Inclusive online learning for students with disabilities in higher education: A needs assessment

Elif Tuğçe Gezer; Hasan Şerif Baltacı; Funda Kelahmetoğlu Tunçer; Derya Sahin Ipek; Begüm Erçakır Kozan; Cennet Engin

doi:10.31704/ijocis.1672888

Inclusive online learning for students with disabilities in higher education: A needs assessment

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of online education, highlighting its essential role in learning continuity. However, insufficient integration of information and communication technology (ICT) skills into pre-service and in-service teacher training programs left many educators underprepared for the transition to online teaching. This lack of readiness, coupled with insufficient attention to inclusive education, created a snowball effect during the pandemic, affecting overburdened teachers and students with disabilities. To this end, this study aims to better understand the unique needs of preparatory school instructors and inform the development of targeted training programs that will prepare instructors to address the challenges of online instruction with a focus on students with disabilities. Using a qualitative descriptive research design, we conducted individual, in-depth, semi-structured interviews with two key informants and six academics who were instructors at the Foreign Language School of two foundation universities in Ankara. Based on the data collected, we explored the instructors' perceptions and needs utilizing thematic analysis across three main themes: conceptions of inclusive education, identifying students' disability status and needs, and adjustments in teaching and learning. Finally, implications and suggestions regarding higher education policies and professional development of instructors and future research are discussed.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This research received no funding.

Project Number

N/A

Ethical Statement

The authors declare compliance with the Personal Data Protection Law and copyright regulations concerning intellectual and artistic works. All personal data used in this study have been processed in accordance with legal and ethical guidelines, with the written consent of its participants. This study was approved by the Human Subjects Ethics Committee at the Middle East Technical University with the 266-ODTU-2021 protocol number on 23.06.2021.

Thanks

We would like to express our gratitude to the universities and all the preparatory school instructors who took part in this project voluntarily.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Instructional Design, Teacher Education and Professional Development of Educators, Higher Education Studies (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Elif Tuğçe Gezer ^*
0000-0001-5158-6919
Luxembourg

Hasan Şerif Baltacı
0000-0003-3199-7838
Türkiye

Funda Kelahmetoğlu Tunçer
0000-0001-9578-1855
Türkiye

Derya Sahin Ipek
0009-0005-9929-1884
Hungary

Begüm Erçakır Kozan
0009-0008-1453-5790
Türkiye

Cennet Engin
0000-0003-1561-5182
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

June 11, 2026

Publication Date

June 30, 2026

Submission Date

April 9, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 13, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 16 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31704/ijocis.1672888

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA37MT96YP

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Gezer, E. T., Baltacı, H. Ş., Kelahmetoğlu Tunçer, F., Sahin Ipek, D., Erçakır Kozan, B., & Engin, C. (2026). Inclusive online learning for students with disabilities in higher education: A needs assessment. International Journal of Curriculum and Instructional Studies, 16(1), 176-205. https://doi.org/10.31704/ijocis.1672888

AMA

1.Gezer ET, Baltacı HŞ, Kelahmetoğlu Tunçer F, Sahin Ipek D, Erçakır Kozan B, Engin C. Inclusive online learning for students with disabilities in higher education: A needs assessment. IJOCIS. 2026;16(1):176-205. doi:10.31704/ijocis.1672888

Chicago

Gezer, Elif Tuğçe, Hasan Şerif Baltacı, Funda Kelahmetoğlu Tunçer, Derya Sahin Ipek, Begüm Erçakır Kozan, and Cennet Engin. 2026. “Inclusive Online Learning for Students With Disabilities in Higher Education: A Needs Assessment”. International Journal of Curriculum and Instructional Studies 16 (1): 176-205. https://doi.org/10.31704/ijocis.1672888.

EndNote

Gezer ET, Baltacı HŞ, Kelahmetoğlu Tunçer F, Sahin Ipek D, Erçakır Kozan B, Engin C (June 1, 2026) Inclusive online learning for students with disabilities in higher education: A needs assessment. International Journal of Curriculum and Instructional Studies 16 1 176–205.

IEEE

[1]E. T. Gezer, H. Ş. Baltacı, F. Kelahmetoğlu Tunçer, D. Sahin Ipek, B. Erçakır Kozan, and C. Engin, “Inclusive online learning for students with disabilities in higher education: A needs assessment”, IJOCIS, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 176–205, June 2026, doi: 10.31704/ijocis.1672888.

ISNAD

Gezer, Elif Tuğçe - Baltacı, Hasan Şerif - Kelahmetoğlu Tunçer, Funda - Sahin Ipek, Derya - Erçakır Kozan, Begüm - Engin, Cennet. “Inclusive Online Learning for Students With Disabilities in Higher Education: A Needs Assessment”. International Journal of Curriculum and Instructional Studies 16/1 (June 1, 2026): 176-205. https://doi.org/10.31704/ijocis.1672888.

JAMA

1.Gezer ET, Baltacı HŞ, Kelahmetoğlu Tunçer F, Sahin Ipek D, Erçakır Kozan B, Engin C. Inclusive online learning for students with disabilities in higher education: A needs assessment. IJOCIS. 2026;16:176–205.

MLA

Gezer, Elif Tuğçe, et al. “Inclusive Online Learning for Students With Disabilities in Higher Education: A Needs Assessment”. International Journal of Curriculum and Instructional Studies, vol. 16, no. 1, June 2026, pp. 176-05, doi:10.31704/ijocis.1672888.

Vancouver

1.Elif Tuğçe Gezer, Hasan Şerif Baltacı, Funda Kelahmetoğlu Tunçer, Derya Sahin Ipek, Begüm Erçakır Kozan, Cennet Engin. Inclusive online learning for students with disabilities in higher education: A needs assessment. IJOCIS. 2026 Jun. 1;16(1):176-205. doi:10.31704/ijocis.1672888