Empowering Every Learner: Strategies for Creating Accessible Online Courses

The education industry has undergone remarkable transformations in recent years. The disruptions caused by the pandemic, the rapid (and often ill-prepared) shift to online education, and the meteoric rise of AI have all contributed to a more technology-focused approach to teaching and learning—for better or worse. However, one undeniably positive outcome of these changes has been the growing emphasis on accessibility in e-learning.

As more education moves online, the emphasis on accessible online courses has shifted from being a nice-to-have feature in a course description to a cornerstone of ethical course design. 

The World Health Organization estimates that 16% of people worldwide live with disabilities that may hinder their ability to engage with educational content as intended. When you factor in those facing economic barriers, the need for accessible education grows even further. These considerations raise a critical and increasingly urgent question: How can we ensure our courses are accessible to everyone who needs them?

The Foundations of Accessibility

Creating an accessible online course doesn’t mean every learner will have the exact same experience, but it does mean every learner can meaningfully engage with the content.

Thankfully, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has established comprehensive Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), now in version 2.2, which serve as a vital resource for inclusive design. While these guidelines are not specific to online learning, they seamlessly translate into this space and can be summarized with the mnemonic POUR: courses must be Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust.

According to eLearning.com, for learning materials to be perceivable, they “must be presented to at least one of the senses”, but for some learners, this could require more than one sensory cue. Operability may sometimes require multiple modes of interaction: understanding that some students will engage with the material in ways other than clicking buttons or navigating using a mouse. 

To be understandable, course material should be clear, concise, and avoid unnecessary complexity or jargon. Robustness refers to the technical reliability of the course, ensuring seamless and broad-based engagement.

The strategies outlined below go a long way to making sure that each of the four POUR criteria are met — and online education is available and meaningful to every student that wants to learn.

Creating Accessible Online Courses: Addressing the Barriers

Before diving into course design, it’s essential to ask two key questions:

1. What barriers might my learners face?
2. How can I design my course to prevent those barriers from arising?

Let’s consider the diverse needs of learners who benefit from accessible content:

• Individuals who are hard of hearing or have auditory processing disabilities
• Learners with limited vision, color blindness, dyslexia, or dyscalculia
• Those with neurodiverse conditions such as ADHD or autism spectrum disorder
• Students managing medical conditions like epilepsy or PTSD
  Learners facing economic or technological constraints

Given the range of learners relying on accessible design, accessibility must be contemplated and woven into the course development process from the outset, rather than being treated as an afterthought.

Four Practical Steps to Enhance Accessibility

An accessible online course begins with a strong foundation: clear structure, text-based alternatives, compatibility with assistive technologies, and intuitive navigation. Let’s break this down further:

1. Text-Based Alternatives

Creating text-based alternatives for audio, video, and visual elements is non-negotiable. This means:

• Adding accurate closed captions and transcripts for videos and podcasts.
• Including alt text and detailed visual descriptions for graphics.
• Structuring tables for clarity and simplicity.
• Avoiding color combinations that hinder readability.

These adjustments not only support learners with disabilities but also enhance the experience for students using assistive technologies.

2. Thoughtful Content Formatting

Formatting matters, especially for learners with attention or processing challenges. Use appropriate font sizes and styles to improve readability, and consider tools like Bionic Reading to help learners with ADHD or dyslexia.

However, keep in mind that such tools may not work for everyone, so offering downloadable versions of content in multiple formats— thereby ensuring screen reader compatibility—is critical.

3. Mindful Presentation Choices

While aesthetics can enhance a course’s appeal, accessibility must take precedence over stylistic choices. For example:

• Avoid flashing text or images to prevent harm to learners with epilepsy.
• Use color thoughtfully to accommodate color-blind learners.
• Clearly label sensitive material to give learners the choice of how and when to engage.

4. Designing for Economic Accessibility

Economic barriers often prevent students from accessing online education. By developing mobile-friendly and downloadable courses, you can broaden access, while transcripts and visual descriptions allow learners to engage with materials even when internet connectivity is limited.

Building a Culture of Accessibility

At Construct Education, we believe that one day everyone will have the opportunity to attain a meaningful education through superior online programs. That’s why accessibility is not just a standard but a priority, and every course we deliver reflects our team’s depth of expertise in accessible design.

All our course design specialists undergo accessibility training, and we rely on comprehensive checklists built around WCAG guidelines to ensure our courses not only meet but exceed the required standards. This approach ensures that every aspect of a course is designed with inclusion in mind.