Accessibility in Action: Inclusive Design for Every Learner

Designing truly inclusive learning experiences requires more than good intentions—it demands practical knowledge of accessibility principles that benefit every learner. Whether you're creating content for higher education, corporate training, or digital platforms, accessibility transforms from a technical requirement into a powerful tool for equity when approached with intention and care.

We dive into six actionable strategies you can implement immediately: adding meaningful alt text to images, incorporating captions and transcripts for all video content, ensuring proper color contrast, structuring documents with clear headings and formatting, providing multiple engagement options, and using accessibility testing tools to catch issues early. Each strategy comes with practical examples for both educational and corporate settings, demonstrating how accessibility enhances learning for everyone involved. 

Take the first step toward more inclusive design by choosing just one strategy to implement in your next project, then build from there. Your small changes today create better learning experiences for all your learners tomorrow—and that's what designing with love truly means.

🔗 Episode Links:

Please check out the resources mentioned in the episode. Enjoy!

Accessibility in Action Course

Canva Color Wheel

WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool

📑 References:

WAVE Web Accessibility Evaluation Tools. (n.d.). https://wave.webaim.org/ 

Send Jackie a Text

Join PodMatch!
Use the link to join PodMatch, a place for hosts and guests to connect.

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

💟 Designing with Love + allows you to support the show by keeping the mic on and the ideas flowing. Click on the link above to provide your support.

☕ Buy Me a Coffee is another way you can support the show, either as a one-time gift or through a monthly subscription.

🗣️ Want to be a guest on Designing with Love? Send Jackie Pelegrin a message on PodMatch, here: Be a guest on the show

🌐 Check out the show's website here: Designing with Love

📱 Send a text to the show by clicking the Send Jackie a Text link above.

👍🏼 Please make sure to like and share this episode with others. Here's to great learning!

Episode Transcript

Jackie Pelegrin (00:01):
Hello and welcome to the Designing with
Love podcast.
I am your host, Jackie Pelegrin, where my goal is to bring you
information, tips, and tricks asan instructional designer.
Hello instructional designersand educators, welcome to
Episode 65 of the Designing withLove podcast.

(00:22):
Today, we're diving into atopic that is at the very heart
of inclusive education andeffective design accessibility.
Whether you're working inhigher ed, corporate training,
or designing digital content,accessibility is more than a
checklist.
It's a commitment to equity andbelonging and a meaningful

(00:43):
learning experience for everyone.
So grab your notebook, a cup ofcoffee, and settle in as we
explore this topic together.
Before we dive in, think aboutone course, workshop, or piece
of content you've recentlyworked on.
Keep that in mind.
It will be useful as we explorepractical strategies together.

(01:04):
So let's start with the basics.
What exactly do we mean when wetalk about accessibility in
instructional design?
At its core, accessibility isabout ensuring that every
learner, regardless of ability,has equal access to learning
experiences.

But here's the key: Accessibility doesn't just (01:21):
undefined
benefit learners withdisabilities; it benefits
everyone.
If you've been following theDesigning with Love podcast, you
might have caught episode 44,Designing for Everyone: A
Universal Guide to Learning.
In that episode, we dive intoUDL and how providing multiple

(01:44):
ways to engage with content,express knowledge, and access
materials supports all learners.
Accessibility is really thepractical, actionable part of
that philosophy.
While UDL provides theframework, accessibility makes
sure these principles areactually in action in your
courses, videos, and digitalcontent.

(02:06):
For example, think aboutcaptions on videos.
They were originally designedfor people who are deaf or hard
of hearing, but they also helpnon-native speakers, people
learning in noisy environments,and even learners who retain
information better when readingalong or consider text
alternatives for images.

(02:27):
You might think, well, onlysomeone using a screen reader
will need that, but descriptivealt text can also clarify
content for everyone and improveoverall understanding.
Accessibility is really justgood design.
Design that providesflexibility, multiple ways to
engage in the content, and awelcoming environment for all

(02:49):
learners.
So take a moment and think inyour last project.
Where could small changes likecaptions or alt text make a big
impact?
Of course, even when we intendto be inclusive, there are
barriers that can creep in.
Let me share a few common ones Isee in instructional design.

(03:10):
First, there's an over-relianceon color.
Some materials use color codingwithout providing text
alternatives, which can beconfusing for learners who are
colorblind learners who arecolorblind.
Now, I am not colorblind myself, but I do have some vision
impairments that make itdifficult for me to read
information on brightbackgrounds or screens.

(03:30):
Even these kinds of thingsshould be taken into
consideration when designingmaterials for your learners.
Second, there's missing alttext or poorly structured
documents.
If images don't havedescriptions or headings aren't
used properly, learners usingscreen readers can get
completely lost.
One thing I also commonly seein this area is when documents

(03:53):
link out to a website, insteadof providing the full text of
the link, take the time toprovide a hyperlink.
This way, it makes it for acleaner design and also prevents
a screen reader from having toread off the entire website
address, especially when it'slengthy.
Videos are another area whereaccessibility often breaks down.

(04:15):
There's no captions ortranscripts, which can make it
impossible for certain learnersto access key content.
Finally, there's navigation.
Complex menus, inconsistentlayouts or unclear instructions
can frustrate any learner, butthey can be especially
challenging for those relying onassistive technologies.

(04:35):
I've personally seen courseswhere a small oversight, like a
missing caption, can completelychange a learner's experience.
This is why being proactiveabout accessibility matters so
much for every learner.
So think about your LMS ortraining platform.
How easy is it for a newlearner to navigate and find

(04:57):
what they need?
Now let's get into the excitingpart Practical strategies you
can start using right away.
Into the exciting partPractical strategies you can
start using right away.
These are simple steps that canmake a big difference.
Strategy number one alt text forimages.
Every image should have a shortdescriptive text alternative.
Even a few words can givecontext.

