View in EDS

Experiences of Disabled Students in Online Education: A Systematic Review

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Experiences of Disabled Students in Online Education: A Systematic Review
Language: English
Authors: Sinead Lynch (ORCID 0009-0001-1983-1782), James Brunton (ORCID 0000-0001-7223-0524), Orna Farrell (ORCID 0000-0001-9519-2380)
Source: Distance Education. 2026 47(1):70-90.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 21
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Information Analyses
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Students with Disabilities, Electronic Learning, Online Courses, Higher Education, Academic Achievement, Student Experience, Interpersonal Relationship, College Students, Educational Research, Psychological Patterns, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: Turkey, United Kingdom, Australia, Spain, Canada, United States
DOI: 10.1080/01587919.2025.2562802
ISSN: 0158-7919
1475-0198
Abstract: A mixed-methods systematic review of the academic and psychosocial experiences and requirements of disabled students in online higher education was conducted to understand what is known and identify potential areas for improvement. Five databases were searched for full-text, peer-reviewed journal articles published in English between 2017 and 2023, focusing on students enrolled in dedicated online education courses in higher education. Preliminary searches resulted in 1229 studies, of which 14 were extracted for thematic synthesis. Five themes were found: (1) The importance of staff-student relationships; (2) Flexibility makes it easier; (3) Challenges related to disability; (4) A need for adaptable support services; (5) Isolation and stigma in peer relationships. Findings showed that while the flexibility of studying online offers an additional access route into higher education for disabled students, gaps in academic support and adaptable accommodations add additional barriers, while fear of stigma from peers creates feelings of loneliness and exclusion.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1502751
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1502751
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Experiences of Disabled Students in Online Education: A Systematic Review
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sinead+Lynch%22">Sinead Lynch</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1983-1782">0009-0001-1983-1782</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22James+Brunton%22">James Brunton</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7223-0524">0000-0001-7223-0524</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Orna+Farrell%22">Orna Farrell</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9519-2380">0000-0001-9519-2380</externalLink>)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Distance+Education%22"><i>Distance Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 47(1):70-90.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 21
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Information Analyses
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Students+with+Disabilities%22">Students with Disabilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electronic+Learning%22">Electronic Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Online+Courses%22">Online Courses</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Achievement%22">Academic Achievement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Experience%22">Student Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interpersonal+Relationship%22">Interpersonal Relationship</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Research%22">Educational Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+Patterns%22">Psychological Patterns</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Turkey%22">Turkey</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom%22">United Kingdom</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Australia%22">Australia</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Spain%22">Spain</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Canada%22">Canada</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+States%22">United States</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1080/01587919.2025.2562802
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0158-7919<br />1475-0198
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: A mixed-methods systematic review of the academic and psychosocial experiences and requirements of disabled students in online higher education was conducted to understand what is known and identify potential areas for improvement. Five databases were searched for full-text, peer-reviewed journal articles published in English between 2017 and 2023, focusing on students enrolled in dedicated online education courses in higher education. Preliminary searches resulted in 1229 studies, of which 14 were extracted for thematic synthesis. Five themes were found: (1) The importance of staff-student relationships; (2) Flexibility makes it easier; (3) Challenges related to disability; (4) A need for adaptable support services; (5) Isolation and stigma in peer relationships. Findings showed that while the flexibility of studying online offers an additional access route into higher education for disabled students, gaps in academic support and adaptable accommodations add additional barriers, while fear of stigma from peers creates feelings of loneliness and exclusion.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1502751
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1502751
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1080/01587919.2025.2562802
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 21
        StartPage: 70
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Students with Disabilities
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Electronic Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Online Courses
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Higher Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Academic Achievement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Experience
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Interpersonal Relationship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Psychological Patterns
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Turkey
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: United Kingdom
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Australia
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Spain
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Canada
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: United States
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Experiences of Disabled Students in Online Education: A Systematic Review
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Sinead Lynch
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: James Brunton
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Orna Farrell
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 01
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 0158-7919
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1475-0198
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 47
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Distance Education
              Type: main
ResultId 1