With so many variables to consider, how can we begin to paint a picture of the students we serve? One way to do this is by creating personas.

A persona is a profile of a fictional person, created using real-world statistics and observations that can represent a larger population of people. A group at World Campus has created personas that represent seven very different people who could be our students. Each of these personas includes a short bio, a list of some of their frustrations while taking online classes, and some of the things that work best for them.

Our Persona website has more information about these personas and about Universal Design for Learning as a strategy to plan for learner variability. The personas were based on qualitative and quantitative data.

World Campus Student Data

In general, according to Leah Zimmerman, director of Student Disability Resources, about 10% of the student population at all Penn State campuses seek accommodations. Of those, about 7% are approved for accommodations, but it's estimated that 20% of the student population has a disability, and that's a group anyone can join at anytime.

Over half (68%) of all Penn State students receiving accommodations have psychological or learning disorders or ADHD, and the number of students who seek formal accommodations are only a small fraction of all students with these conditions. Thus, you cannot assume that if a course does not have any students with formal accommodations enrolled in it, that there are not students with disabilities in that course.

The information in this pie chart is alternatively provided as a table. Select the menu icon in the chart, followed by View Data Table.

Penn State Student Disability Types 2022

These statistics do not include temporary disabilities, such as a broken arm or a concussion. People with these conditions can also receive accommodations as needed.

Updated October, 2024