It's likely that a notable percentage of your students will have some form of disability. If you are teaching within the United States, your students are protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Even if you are outside America, you should stay mindful about students who might have unique challenges.

According to a U.S. Census Bureau report titled Americans with Disabilities: 2010, nearly 60 million people—19 percent of the population of the United States —have some form of disability, with more than half of them indicating that it was severe. According to the United Nations, roughly 15 percent of the world's population—an estimated 1 billion people—lives with disabilities.

Given these significant statistics, when you integrate your curriculum into your edX course, it's important to remain mindful of students with special needs.