Accessibility: More Than a Checkbox
Ever taken a course that felt like it wasn’t made for you?
Maybe the font was too small to rea, the video had no captions, or the navigation was confusing. Or maybe you’ve had to squint at dark text on a dark background button. It might look sleek at first, but it’s almost impossible to read.
About Accessibility
Accessibility isn’t just about compliance. It’s about respect, inclusion, and creating effective learning for everyone.
For instructional designers, accessibility shouldn’t be an afterthought or a last-minute check. It needs to be part of the planning and course creation process, with timelines and production workflows adjusted to support it.
In this post, I’ll walk you through why accessibility matters, some common pitfalls to watch for (like poor color contrast), and how to design content that really works for all learners.
Why Accessibility Matters in Instructional Design
Inclusive design creates better learning.
When we design with accessibility in mind, we create learning experiences that are:
- Inclusive: They serve a wide range of learners, including people with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive disabilities.
- Effective: Accessible content is clearer and more user-friendly for everyone.
- Compliant: Meeting standards like WCAG, Section 508, or ADA is often required, not just recommended.
Have you ever started a course and instantly felt lost?
Maybe the text was too small, or the captions were too long, or went by too quickly. Perhaps the color contrast was not strong enough and you weren’t able to read the text. There are numerous examples of bad accessible design.
Now imagine experiencing that every time you try to learn something new. That’s the impact of inaccessible design, and it’s something we can prevent.
Common Accessibility Gaps in eLearning
Even well-designed courses can unintentionally create barriers for learners. And while closed captions are important, true accessibility involves far more such as clear visuals, navigable content, and inclusive interaction design.
Alt Text for Images
One of the most frequent issues is missing alternative text for images, which leaves screen reader users without context or meaning when visuals are used to convey key information. Videos often lack captions or transcripts, excluding those who are deaf or hard of hearing, and making it harder for all learners to revisit content in different formats.
Color Selections
Another common misstep is using color combinations with low contrast between text and background. While these designs might look sleek, they can make content difficult to read for learners with low vision or color blindness.
Interactive Options
Many interactions rely on functions such as drag-and-drop, sliders, hotspot interactions, and even motion path animations. These types of interactions may leave out anyone who navigates using a keyboard or assistive device. When course content doesn’t support keyboard navigation at all, it can be a complete roadblock for those users.
These aren’t just minor oversights or technical glitches. They can significantly impact a learner’s ability to engage with the content, and in many cases, stop them from accessing it altogether.
Not all content fits into the same microlearning format. Choose the most effective delivery method based on the learning objective:
You’ve just reviewed some of the most common accessibility gaps.
Now imagine facing one of them in your own course.
What Would You Do?
A Real-World Accessibility Challenge
Imagine you’re reviewing a new eLearning module on workplace safety. It’s visually polished, uses motion graphics to explain concepts, and includes a drag-and-drop activity to reinforce decision-making.
But then a team member tests it with a screen reader and finds major issues:
- The drag-and-drop can’t be used with a keyboard
- The motion graphics have no descriptions or narration
- The color-coded feedback (green for correct, red for incorrect) has no text labels
And you’re only days away from launching.
What would you do?
Would you delay the release to fix the problems? Offer an alternative version? Partner with your developer to make it more inclusive?
Scenarios like this come up more often than you might think. And how you respond can define whether you’re checking a box or creating a truly accessible learning experience.
How to Design Accessible Learning Experiences
Step 1: Plan for Accessibility
Trying to fix accessibility problems after the fact is frustrating and often incomplete. Ask yourself:
- Will someone using a screen reader be able to access this content?
- Can all interactions be completed using just a keyboard?
- Are audio and visual elements also presented in text form?
Some tools that support accessible design include Articulate Rise, Storyline (with proper settings), Adobe Captivate, and Lectora.
Step 2: Design for Everyone
Great design is also accessible design. Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Choose readable fonts and ensure high contrast.
- Write clear, concise alt text for all meaningful visuals.
- Don’t rely on color alone to convey meaning.
- Keep animations purposeful and easy to process.
Step 3: Perform Accessibility Checks
Before launching your course, take a few minutes to check for key issues:
How to Design Accessible Learning Experiences
- Try using your course with only a keyboard.
- Run it through a free screen reader like NVDA or VoiceOver.
- Use a contrast checker to test color readability
- Make sure videos have captions and text transcripts.
These small steps can catch big problems before your learners do.
Final Thoughts
Accessibility Is an Ongoing Commitment
Accessibility isn’t a task you check off. It’s a mindset. As instructional designers, we have the opportunity to build learning experiences that are not only functional but truly equitable.
Because at the end of the day, accessibility isn’t just about doing what’s required. It’s about making sure everyone has the opportunity to learn.
Whether you’re just getting started or already thinking about advanced accessibility strategies, make it a part of your design process from the start.
eLearning must be designed with the learner in mind – all learners!