Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) is the largest open university in Asia, located in Islamabad, Pakistan. It provides multi-disciplinary education from basic to doctoral levels using a distance education model. AIOU enrolls over 1.3 million students annually and offers programs through regional campuses, coordinating offices, study centers, and examinations centers across Pakistan. The document discusses using mobile learning to increase access and opportunities for AIOU's special needs students, such as those who are visually impaired, hearing impaired, physically handicapped, or have learning disabilities. A survey of AIOU graduates and current special needs students found that mobile learning could help overcome barriers to education if adapted for disabilities and if

1. Zahid Majeed Faculty of Education Allama Iqbal Open University Islamabad, Pakistan. [email_address]

8. ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN 24 th AAOU Conference 26-28 October 2010, Ha Noi

9. FACULTIES Faculty of Social Science and Humanities Faculty of Basic and Applied Science ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN 24 th AAOU Conference 26-28 October 2010, Ha Noi Commerce Economic Management Sciences Population Study Iqbaliyat Islamic Studies Pakistan Studies Social Sciences Urdu English Mass Communication Library and Information Sciences Agricultural Sciences Basic Sciences Mathematics Statistics and Computer Sciences Technical and Vocational Education Women's Education Continuing and Remedial Education

21. Findings Statement N Min Max Mean Standard Deviation Variance 1 Mobile phone important to me for email, text, voice 100 3 5 4.60 .670 .499 2 and computer education/learning is costly 100 1 5 3.46 1.182 1.396 3 Mobile learning is socially acceptable 100 1 5 2.12 1.350 1.822 4 Mobile phone and computers are modified as per my disability 100 1 5 3.40 1.069 1.143 5 Computer applications are known to me 100 1 5 4.24 0.960 0.921 6 AIOU digital services are disabled friendly 100 2 5 3.32 1.019 1.038 7 Bandwidth Services at home are convenient 100 1 5 2.92 1.158 1.340 8 Computer Softwares are easily available 100 1 5 3.32 1.491 2.222 9 Computer Softwares appropriate to access AIOU’s digital material 100 2 5 4.04 .989 0.978 10 Skilled Tutors/Instructors are available 100 1 5 3.80 1.178 1.388 11 Digital library facility is available from AIOU 100 1 5 4.14 1.340 1.796 12 Delivery of digital material in alternative formats 100 1 5 2.58 1.311 1.718 13 General accessibility to AIOU Website (Webpage, Headings, Paragraphs, Tables, Forms, Links, Text, Alternative text, Graphs) 100 1 5 2.80 1.143 1.306 14 Department Special Education provided proper Feedback 100 1 5 3.30 1.374 1.888 15 Disabled students are ready for mobile and computer assisted learning 100 1 5 3.72 1.089 1.185 16 Self Study will be possible by the M-Learning 100 1 5 2.58 1.311 1.717 17 M-Learning opens avenues of higher education to disabled people 100 1 5 3.80 1.177 1.387

25. Thanks for Giving me Your Ears ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN 24 th AAOU Conference 26-28 October 2010, Ha Noi