eLearningbyDana

Accessibility

Design learning experiences so people with different abilities can access, navigate, understand, and engage with the content.

Accessibility

Design so more people can get through the door.

Accessible learning removes unnecessary barriers so people can find, understand, navigate, and interact with the experience.

Accessibility works best when it shapes design decisions from the beginning — not when it is added as a final QA task.

Make Information Easy to See and Understand

Visual accessibility is more than choosing high-contrast colors. The entire screen should help learners understand what matters and where to look next.

Example screen
Clear visual hierarchy
Headings, readable text, useful spacing, and consistent placement help learners scan and understand content.
Continue
1
Use readable contrast

Make sure important information remains distinguishable from the background.

2
Don't rely on color alone

Pair color with labels, icons, patterns, or other visual cues.

3
Build clear hierarchy

Use headings, spacing, scale, and placement to reveal relationships.

Give the Content a Meaningful Structure

Visual organization should also exist underneath the surface so assistive technology can interpret the information correctly.

H1 Course Topic
H2 Section
H3 Supporting Topic
H2 Next Section
Use meaningful headings

Create a logical hierarchy instead of choosing headings only for appearance.

Label elements clearly

Buttons, links, controls, and images should communicate their purpose.

Keep reading order logical

The sequence should make sense even when the visual layout is not available.

Good structure helps both assistive technology and every learner trying to make sense of the page.

Make Navigation Predictable and Keyboard Friendly

Learners should be able to move through the experience, understand where focus is, and activate controls without depending on a mouse.

Tab
Move

Navigate through interactive elements in a logical order.

Focus
See

Make the currently selected element visually obvious.

Enter
Activate

Let learners select buttons and controls without a mouse.

Next
Continue

Keep navigation consistent and predictable throughout.

If a learner can't reach or operate something, the content inside it isn't truly accessible.

Provide More Than One Way to Access Media

Images, audio, and video can strengthen learning — as long as the important information isn't available through only one sensory channel.

Images

Provide useful alternative text when an image communicates information. Decorative images should not add unnecessary noise.

Describe the meaning
Video

Include accurate captions and make sure essential visual information is available to learners who cannot see it.

Caption + describe
Audio

Provide a transcript or equivalent text so the information does not depend on hearing.

Provide an alternative

Design Interactions People Can Actually Use

An interaction isn't accessible simply because the information technically exists somewhere on the screen.

Risk
Click the green circle

Meaning depends on color, mouse use, and visual location.

Better
View Customer Details

The control is clearly labeled, keyboard accessible, and has a visible focus state.

Ask whether learners can understand, reach, operate, and complete every interaction.

Test Accessibility Before You Call It Done

Automated checks can catch some issues, but accessibility also requires human review and realistic testing.

Review visually Contrast, spacing, hierarchy, zoom, and readable content.
Test with a keyboard Reach controls, follow focus, activate interactions, and navigate logically.
Review with assistive technology Check labels, reading order, headings, alternative text, and announcements.
Fix and retest Accessibility testing is part of iteration, not a one-time pass.
Design → Test Build accessibility into the process, then verify that it works.
Accessibility is a design practice, a development practice, and a quality practice.

Tell Me About Your Learning Project

Better courses start with better questions.

Thanks for sharing where you are in the process. Answer a few quick questions so I can better understand your project, timeline, and what kind of support may help you move forward.