If you’re designing an eLearning course, it’s important to consider the accessibility of your product or service. Accessible eLearning allows people with different abilities and disabilities to have equal access to information and learning opportunities as those without disabilities do. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that not everyone experiences disabilities in the same way or at the same time, so don’t assume that one solution will work for everyone who has experienced accessibility issues.
What is Accessibility?
When we design accessible online courses, we are consciously working to create an inclusive learning experience for all students. This includes those with disabilities, different cultural backgrounds, and diverse learning styles. By paying attention to accessibility features, we can ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to learn. Here are some key things to keep in mind when designing accessible eLearning experiences.
Cognitive, Physical and Motor Ability
When we design accessible online courses, we take into account the different ways our learners interact with and process course content. This includes students with cognitive, physical, and motor disabilities. For example, a student who is hard of hearing may need captioning or transcripts of audio content. A student who is blind may need audio descriptions of visual content. And a student with limited fine motor skills may need to be able to use a keyboard or other assistive device to navigate the course. By designing with all learners in mind, we create more inclusive learning experiences for everyone.
Common Learning Disabilities
According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, approximately 1 in 5 people have a learning disability. That means that when designing accessible online courses, we need to take into account a wide range of disabilities that can impact how someone learns. Some common learning disabilities include dyslexia, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder. By making our courses accessible, we can ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to learn.
Blindness and Visual Impairment
When most people think about blindness and visual impairment, they think about the lack of sight. However, there are different types and degrees of blindness and visual impairment, which can impact a person's ability to learn in different ways. For example, someone who is totally blind may need Braille materials or an audio version of their course, while someone with low vision may need larger print or a screen reader. By making your eLearning content accessible, you can ensure that everyone can learn and succeed, regardless of their disability.
Deafness and Hearing Impairment
According to the World Health Organization, 466 million people worldwide have a disabling hearing loss. That’s about 6.5% of the world’s population! Of those 466 million people, 34 million are children. And of those 34 million children, half live in low- or middle-income countries.
Mobility-Impaired Learners
According to the U.S. Department of Education, mobility-impaired refers to students who have difficulty moving from one place to another, or who use wheelchairs or other devices for mobility. These students may face challenges in accessing traditional classroom materials and participating in group activities. However, with some creativity and planning, educators can create inclusive learning experiences for all students—including those with mobility impairments.
Intellectual Disability
According to the World Health Organization, intellectual disability is a disability characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior, which covers a range of everyday social and practical skills. This means that people with intellectual disabilities have difficulty learning new things, processing information, and communicating.
There are different types of accessible eLearning experiences. Some common features include text-to-speech, closed captioning, and audio description. These features make it possible for people with intellectual disabilities to access the content and participate in the learning experience.
Many people with speech disorders have difficulty communicating with others. This can be frustrating and make it hard to participate in everyday activities. However, technology has made it possible for people with speech disorders to communicate more easily. There are now many tools available that can help people with speech disorders to improve their communication skills.
When most people think of accessible eLearning, they think of making sure that people with disabilities can access and use digital content and tools. But accessible eLearning is about more than just compliance—it’s about making sure that all learners can have an inclusive learning experience.
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