Today’s diverse workforce needs to participate in an increasingly broad range of educational experiences. As such, there is an ever-growing need to make your learning content accessible and usable. A variety of laws, policies, and organizations are working toward making learning experiences more accessible, but how do we make sense of these? What do all the terms mean? When do we need to use their recommendations? And how can they help us make learning better, not only for those with special needs but for everyone? Whether your content is on paper, PowerPoint, HTML, or output from a rapid development tool, you need to make sure the learning materials you provide are accessible and usable by the broadest audience.

Participants in this session will explore the language of accessibility—what the laws are, what the terms mean, who the players are, why it matters, how it improves learning for everyone, and how to go about making a business case for it. You’ll learn how to differentiate between WCAG and 508 guidelines, where to find resources, and how to explain the importance of both accessibility and usability to your stakeholders.

In this session, you will learn:

  • About the various terms and laws around accessibility
  • How to make a business case for creating accessible and usable learning experiences
  • How to explain why accessible learning experiences are better for everyone—not just for people with special needs
  • Easy fixes to make learning content more accessible and usable
  • How inaccessible content makes learning more difficult

Audience:
Novice to intermediate designers, developers, project managers, and managers.

Handout(s)

Recording