Rachel Kruzel, head of the Augsburg College CLASS Office’s Groves Technology Lab, recently wrote an article for HigherEd Tech Decisions that discusses how Augsburg is embracing technologies that help students with learning disabilities. In the article, “How Augsburg College Helps Students Disabilities Take Better Notes with Technology,” Kruzel states that Augsburg has begun offering a software package that helps students record and organize audio of their lectures in lieu of traditional written notes, which can be difficult for students with dyslexia or ADHD.
Kruzel shares that about 5 percent of students at Augsburg have some type of learning disability. She hopes that this technology will help students perform at a level that more accurately reflects their capacity.
“These students’ level of intelligence may be above average, but because they struggle with the traditional college notetaking format, they may fail to reach their potential,” she writes.
Since 1999, Augsburg Students from the Health and Physical Education Department (HPE) hold an annual one-day event for children with disabilities called “Sports Extravaganza.” Children with both mental and physical disabilities get the unique chance to use Augsburg’s dome to participate in activities and games, including: parachute, cage ball, soccer, beach ball volleyball, relay races jump rope, and dance.
October is the month devoted to educating the public about learning and physical disabilities. Augsburg’s Center for Learning and Adaptive Student Services (CLASS) serves as the primary service provider on campus for individuals with disabilities, with programs and accommodations for students with learning, attentional, psychiatric or other cognitive disabilities.