Let’s get one thing clear: access to education is a human right, not a “nice-to-have.” But somewhere between shiny authoring tools and tight course deadlines, that truth tends to get buried under slick transitions and gamified quizzes.
eLearning is everywhere, from onboarding new hires to delivering professional development hours that keep your license valid. But if those courses aren’t accessible, you’re not training everyone. You’re training the people who fit the mould. Everyone else is left behind.
That’s not good design. That’s digital gatekeeping.
A Changing Landscape
Accessibility in eLearning isn’t just about meeting a legal checkbox. It’s about responding to a world that’s already changing.
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Learning disabilities are widely underdiagnosed and now more openly discussed than ever before.
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CPD (Continuing Professional Development) requirements are on the rise in many industries.
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Gen Z has entered the chat, and they expect accommodations, not as favours, but as standards.
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Disability rates are increasing, especially among younger populations and in mental health.
Whether you’re building a course for accountants or onboarding cat distribution agents (more on that later), if your module isn’t inclusive, it’s incomplete.
Accessibility Helps Everyone
Universal Design for Learning (UDL) isn’t just a concept for schools. It’s a goldmine of strategies that help all learners thrive, regardless of ability.
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Text paired with visuals helps everyone understand faster
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Captions don’t just support deaf learners, they help anyone in a noisy office or in the quiet zone on the GO trains.
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Keyboard navigation matters to people with motor disabilities, but it also matters when your mouse dies mid-quiz
The more flexible your course is, the more powerful your teaching becomes.
It’s Not About Being Perfect
No one’s asking you to build a perfectly accessible course overnight. What matters is that you start with intention.
Ask:
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Can someone navigate this without a mouse?
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Can someone understand this content if they can’t see it, or can’t hear it?
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Is there enough contrast? Are the interactions predictable?
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Would you want to complete this course on a frustrating day?
If the answer is no, that’s your sign to dig deeper.
Up Next: Turning Design Chaos into Inclusive Brilliance
In the next post, we’ll walk through how to build accessible eLearning from the ground up, including how to work with your team, what traps to avoid, and when to throw glitter (spoiler: probably don’t).
Stay tuned. And keep designing like everyone matters, because they do.
