Imagine a student who’s excited to learn… but stops because your course platform doesn’t work with their screen reader. Or a busy parent commuting to work, unable to engage because your video lacks captions.
Accessibility barriers like these are more common than we think in digital learning today. But the good news? They’re easier to fix than most online educators realise. With just a few simple changes, you can create accessible digital learning experiences that engage every learner, regardless of their abilities. 

Inclusive education isn’t just a buzzword; it’s the foundation of effective online teaching and coaching. By focusing on digital accessibility, you’re not only meeting the needs of students with disabilities but also creating flexible, engaging environments where all learners can thrive. From adding alt text and captions to offering multiple formats, accessible course design is simpler, and more powerful, than you might think.

Ready to start building digital learning spaces that are inclusive, organized, and accessible to everyone? Let’s explore some practical steps you can take today to make your online courses more engaging and meaningful for all.

What Digital Accessibility Really Means

Accessibility in digital learning isn’t just a technical checklist, it’s about creating experiences where every learner, regardless of ability, can engage meaningfully. Think about a blind learner, a neurodivergent learner, and a busy parent learning on the go.

When we talk about digital accessibility, we mean designing content that everyone can consume, navigate, and contribute to, whether they’re using a screen reader, need captions, or simply prefer learning in bite-sized formats.

Why Accessibility is Non-Negotiable

Inclusive design isn’t a “nice-to-have.” It’s what ensures that:

• No learner is left behind.

• Every student has an equal opportunity to succeed.

• Our courses reflect the diverse ways humans learn and interact with content.

It’s also worth noting: accessible design doesn’t just help students with disabilities. It creates richer, more flexible learning experiences for all students. Think about captions that help second-language learners or colour contrast that makes text clearer on mobile devices.

Here's what's happening...

People often treat accessibility like a vitamin; something nice to have, good for you, maybe I'll add it 'later'.

But for the learner who can't navigate a module, or can't hear a video, or gets overwhelmed with copious amounts of information on a 40min plus video trainings, or even runs the risk of throwing up going through  disco-style slides...

📣 digital accessibility is not a vitamin! It's a  painkiller 💊!

If a learner is going through a learning experience acute migraine (or worse), accessibility IS the fix, not a 'nice-to-have' right?!

Quick Wins to Make Your Learning More Accessible

Here are some practical, bite-sized steps you can start with right now:

1. Add Alt Text to Images
Imagine a visually impaired student navigating your course with a screen reader. Clear alt text adds context and meaning, turning frustration into connection. Bonus: tools like Canva and PowerPoint can now auto-suggest alt text using AI. Another great tool is Alt-tx.ai.

2. Organise Your Content
A clear structure with headings, bullet points, and logical navigation makes your materials more accessible and much easier to follow. Platforms like Genially even help structure content for screen reader navigation. Online learning platforms like Kajabi can make your life so much easier when creating accessible learning.

3. Provide Captions and Transcripts
Captions aren’t just for students with hearing impairments, but they also support auditory learners, busy commuters, and second-language speakers. A small effort with a big impact. I use Descript as it makes the process so much simpler.

4. Check Your Colour Contrast
With over 2.2 billion people globally experiencing some form of visual impairment, good colour contrast is critical. Tools like WebAIM’s contrast checker make it easy to get this right.

5. Offer Multiple Formats
Not every learner thrives in the same format. Provide a mix of formats: from interactive quizzes for active learners to text-based summaries for those who prefer a quieter pace.

Start Small, Build Momentum

Creating accessible learning experiences doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Start with one step, maybe adding captions to your videos, and build from there. Over time, these small changes compound into powerful, inclusive experiences.

My Accessibility Journey

I began my accessibility journey after creating a very interactive drag-and-drop activity for a course (which I was very proud of) only to then realise that learners with a motor impairment would not be able to engage with it. From then on, I developed an accessibility mindset when creating tasks, lessons and courses. I then earned a certification in Accessibility in Digital Learning so I could start making solid positive changes to my own online content as well as help other online educators do the same.  Now, accessibility is part of every stage of my design process: analysis, development, delivery, and evaluation.

It’s not perfect. It’s an ongoing process. And that’s okay. Every tweak moves us closer to creating digital learning spaces where every student can thrive.

Take the Next Step

Accessibility isn’t a trend, it’s part of our role as educators. If you’re ready to begin, grab my Design for All Mini-Course — Your First 3 Simple Steps to create digital learning experiences that engage, inspire, and support growth, for ALL learners. In this bite-sized mini course you get actionable steps and tools to make 3 simple changes straight away.

Because when we design for everyone, everyone wins.