Accessibility ensures equal learning opportunities for all
Some Striking Accessibility Facts
Accessibility deserves to be a top priority. Here are some eye-opening stats that prove it:
27% of adults in the United States live with a disability.
According to the World Health Organization, over 1 billion people worldwide have some form of disability.
86% of people use built-in accessibility features on their smartphones.
Studies show that accessible websites can increase user engagement by up to 50%.
The numbers speak for themselves—when we neglect accessibility, we shut out a large portion of the population from equitably accessing information, tools, and educational opportunities.
What Is Accessibility?
Accessibility is a term that's becoming more prevalent in discussions about education and publishing. But what exactly is it, and why is it so crucial?
Accessibility isn't just a buzzword; it's about making sure everyone, regardless of their abilities, can access and learn from educational content. When we create an accessible curriculum, we emphasize that learning is for everyone.
What Is Accessible Design?
Accessible design makes products, services, and environments more usable for people with disabilities, which includes visual impairments, hearing impairments, mobility challenges, cognitive disabilities, and more.
Accessible design allows all individuals—no matter their abilities—to fully engage with learning materials like textbooks, websites, videos, and other resources. Accessible design is about removing barriers so everyone has an equal opportunity to acquire knowledge.
Why it matters
We could spend all day listing reasons why accessible education is so important, but let's focus on a few key points.
Equal Opportunity
Perhaps the biggest reason accessible education matters is equity and inclusion. Every student deserves an equal opportunity to learn, grow, and unlock their full potential—and having a disability shouldn't be a barrier. Accessible education helps level an often uneven playing field.
Accessible design is about removing barriers so everyone has an equal opportunity to acquire knowledge.
Following the Law
But it's not just about doing the right thing; many countries actually have laws requiring educational institutions to provide accessible learning materials and accommodations. In the United States, for example, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sets out clear accessibility mandates for schools.
Enhanced Learning for All
While accessible education primarily benefits students with disabilities, it can enhance the learning experience for all students. Accessibility tools like closed captions, text-to-speech functions, and intuitive navigation can aid comprehension for all kinds of learners.
Wider Audience
From an institutional perspective, embracing accessibility can help schools and publishers reach a much wider audience. That expanded reach translates to higher engagement and potential revenue.
How Accessible Design relates to Accessible education
Accessible education takes that principle of inclusion and applies it to the entire learning experience. It's about proactively designing:
educational materials that work for all students;
learning environments that accommodate diverse needs; and
flexible and multi-faceted instruction methods.
Whether it's offering textbooks in large print or braille, providing captions for videos, or ensuring websites are easy to navigate with assistive technologies, accessible education aims to make learning a breeze for everyone involved.
An Accessibility Analogy
Let's use an analogy: Imagine a classroom where some students can see the whiteboard clearly, while others can't make out what's written. Some can hear the teacher perfectly, while others struggle to understand. Some students can sit comfortably, but others have trouble staying focused due to physical discomfort.
An accessible classroom levels that playing field. It's one where all students can participate in the lessons, engage with the instruction, and learn in a conducive environment through the use of tools such as large-print materials, assistive listening devices, and ergonomic seating.
The same principle applies to publications and educational resources—we want to create an environment where everyone feels welcomed and supported in their pursuit of knowledge.
Opportunities to Make Materials Accessible
A lot of existing educational instructional materials and resources are still pretty inaccessible. And when we say "a lot", we really mean . . . a lot. Here are some of the most common causes of inaccessibility:
Missing Alt Text
Pictures, graphs, and other images often do not have proper alternative text descriptions when converted to digital. For students who are blind or visually impaired and rely on screen readers or text-to-speech software, that's like reading a book with entire pages missing.
Inaccessible PDFs
Word documents and PDFs that aren’t formatted for accessibility are indecipherable for assistive technologies. It's the modern-day equivalent of studying from doodle-covered napkins. Some examples of inaccessible PDFs include:
Improperly organized hierarchy;
Unclear headings;
Captions incorporated into text instead of relating to accompanying photos or graphics; and
Lack of alt text.
