When my health took a drastic turn six weeks into the semester during undergrad, I had to move off-campus and could not attend in-person classes regularly due to ongoing medical issues. Even though I already had a hybrid schedule with a mix of in-person and virtual classes, I ended up switching to remote learning mid-semester and had to finish the college semester virtually, which involved a lot of planning and communication with my professors. While some classes definitely went more smoothly than others, I was privileged to finish the semester remotely and even earned A+ grades in some of my classes. Here is a list of options for attending college classes remotely and finishing the semester virtually for chronically ill students and their professors.
Factors that led to a positive remote learning experience
Before I get into how to arrange for remote learning, I thought it would be helpful to list out characteristics of my classes that made finishing the semester remotely possible, especially since remote learning experiences can vary depending on the student’s major, individual classes/professors, and level of university support for remote learning in general. Some of the factors that made it possible for me to switch to remote learning mid-semester included:
- For the computational and data sciences major, all of my assignments are completed on a computer, and many of my classes took place in computer labs.
- All of the graded materials for my classes were posted on the course website, including homework, quizzes, tests, and in-class exercises. Everything was also submitted online via the course website.
- Many of my classes had 100% online sections with additional lecture materials designed for remote learning already.
- I was already comfortable with taking online classes and didn’t have to spend time learning how to access materials.
Another thing that helped was that my classmates and professors were very understanding and no one ever made negative comments about the fact I was participating in class remotely or questioned my reasons for doing so. I acknowledge this is a privilege and am glad that my university has a strong culture of inclusion and accessibility for all learners.
Related links
- Tips For Taking Online Classes As An On-Campus Student
- How I Use Blackboard With Low Vision
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- Ten Tech Skills Every College Student Needs For Virtual Classes
Arranging remote learning accommodations with Disability Services
Since my first semester of college, I’ve had a Disability Services file for visual impairment (low vision) and a secondary neurological condition. Some of the accommodations I was approved for include the ability to record lectures or request copies of in-class materials as digital formats, as well as options for flexible attendance in the event I cannot attend class in-person. There wasn’t any guidance on how to implement the flexible attendance accommodation, but in my experience my professors have always been willing to work with me to find a way to attend class, as it shows that I am being proactive about staying on track with my classes instead of finding a way to catch up on missing work later.
Having a Disability Services file helped reduce the need for supplying medical documentation and “proving” my disability to professors, as all of this documentation was already on file with the university. The accommodations themselves were recommended either by documentation supplied by my doctors/specialists (primary care doctor, low vision ophthalmologist, neurologist) or by my Disability Services case manager after reviewing said documentation and were approved for all of my classes.
Related links
- How To Create A Disability Services File
- Disability and Classroom Accommodations For POTS
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- Seven Unexpected Disability Accommodations For Virtual Learning
Arranging remote learning accommodations with professors
I had always been prepared for the possibility of having to attend classes remotely since I was living with an unpredictable medical condition. I would be upfront with telling my professors each semester that there was a chance I might need to attend some in-person lectures remotely. All of my professors were fine with this but required me to be proactive about what I would need from them, as well as share what solutions would work best for me; they weren’t going to be the ones making a list of options for me to participate in class, rather they would be choosing options from a list that I gave them. Some students may also require additional departmental approval for remote learning accommodations, but I didn’t have to initiate this as the department head was one of my professors.
After I was discharged from a short hospital stay, I contacted each of my professors via email to let them know I would be attending class remotely for at least a month, and shared a short list of options for how I could attend class. I go into more detail on each option for the rest of this post, but I provided each professor with 2-3 options and asked which one they thought would work best.
Related links
- How To Explain Disability Accommodations To Professors
- How I Organize Emails In College With Low Vision
- Learning to Self-Advocate
Attending class part-time in person/hybrid schedule
For classes that meet multiple times a week or when some in-person participation is possible, students can work out an arrangement with their professor to attend class in-person one day a week or every other week, and use another remote learning accommodation at other times. Students can also make arrangements to attend presentations or other important classes in-person as appropriate.
When I first started remote learning accommodations, I tried to attend class one day a week in-person. For one of my classes, I switched to attending an alternative section of the same class so that I only had to travel to campus one day a week with professor permission. Ultimately, I didn’t continue with this option because it was too fatiguing, but some students may be able to make this work.
Related links
- College Scheduling Hacks For Students With Chronic Illness
- How To Schedule College Classes
- How I Use The Coursicle Class Scheduling App
Attending class via phone/videoconferencing, professor device
For lecture classes where students are expected to take notes and ask questions, one option is to attend class via phone call or videoconferencing/teleconferencing, where the professor either shares their screen with the student or provides a copy of lecture materials so they can follow along. If the student has a question, they can type it in the chat box or send it to the professor via email. The student is not visible to the rest of the class unless they are giving a presentation or would otherwise be standing in front of the class.
I already had used screensharing tools for some of my classes to see the board as a low vision accommodation, so this option worked well for lecture-based classes where the professor was mostly using PowerPoint or browser windows to present information. It helps that my professors who used this option also largely stood in one place while talking and weren’t walking back and forth. Some professors used a separate device for screensharing, while others initiated a call from the same computer they used for lectures using software like Zoom or FaceTime. As part of my existing disability accommodations, I had access to copies of PowerPoints and other lecture materials.
