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Adult Learners with Disabilities a New Imperative for Adult Educators
Author(s) -
Bois David A.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
new horizons in adult education and human resource development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1939-4225
DOI - 10.1002/nha3.10092
Subject(s) - recreation , parallels , civil rights , inclusion (mineral) , diversity (politics) , psychology , face (sociological concept) , unemployment , public relations , adult education , pedagogy , economic growth , political science , sociology , social psychology , law , mechanical engineering , social science , economics , engineering
The passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act and growing global awareness of the issues that individuals with disabilities face in pursuing education, obtaining housing and employment, and accessing transportation, recreation, and social services has created a new opportunity for adult educators to extend the historic role of adult education in promoting diversity and inclusion. Parallels between the racial and gender civil rights movements and the current disability civil rights movement provide new challenges for adult learners with disabilities to access post‐secondary education and training opportunities. Confronting well‐ingrained biases about people with disabilities and breaking down attitudinal barriers can be rewarding for adult educators and students alike and can make significant strides in attacking social problems such as homelessness, unemployment, and criminaljustice abuses. Increased knowledge about people with disabilities when coupled with reasonable accommodations and the use of technology can create learning environments that are conducive to academic success for learners with disabilities.