Embracing Accessibility and Inclusivity in Learning Content
Evaluate Your Content's Accessibility and User Experience: Checking for Inclusivity
Designing educational content that excludes a significant portion of the global populace isn't something we'd want, right? Yet, if we neglect universal design principles, that's exactly what we might accomplish. A whopping 15% of people may struggle to fully utilize learning material that isn't strategically crafted to remove barriers for disabled learners. Accessibility and UX design have become crucial components in fostering diverse business practices.
What about those who don't have access to suitable equipment or who lack computer proficiency, or those who rely on mobile devices to learn? Excluding these folks deliberately would certainly be uncomfortable - and it'd be a lousy business strategy too. Thankfully, Inclusive UX Design offers a way to provide an exceptional user experience for a diverse audience. Remember, there isn't such a thing as a standard learner. Everyone deserves equal access to learning and development opportunities.
Overcoming Challenges for a Diverse Community
Here's how Inclusive UX Design can help us create a welcoming learning environment for as many individuals as possible:
- Layout information architecture clearly and consistently, making it user-friendly across various devices.
- Employ simple, jargon-free language to accommodate people with cognitive disabilities and aid international translation.
- Create content that works seamlessly with assistive technology such as screen readers, ensuring all content is accessible to all.
- Offer alternative content formats like transcripts and closed captions to foster greater engagement for deaf and hearing-impaired learners.
- Design keyboard-navigable interfaces to cater to learners with varying fine motor skills and device needs.
- Prioritize readability, avoiding busy backgrounds, funky angles, and low contrast text.
- Steer clear of color as the sole means of delivering learning content, catering to color-blind learners.
- Adopt inclusive language, encouraging learners to select content rather than click it for a universally inclusive message.
The Business Case for Inclusive UX Design
An inclusive UX design approach benefits not only those with specific needs but all users. Providing closed captions and transcripts of audio content aids deaf learners, but it also assists those working in loud environments, those with sound sensitivity, and those using equipment without sound functionality. It provides choice, improving the experience for everyone. Embracing inclusivity fosters innovation, communicates a commitment to inclusivity, and aligns with international accessibility standards like WCAG and ISO/IEC 40500, making it easier for businesses to create content that meets compliance standards globally.
Upcoming Trends in Inclusive UX Design
As we delve deeper into the understanding of neurodiversity and its impact on learning, it'll spawn fresh insights into UX design. Internationalization will also be a focus, with an emphasis on designing content that can be fully adapted to various languages, scripts, and cultures. Keep actively collaborating with diverse professionals to expand your understanding of different audience needs.
Save the date! On October 19th at 3 PM, join our free, one-hour webinar, "3 Steps to an Inclusive Workforce." Register today!
[1] Designing for Canadians with Print Disabilities, Government of Canada[2] WCAG 2.1, Web Accessibility Initiative, W3C[3] Inclusive Design: Designing for Diverse Abilities, Bruce W. Mau[4] The Inclusion Design Toolkit, thinkinclusive.design[5] The Remote Learning Accessibility Checklist, EdTech Magazine
- The principles of Inclusive UX Design can be extended beyond learning content to various areas such as home-and-garden and lifestyle content, ensuring that sustainable-living resources are accessible to all, regardless of ability or technology.
- A business embracing inclusive UX Design principles not only caters to individuals with specific needs but also contributes to fostering a more diverse and innovative community, aligning with international accessibility standards and adapting content for a global audience.
