This “Training Manager’s Introduction to Accessible Elearning” infographic explains why accessible elearning—online training that provides a welcoming (rather than frustrating) experience for all—is an important piece of raising training quality, availability, and effectiveness for learners, and for the moving your organization forward.
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The Training Manager’s Introduction to Accessible Elearning [Transcript]
Elearning
Generally, elearning is any form of training delivered electronically. Elearning can include PDF files, web pages, videos, “click-through” courses, LMSs, or e-Textbooks.
Accessibility
Accessibility means making digital content available to and usable by those with disabilities, including those in
- vision
- hearing
- mobility
- cognition
This includes making training compatible with assistive technologies.
Therefore, accessible elearning is:
Online, web-based, or otherwise electronically delivered training that is usable by people with disabilities, and that works with the technologies they use.
But…why create accessible elearning?
1. The Law
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Sections 504 and 508 of the U.S. Rehabilitation Act are the most prominent laws that pertain to online accessibility. Many U.S. state and local requirements also exist.
- ADA Title III — Legal actions and Justice Department statements have required private-sector website accessibility based on ADA interpretations.
- Section 504 — Requires educational institutions to make electronic content accessible.
- Section 508 — Requires information and communications tech that is used, purchased, or offered by federal government to be accessible.
2. Greater learning availability
In the U.S., 61.4 million adults report having a disability. (That’s more than 1 in 4!)
But, not all disabilities are
- Disclosed
- Obvious
- Permanent
So, accessible elearning enables all learners, regardless of whether they report a disability, to reach their full potential. This allows organizations to function at a higher level overall.
3. Learning Effectiveness
Accessible elearning emphasizes
- Ease of use by the greatest number of people
- Logical, thoughtfully presented navigation
- Clear communication
- Training that fits how people learn
Conclusion
For performance improvement and behavior change across your organization, make sure your online training is both well-designed and available to as many learners as possible by making it accessible.
Learn more about buying and building accessible elearning. Get our in-depth article: “The Training Manager’s Guide to Accessible Elearning,” by Kevin Gumienny, PhD, Microassist.
Sources, Copyright, and Sharing
SOURCES: “The Training Manager’s Guide to Accessible Elearning,” Dr. Kevin Gumienny, ©2018 Microassist || “What Lawyers Need to Know: A Primer on Digital Accessibility Terms and Today’s Legal Landscape,” ©2018 Vivian Cullipher || “CDC: 1 in 4 US adults live with a disability,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Press Release, 08/16/18 || “Greater Learning Availability” collage made with person icons created by Lizzie Lay, Noun Project. Used with modifications. || “Hands and Tablet” photo by rawpixel on Unsplash.
©2018 Microassist, Austin, Texas. Infographic created by Vivian Cullipher. This infographic is free to share or post without modification and with both attribution and link to “The Training Manager’s Introduction to Accessible Elearning [Infographic]” and transcript at https://www.microassist.com/learning-dispatch/accessible-elearning-infographic/.
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Need to discuss developing e-learning? Creating curriculum for classroom training? Auditing and remediating e-learning for accessibility? Our learning developers would be glad to help.