(05:19):
Strategy number two captionsand transcripts for videos.
This isn't just for learnerswho are deaf or hard of hearing.
Captions help everyone engagewith content, from noisy coffee
shops to learners who preferreading along.
Strategy number three colorcontrast and design.
Make sure text and backgroundcolors have enough contrast and

(05:43):
avoid relying on color alone toconvey meaning.
A great tool out there to helpyou incorporate good visual
design is the Color Wheel toolby Canva.
I have provided the link to thetool in the show notes for you
to access and bookmark forfuture use in your designs.
Strategy number four documentstructure.
Use proper headings, lists andclear formatting.

(06:07):
This helps learners navigatematerials quickly and make
screen readers work correctly.
Strategy number five multipleways to engage.
Provide content in more thanone format, such as text, video,
audio and interactiveactivities so learners can

(06:27):
choose what works best for them.
And finally, strategy numbersix test your work.
Use accessibility checkers inWord, powerpoint, your LMS or
free online tools like Wave tocatch issues early.
If you have not used this toolbefore, I have provided the link
to it in the show notes for you.
The key to incorporating thesestrategies into your designs is

(06:51):
to start small.
You don't have to fixeverything at once.
Pick one strategy and integrateit into your next course or
resource.
Remember every step counts.
If you'd like guided examplesand exercises for these
strategies, make sure to checkout the Accessibility in Action
self-paced course.
So which one of thesestrategies could you implement

(07:14):
first in your next project?
Make sure to jot it down,because it helps commit this to
action.
Before we zoom out to thebigger picture, let's walk
through a real-world example ofhow an instructional designer
can put these accessibilitystrategies into action.
Imagine you're designing acollege-level course, such as an

(07:35):
introductory psychology course,or developing a corporate
training program for anorganization.
Here's how you might integrateaccessibility for an
organization.
Here's how you might integrateaccessibility Videos.
Include captions andtranscripts for all recorded
lectures, presentations ortraining videos.
This helps students oremployees who are deaf or hard

(07:56):
of hearing, non-native Englishspeakers or anyone who prefers
reading along Materials andresources.
Ensure all PDFs, slides ordigital documents are properly
structured, with headings, listsand alt text for images.
This supports learners usingscreen readers and improves
navigation for everyone.

(08:17):
Assignments and activitiesProvide multiple ways for
learners to demonstrate theirknowledge.
In a college course, this mightbe a written paper, a video
presentation or a slide deck.
In workplace training, it couldbe a reflective write-up, a
demonstration video or apractical simulation.
Navigation and instructions.

(08:38):
Keep learning managementsystems, course sites or the
facilitators and trainers.
Make sure they are aware ofaccessibility features and best

(08:59):
practices.
Encourage them to providemultiple options for engagement
during live sessions, likeverbal explanations, written
instructions and interactivediscussions.
By intentionally integratingthese strategies, you're not
just checking off boxes.
You're creating learningexperiences where all learners,

(09:19):
whether students or employees,can participate fully, feel
included and access content inways that work best for them.
Small adjustments like thesecan make a huge difference in
engagement, satisfaction andoverall outcomes.
So picture your own course ortraining program.
What's one small change youcould make this week to improve

(09:42):
accessibility?
Now let's step back and take alook at the bigger picture.
Accessibility is more than justa set of technical tasks.
It's a reflection of valuessuch as empathy, inclusion and
equity.
When we prioritizeaccessibility, we're sending a
powerful message to learners youbelong here, your learning

(10:05):
matters.
It's about creating learningenvironments where students or
employees feel supported,respected and empowered to
succeed.
Accessibility also benefits theinstructor, facilitator and
organization.
Courses and trainings designedwith multiple ways to access
content and engage learnersoften result in better overall

(10:28):
learning outcomes, highersatisfaction and reduce barriers
that might otherwise lead tofrustration or disengagement.
Also, focusing on accessibilityencourages a mindset of
flexibility, and innovation is amindset of flexibility and
innovation.
Instructional designers whoincorporate these principles
think critically about differentways learners interact with

(10:50):
content, which often leads toricher, more effective learning
experiences for everyone.
In short, accessibility isn'tjust a requirement or feature.
It's a lens through which wecan improve every part of the
learning experience.
It reflects care,intentionality and a commitment

(11:10):
to equitable learning for all,and that's designing with love.
So take a moment and reflecthow can accessibility shape the
learning experiences you create,both in higher ed and workplace
settings?
So, as we wrap up today,remember accessibility doesn't
have to be overwhelming.
Start small, start intentional,and start with one change that

(11:35):
can make a meaningful difference.
If you want to take thesestrategies a step further.
Make sure to check outAccessibility in Action
Practical Strategies forInclusive Learning.
Design a self-paced course withexercises, examples and tools
to help make your courses ortrainings accessible for every
learner.
You can find the link to thecourse in the show notes.

(11:58):
Make sure to share yourstrategies with me on LinkedIn,
youtube or buy me a coffee.
Also, don't forget to subscribeand share this episode to help
spread the word about designingfor all learners.
Before I wrap up, I'll leave youwith one of my favorite quotes
about accessibility from AntonioSantos, which I think perfectly

(12:19):
captures why this work matters.
Accessibility is not a feature,it's a social trend.
Until next time, keep designingwith love and with
accessibility in action.
Thank you for taking some timeto listen to this podcast
episode today.
Your support means the world tome.

(12:40):
If you'd like to help keep thepodcast going, you can share it
with a friend or colleague,leave a heartfelt review or
offer a monetary contribution.
Every act of support, big orsmall, makes a difference and
I'm truly thankful for you.