Accessibility in eLearning is essential for multiple reasons. It’s not just about expanding your audience or enhancing usability — it’s a critical requirement to comply with regulations. Ever since governments recognized the necessity of inclusivity, legal requirements such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) were established. These standards mandate that all digital content be accessible to individuals with disabilities, as a guarantee of equal access to learning opportunities.

For corporate training professionals, creating accessible eLearning content means designing inclusive, compliant and effective courses. In this article, we are looking into the guidelines and standards so you can make your eLearning materials fully accessible to all learners.

Legal Framework of Accessibility in L&D

The ADA and WCAG have been proven effective by decades of application. The rules and standards presented are comprehensive but achievable, so let’s learn a bit more about them.

An individual with a disability (definition from ADA) is any person “who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment.”

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

In 1990, an initiative for making society more inclusive led to the signing of the law by President George H.W. Bush. Although the ADA has a wide application on various administrative levels and covers a wide spectrum of issues people with disabilities often face, it also regulates digital content, including eLearning platforms.

“Equally effective alternate access,” with respect to electronic and information technology, means an alternative format, medium, or other aid that delivers the same content as the original, in a way that is accurate, timely, and appropriate to an individual’s disability.

Compliance is required for all private and public companies that are considered “public accommodations.” Public accommodations include (but aren’t limited to):

• Retail stores.
• Restaurants.
• Hotels.
• Theaters and museums.
• Banks.
• Health care centers.
• Schools.

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

This provides technical standards for digital accessibility accompanied by both detailed and concise types of instructions, making sure all web content is organized under four principles: perceivable, operable, understandable and robust.

The WCAG was written by the World Wide Web Consortium, an organization that doesn’t have the authority to enforce compliance, but these guidelines are often used as a reference for accessibility requirements in projects and as the basis for government standards.

Actionable Steps for Compliance in eLearning

According to W3C and WCAG 2.1 guidelines, there are three levels of accessibility: A, AA, and AAA.

• Level A is the minimum standard, with 30 success criteria to meet.
• Level AA, considered medium difficulty, adds 20 more criteria. Most organizations aim for AA because it ensures content is generally accessible, operable, and adapted for people with visual or hearing impairments.
• Level AAA is the highest standard of accessibility, with an additional 28 success criteria. Achieving AAA typically requires significant effort and includes more specialized, often costly measures, like sign language interpretation for audio content.

Here’s how to meet those requirements.

1. Implement clear, descriptive text.

A clear structure improves both accessibility and readability. A consistent hierarchy of headings makes it easier for learners to quickly scan the pages and identify the key ideas of the text.

• Use heading levels (H1, H2, H3) to create a logical structure.
• Write in plain language, avoiding jargon.
• Break down complex information into lists and short paragraphs.

Legal compliance: Meets WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 1.3.1 (Info and Relationships) and 3.1.5 (Reading Level).

2. Provide alternative text for non-text content.

Alternative text is a text equivalent of an image. Or if you use a screen reader device, it’ll read the alt text to provide context.

• Add descriptive alt text to all images, graphs, and non-text elements.
• Ensure alt text conveys the purpose and function of the image, not just a visual description.

Legal compliance: Fulfills WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 1.1.1 (Non-text Content).

3. Ensure keyboard accessibility.

All interactive elements in your eLearning content, such as buttons, links, and forms, must be fully operable via keyboard.

• Test all interactive elements for keyboard operability.
• Implement clear focus indicators for keyboard navigation.
• Avoid situations where users get stuck on an element and can’t navigate away using the keyboard (known as a “keyboard trap”).

Legal compliance: Addresses WCAG 2.1 Success Criteria 2.1.1 (Keyboard) and 2.4.7 (Focus Visible).

4. Optimize color contrast and schemes.

Color contrast is crucial for users with visual impairments. The WCAG AA level requirements suggest the minimum contrast ratio between text and its background to be 4.5:1 for regular text and 3:1 for large-scale text.

• Use patterns or text labels in addition to color in graphs and charts.
• Avoid relying solely on color to convey information.

Legal compliance: Meets WCAG 2.1 Success Criteria 1.4.3 (Contrast Minimum) and 1.4.1 (Use of Color).

5. Provide captions and transcripts for multimedia.

Captions for video and transcripts of audio make content accessible for users with hearing or visual impairments and provide a better experience for learners with different learning styles.

• Include accurate, synchronized closed captions for all video content.
• Provide transcripts for audio-only content.
• Add audio descriptions for visual-only content.

Legal compliance: Fulfills WCAG 2.1 Success Criteria 1.2.2 (Captions), 1.2.3 (Audio Description or Media Alternative), and 1.2.5 (Audio Description).

6. Design accessible interactions.

Interactive elements, such as quizzes, drag-and-drop activities, and forms, must be accessible to all users. Provide clear instructions for complex interactions.

• Label all interactive elements correctly.
• Offer alternatives to drag-and-drop activities.
• Allow users to extend or remove time limits on timed interactions.

Legal compliance: Addresses WCAG 2.1 Success Criteria 2.4.6 (Headings and Labels), 3.3.2 (Labels or Instructions), and 2.2.1 (Timing Adjustable).

7. Ensure compatibility with assistive technologies.

Ensure your eLearning content is compatible with assistive technologies, such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, and voice recognition software.

• Use semantic HTML elements (e.g., <header>, <nav>, <main>).
• Validate your content against WCAG standards using automated tools.
• Conduct user testing with individuals who use assistive technologies.

Legal compliance: Meets WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 4.1.2 (Name, Role, Value).

8. Provide multiple ways to access content.

Offering multiple ways to access content helps ensure that all learners, regardless of their abilities, can fully engage with your eLearning material.

• Offer text-based alternatives for audio and visual content.
• Ensure interactive content is accessible through multiple input methods.
• Provide downloadable versions of content that maintain accessibility features.

Legal compliance: Addresses WCAG 2.1 Success Criterion 2.4.5 (Multiple Ways).

9. Implement feedback mechanisms for accessibility issues.

Create channels for users to report accessibility issues, allowing you to continuously improve your content.

• Create accessible feedback forms with proper labels and keyboard navigation.
• Offer multiple contact methods (e.g., email, phone) for reporting issues.

Legal compliance: Supports ongoing compliance efforts and demonstrates a commitment to accessibility.

Conclusion

By aligning your content with legal accessibility standards, you can be sure that your eLearning is accessible to all learners. The goal of education is to make knowledge and skills available to everyone, and it’s our responsibility to expand access to learning for all.