devices for learning but having information on using mobile devices to overcome their learning challenges, appropriate apps, and the availability of supports are important.