Contrast Chaos
Poor color contrast can be a nightmare for folks with vision impairments or cognitive disabilities like dyslexia. It's akin to doing a look and find puzzle . . . if the items were camouflaged.
Inaccessible Fonts
Similarly, overly stylized fonts are a problem for those with visual impairments. So many letters and symbols look exactly the same, such as an uppercase I [ i ] and a lowercase l [ L ]. These oversights can hinder the ability to understand and retain crucial information.
Bothersome Buttons
Linked buttons with vague text like "click here" or "read more" don't provide enough context for what they lead to. And often these buttons are too small or disappear entirely. For screen reader users, it's the literary version of being trapped in an endless series of empty corridors.
Video Bummers
Videos or multimedia without accurate, understandable closed captions or transcripts are completely inaccessible for students who are deaf or have a hearing-impairment. Imagine trying to follow a lesson taught exclusively through mime!
Cumbersome Navigation
Websites and digital publications with complicated, illogical navigation structures are like getting trapped in an M.C. Escher staircase—utterly disorienting for students with cognitive disabilities and learning differences.
The point is, accessibility barriers create a separate-and-unequal experience for students with disabilities. And given how vital education is for personal growth and career prospects, that's an issue we simply can't ignore any longer.
Thankfully, there are professionals out there working to knock down those barriers and make publications a welcoming space for all learners.
Notes for Accessible Education
Now that we've laid out why accessible education is so crucial, it's time to explore what it actually looks like in practice for publications. While the specifics can get technical, the core idea is pretty straightforward: We need to thoughtfully design materials to be usable by everyone, regardless of ability.
For printed publications like textbooks and manuals, this could involve
offering large print versions;
using fonts, colors, and text formatting with maximum legibility;
writing content in plain, simple language; and
including tactile graphics and raised images.
We need to thoughtfully design materials to be usable by everyone, regardless of ability.
Digital and multimedia content opens up even more opportunities for creative accessible design. Best practices include:
ensuring PDFs and digital documents are properly tagged for screen readers;
providing descriptive alt-text for all images, graphics, and visual elements;
following web accessibility standards for sites and eLearning platforms;
allowing keyboard-only navigation and controllable multimedia; and
using headings and structures that facilitate easy navigation.
The goal is to create a seamless, multi-modal learning experience that engages diverse learners through multiple pathways—whether that's vision, hearing, or interactive capabilities like voice and keyboard controls.
Accessibility is a journey, not a destination. It requires ongoing evaluation, updates, and an organizational commitment to prioritizing practices that tear down disabling barriers. Luckily, we've got experts who can guide the way.
How ScribeConcepts Facilitates Accessible Education
At ScribeConcepts, we're passionate about advancing the cause of accessible education and ensuring every learner has an equal opportunity to access knowledge and achieve their highest potential.
Our accessibility professionals offer a comprehensive suite of services to help educational institutions and publishers create truly inclusive learning experiences including:
Accessibility expertise;
Content remediation;
Consulting and training; and
Accessible Content Creation
Accessibility is a team effort, and we're honored to collaborate with organizations committed to breaking down barriers and championing inclusive education. If you're struggling with accessibility challenges, we've got your back.
Let's Make Learning Accessible for All
The case for accessible education is clear: It's about equity, enhanced learning experiences, legal compliance, and reaching a wider audience. But most importantly, it's about cultivating a more inclusive world where every individual feels welcomed and empowered to learn, grow, and thrive.
By prioritizing accessibility in publications and educational resources, we can help unlock a vast pool of human potential. We can inspire the next generation of leaders, innovators, and creative thinkers—regardless of disability.
Accessibility matters. It matters for the student navigating life with a visual impairment. It matters for the learner facing cognitive challenges. It matters for anyone who has ever felt institutions weren't designed with their needs in mind.
If you're ready to embrace the power of accessible education, reach out to ScribeConcepts today. Our team is standing by to guide your journey toward becoming an accessibility champion!