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Empowering Education: Building Born Accessible Learning Materials
Gokulnath B
April 10, 2024

Empowering Education: Building Born Accessible Learning Materials

All students should find their education stimulating. Without this challenge, there’s hardly any motivation to push their skills and knowledge beyond just the basics. However, not every challenge within education stems from academic difficulties, and not all are beneficial.

In the US, many learners, specifically over 7 million people aged 3 to 21, face educational obstacles that cannot be quickly addressed through typical study routines or frequent test preparations. These students are covered by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which recognizes 13 specific categories of conditions that can impede learning.

Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics shows that students with these conditions make up about 14 percent of public school enrollments. Despite this, many students and parents feel that the support they need is lacking, impacting their performance and future opportunities.

Educators also struggle, with only 30 percent feeling confident in teaching children with learning difficulties. It has led to feelings of education trying to force a fit that isn’t natural.

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Like the rapidly evolving technology, education also has entered a new phase, moving beyond the confines of traditional textbooks and classrooms. This era is characterized by the rise of born-accessible learning materials and accessible educational content, breaking down barriers in student learning methods. Digital accessibility in education is key in this transformation, ensuring that learning is inclusive for students with difficulties while benefiting everyone involved.

Moreover, educational accessibility guidelines and standards in learning materials are central to this shift, promoting the use of eBooks, digital resources, online courses, and interactive platforms. These tools offer personalized and inclusive learning experiences, revolutionizing how students acquire knowledge and guaranteeing that education is universally accessible, irrespective of one’s physical abilities or location.

Further, born-accessible teaching materials and digital inclusion in education are making quite a bit of headway in creating an environment where every student can succeed, marking a significant step forward in making education truly accessible to all.

But how is digital accessibility changing the face of modern education? Let’s dive deep into it!

Understanding the Role of Accessibility in Modern Education

Ensuring accessibility in education is critically important, as it guarantees that individuals, regardless of physical or cognitive challenges, can access and benefit from educational resources equally. Previously, students with disabilities faced difficulty in getting a proper education. Now, thanks to the development of accessible educational materials, these obstacles are no longer a cause for concern, enabling full participation.

Accessibility extends beyond just physical access; it includes materials in formats like large print, audio, and digital, catering to the needs of individuals with visual impairments, hearing impairments, and learning disabilities. It not only promotes inclusivity but also values diversity and equal opportunities.

Individuals with visual impairments, for instance, benefit immensely from digital materials equipped with audio descriptions, which open up new possibilities for independent study and comprehension of intricate topics. Likewise, students with hearing impairments are aided by materials that include captions, transcripts, and visual aids, ensuring they miss no critical information.

By removing these obstacles and providing equal access to educational resources, accessible learning materials empower students with disabilities, enabling them to chase their academic aspirations.

Also Read: Debunking 5 Common Misconceptions about Web Accessibility

How Born Accessible Learning Materials Benefit Students and Educators Alike

Web accessibility is crucial for both educators and students, offering substantial benefits that span across educational experiences. It not only facilitates equal access to online content and resources for students with disabilities but also promotes an inclusive learning atmosphere for all students. This approach enables full online learning participation, enhancing engagement and academic performance.

For students, born-accessible learning materials grant equal access to information, ensuring they can fully engage with online learning materials and the community. It fosters an inclusive environment where every student can participate and collaborate regardless of ability. 

Accessibility features like text-to-speech and screen readers allow for a customizable learning experience, catering to individual needs and preferences. This not only boosts engagement through clear navigation and interactive content but also improves academic performance by making learning materials more accessible. 

Furthermore, engaging with accessible technology enhances digital literacy skills and prepares students for future educational and career opportunities. It also cultivates empathy and inclusion, making students more aware of the diverse needs within their community.

Educators benefit from born accessible learning materials by extending their reach to a more diverse audience, including those with disabilities. This inclusivity in teaching practices enhances the learning environment, promoting equity and diversity. 

Knowledge of web accessibility principles contributes to professional development, ensuring educators are well-equipped to meet diverse learning needs. Compliance with legal standards like the WCAG reduces legal risks and underscores a commitment to accessible education. 

Ultimately, prioritizing web accessibility encourages a culture of respect and inclusion, creating a supportive educational environment where all members feel valued and empowered to succeed.

Top 5 Strategies for Building Accessible Learning Materials

Creating educational services that are accessible to all can seem overwhelming, especially for those new to the concept of inclusivity in education. 

Here are five key strategies we’ve found effective in making education accessible to everyone.

1. Gathering Student Insights

Listening to students is crucial in making education accessible. Their feedback provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of assistive technologies and highlights current accessibility challenges. Educators can identify and implement necessary changes by involving students in evaluating new technologies and discussing their experiences. 

Collecting feedback through surveys and forms helps gather comprehensive data on the usability of software, tools, and learning materials, guiding educators toward making informed improvements.

2. Embracing Multilingual Support

A large segment of the world’s population does not speak English as a primary language, making translation tools crucial for education. This is why providing students with trustworthy translation technology allows them to fully grasp and interact with educational content. 

This approach improves their learning journey and bolsters their trust in the integrity of the information provided. Selecting reliable translation resources is crucial to prevent misunderstandings.

3. Optimizing Digital Content

Accessible digital content begins with simple modifications to formatting. Structuring text with distinct headings, selecting fonts that accommodate disabilities, maintaining a font size that is easy to read, and providing options to adjust the page content size are basic yet impactful measures to improve accessibility. 

Guidance on selecting accessible fonts and designs friendly to dyslexic learners can help educators make their digital offerings more user-friendly for a broad audience, including those with various disabilities.

4. Implementing Text-to-Speech 

Text-to-speech technologies are essential for rendering educational materials accessible to those with visual impairments or difficulties in reading. This technology transforms written content into audible speech, facilitating an inclusive educational experience for individuals who struggle with conventional reading formats. 

Beneficial for people with visual impairments, this solution also supports students with learning disabilities or limited reading proficiency, promoting a more inclusive and fair educational environment.

5. Evaluating Accessibility Tools

The current abundance of accessibility tools allows educators to customize educational settings to meet the needs of a diverse student body. Soliciting student feedback is crucial for highlighting the most beneficial tools to boost accessibility. Moreover, these tools also foster educational equity, with a vast majority of educators acknowledging their importance in comprehensively supporting and understanding the needs of all students.

By implementing these strategies, educators can create a more inclusive and accessible learning environment where every student has the opportunity to succeed.

Also Read: The Impact of Web Accessibility on Higher Education Experiences 

Wrapping Up

Looking ahead into the future of education, the impact of accessible materials is undeniably profound. These resources are breaking down traditional barriers and fostering an educational landscape where everyone has equal access to learning opportunities. 

Additionally, accessible materials are redefining educational experiences, making them more inclusive and empowering every learner. Whether it’s assisting students with disabilities or accommodating those searching for tailored eLearning experiences, accessible materials are paving the way for diverse paths to achievement.

If you’re looking for high-quality, accessible learning resources, Hurix Digital is your go-to source. Our team comprises dedicated professionals with IAAP certifications who excel in their field. We employ various tools to evaluate and test your digital product’s web accessibility against the WCAG 2.0/2.1 guidelines, ensuring compliance with Section 508 and ADA Accessibility standards. Our experts generate comprehensive WCAG Audit reports and provide certification for them as well.

Reach out to us today!