From course creation to workplace training, the realm of online learning is vast. Diversity among learners is a factor all instructors need to think about, but special consideration should be given to individuals with disabilities. Ensuring equal access to educational content for all learners is paramount.

However, making courses accessible is not just about providing a mobile-friendly course. Designing accessible online courses allows all learners to have the opportunity to access and learn from the course content. 

This article delves into topics that all course designers need to address in order to ensure accessibility in online courses. 

Choose the right platform

A suitable learning management system (LMS) lays the foundation for accessibility. Most LMS platforms prioritize accessibility features, offering benefits such as:

• Consistent, clear layouts
• Easy navigation
• Responsive design across various devices
• Multiple content formats for multimodal learning 

Blended learning is also a great solution for course creators seeking to increase accessibility, since not all learners are able to attend in-person instruction. Plus, instructors can offer different types of training materials, like print and digital. 

Use inclusive and clear language

What we say matters. Employing inclusive language fosters an environment where all learners feel acknowledged and respected. 

Inclusive language refers to communication that avoids expressions or terms that could exclude or offend certain groups of people. It aims to create an inclusive and respectful environment by using language that acknowledges and respects the diversity of individuals and communities. 

Descriptive language substitutes like “select” and “review” should replace ambiguous phrases like “click here.” Gender-neutral terms (“server” instead of “waiter/waitress”) and people-first language (“person with a disability” instead of “disabled person”): these efforts go a long way toward enhancing inclusivity and promoting a welcoming learning atmosphere.

Support keyboard and speech navigation 

Accessible online courses should cater to learners utilizing keyboard navigation, speech navigation, and screen readers. Content must be structured to facilitate seamless navigation through forms, menus, and buttons, ensuring an equitable learning experience for all. 

Test this yourself by hitting Tab on your keyboard and see where your cursor goes. Your course content, menu, forms, and buttons should all be easily accessible. If they are not, you may have to change your theme or content layout. 

Break up course content

To design an accessible course, consider learners who benefit from shorter bursts of information. Break up course content in a way that helps learners with comprehension. Here’s how: 

• Segment course content into digestible chunks through microlearning. This learning approach allows you to organize content into mini lessons so learners are not overwhelmed with new concepts. 
• Use clear headings for content hierarchy. Headings should organize content so it is more readable, so use descriptive headings for the content that follows. 
• Emphasize text and important concepts by using bold and italic where appropriate. 
• Break up long paragraphs into shorter paragraphs or lists. 
• Add images, videos, or graphics to your course content.  

Add more contrast to your design

Balanced contrast in design ensures content accessibility. From a design perspective, contrast refers to the noticeable difference between elements. Contrast involves variations in color, texture, size, shape, or other visual properties to create emphasis, hierarchy, and visual interest. 

Contrast helps to distinguish between different elements, making them stand out and enhancing readability, accessibility, and overall visual appeal. 

To increase accessibility in your online courses, avoid overcrowding layouts. Opt for neutral or inviting color schemes to accommodate diverse visual needs, but be careful about using color to teach concepts; these resources can be difficult for learners with color blindness to understand. 

Steer clear of flashing designs or graphics that may cause discomfort or sensory overload, and put ample white space around text and elements. This white space will help learners focus and be able to select links they intend to click. 

Use subtitles and transcripts

Video content is hot right now, and many learners can benefit from its use in online courses. However, not all learners will learn best from video alone. Incorporating subtitles in video content and transcripts for audio materials enhances accessibility for learners, particularly those with hearing impairments. 

Even if you’re only producing audio, providing accurate closed captioning and transcripts ensures that all learners can engage with course content effectively. Some platforms will caption automatically, but try uploading your own closed captioning for the most accuracy. 

Include alt text on images

Alternative text serves as a crucial accessibility feature. Alt text is a textual representation of an image within HTML code. It serves as a substitute for images when they cannot be displayed, either due to technical issues or because the user has a screen reader, which converts text into speech or braille. 

Alt text provides context and information about the content or function of the image, enabling users who cannot see the image to understand its purpose or relevance. However, avoid keyword stuffing your alt text; you need to ensure alt text seamlessly integrates with page content, which can contribute to a more inclusive learning environment.

Best practices for alt text include:

• Add alt text to every image unless it’s decorative. 
• Using page context to write the alt text. 
• Excluding “image of” or “photo of.”
• Keep it short. 

Get feedback

Creating avenues for learner feedback fosters continuous improvement in course accessibility and increases trust between learners and instructors. Provide ways for learners to quickly access support and reach out to you when they need help or discover problems with accessibility. 

Address accessibility concerns promptly to demonstrate to learners that you have a solid commitment to providing an inclusive learning experience.

Design a course for all learners 

Accessibility in online course design is not merely a legal requirement; it is a moral imperative. By implementing these guidelines and exploring more accessibility resources, course creators can contribute to a more inclusive educational landscape, empowering learners of all abilities to succeed. 

As mentioned, a robust learning management system like LearnDash LMS can help course creators develop effective and accessible learning experiences. Try the LearnDash demo to see how an LMS can help you make your course more accessible.