Related links
- Tips For Screensharing With Low Vision
- How To Make Things On The Board Easier To See
- How To Create Accessible PowerPoints
Attending class via phone/videoconferencing, student device
For lecture classes where students are expected to participate more frequently or that involve lots of writing on a whiteboard, one option is to have the student attend class via phone call or teleconferencing/videoconferencing using some form of telepresence device. Two-way audio and video are used to stream the class, and the student is able to ask questions and participate in class by raising their hand or using an alternative strategy. The student is audible and visible to the rest of the class in the same way as if they were sitting at their desk.
Since my brother attended the same university as me and had classes in neighboring buildings, I asked him to drop off an iPod Touch with a charger and PopSocket stand, which he would set up for my classes so I could see my professor/the board and attend class live, which he would then pick up later. Other options would have been to request a telepresence robot, tablet, or computer to attend class, but I preferred using my own device. The department manager would sometimes pick up the iPod Touch after class and hold it for my brother if his class ran over, or one of my on-campus friends would pick-up/deliver it if needed.
Related links
Watching recordings of class asynchronously
Instead of attending live classes, professors provide students with copies of class recordings that they can play back at their own pace, with the option to ask questions during office hours or at another pre-agreed time. These recordings may be posted on the course website or directly sent to the student.
Since one of my professors already recorded lectures for their online classes, I was granted access to these recordings in lieu of attending class live/synchronously. Being able to replay lectures was very helpful when taking notes or working through assignments, and I would access the recordings on the class website. When I used this accommodation in another semester, the professor created a password-protected folder that I could access, but was unavailable to other students.
Related links
- Recording Video Lectures For Visually Impaired Students
- How I Take Notes During Video Lectures With Low Vision
Completing assignments on the course website
All graded assignments and materials are posted on the course website, which students are expected to download, complete, and then upload for a grade. Alternatively, the student may have a shared folder with their professor for accessing digital copies of materials.
Just like the other students, I was expected to upload assignments and complete discussion boards by the same deadlines that the professor set. I already had remote proctoring accommodations set up for quizzes and tests, though most of my classes were project-based so I didn’t use them very often.
Related links
Filing for an incomplete or extension to complete coursework
Students who are otherwise passing a class but cannot complete coursework due to factors out of their control can request an Incomplete (IN) or Incomplete Extension (IX) grade from their professor, which gives them additional time to complete coursework, typically providing an extension into the next semester (excluding summers). If the work is not completed by the date set by the student/professor, the grade automatically converts to an F.
I had to file for Incomplete grades in some of my classes due to ongoing medical issues, and my professors filed this on my behalf with the registrar- this decision was typically made a week or two before the end of the semester. I communicated with my professors via email to get a list of the assignments I would need to complete in order to finish each course, and submitted everything as I finished it prior to the deadline for incomplete work. Some professors had me upload assignments to the course website, while others had me access assignments from a shared folder. Once everything was graded, they would need submit a grade change form to the registrar to remove the incomplete grade and replace it with the grade I earned for the class.
Related links
Completing coursework on an accelerated schedule
For students that are further into the semester or that have to have coursework finished by a specific date (e.g. if they are having surgery), another option is to complete coursework on an accelerated schedule that is approved by the professor. This can be arranged in multiple ways, including having the instructor open all course modules for self-paced work, having the student complete multiple modules per week, creating a specialized online section for the student, or having the student access a shared folder.
During a different semester, I had to have surgery and wanted to have all of my assignments completed prior to this surgery date. I let my professors know what my surgery date was, and asked if I could work ahead so that everything would be finished beforehand so I didn’t have to take an incomplete for the class. I still completed all of the modules/assignments in order, and was not exempt from any assignments, though some of my professors exempted me from replying to discussion board posts or modified group activities so I could complete them on my own.
Related links
- Low Vision Assistive Technology For Discussion Board Posts
- The Best Study Tips For Visually Impaired Students
Supplementing course instruction with tutoring
For students who are working ahead or catching up on coursework, additional low-cost or free tutoring resources may be available that can be used remotely. These can include services offered by the student’s department, private tutors, or services available through the college library, Disability Services, or through learning centers. Undergraduate students who are blind or that have low vision can also use the free National Homework Hotline to meet with tutors that are well-versed in visual impairment and assistive technology access.
Related links
- Brainfuse Online Tutoring and Low Vision Accessibility
- National Homework Hotline: Free Tutoring For Blind and Visually Impaired Students
- Choosing A Tutor For Low Vision Students
- The Best Study Tips For Visually Impaired Students
- Online College Library Resources For Digital Access
Summary of options for attending college classes remotely for students with chronic illness
- Before beginning remote learning, ensure that accommodations are properly filed with the Office of Disability Services and the student’s department that allow them to participate in remote learning.
- Professors are more receptive to students that are proactive; when requesting accommodations, provide professors with a list of potential options for attending their class and ask which one they think will be best.
- If some in-person learning is possible, consider attending class part-time in person, whether this is once a week or every other week for a hybrid approach.
- For professors that deliver lectures via computer, consider using videoconferencing or screen sharing tools to follow along with lectures on a classroom device.
- For classes that require significant student participation, students can attend class with a telepresence device that offers two-way audio and video for student participation.
- If live attendance is not possible, request recordings of class lectures or access to materials used in online sections.
- Submit assignments via the course website or create a shared folder with the professor to submit graded materials.
- If the student needs additional time beyond the semester to complete assignments, the professor can file for an Incomplete (IN) or Incomplete Extension (IX) grade, which requires students to submit coursework in the following semester or by an agreed-upon date.
- For students that need to finish coursework by a specific date, some professors may allow students to complete coursework on an accelerated schedule.
- Many colleges and universities offer low-cost or free tutoring services that can be used to support students taking classes remotely.
Published March 23, 2020. Updated August 2024