Universal Design - Developing Usable and Accessible eLearning
Picture this scenario. Mary is a highly intelligent individual who is visually impaired. Mary attends
college and has an opportunity to complete a core requirement by taking an online summer
course. Mary signs up for the course expecting she can use an assistive technology called a
screen reader to help her access the course content. Unfortunately, when Mary begins the course
she finds the website is not appropriately designed to allow the screen reader to function
correctly. Mary has to stop taking the course because she is not able to independently access the
content.
When designing eLearning courses or any website, it is important to incorporate universal access
principles into the design so that everyone can access the content. Universal design has
influenced building and product design for many years and the goal is to provide access for
everyone. Some examples of universal design for buildings include the installation of:




Levers on doors and faucets that require no gripping or twisting to operate
Wider doors that can accommodate wheelchairs or walkers
Various counter heights
Flat entrances
Just as it is imperative to provide everyone with physical access to products and buildings, it is
equally important to design websites and eLearning content so that they are accessible to all
individuals and the sites work with assistive technologies.
When using the Web, many people cannot operate a mouse, cannot see text or graphics, cannot
hear audio or they cannot understand the content. Many may be hearing impaired, visually
impaired or physically disabled. Others may have learning disabilities, get distracted easily, may
have language or cultural barriers or may have limited technology experience. The Americans
with Disabilities ACT (ADA) was passed in 1990 to ensure people with disabilities have equal
opportunity to participate in programs, services and activities. Section 508 was later enacted to
eliminate barriers in information technology and to encourage development of technologies that
will be accessible to everyone. Today, any website or eLearning content that is federally funded is
required to be ADA and 508 compliant.
Assistive technologies help disabled individuals access websites, but roadblocks to using these
technologies exist due to poor website design. For example, the visually impaired may use
speech output programs that read text that is presented on the screen. Individuals with mobility
impairments may use modified keyboards instead of a mouse. People who have difficulty writing
may use word dictation and work prediction software. Assistive technology is exciting because it
provides immense opportunity to help to the disabled. However, assistive technologies for the
web only work with web pages that follow universal design principles. Some things to consider so
that your web and eLearning content is accessible and works with assistive technologies such as
screen readers include:

Design a simple, consistent page layout to avoid sensory overload and distraction from
the main content.








Provide simple, text based navigation.
Keep backgrounds simple and make sure there is enough contrast for the text to stand
out.
Use standard HTML and use “alt tags” or “title tags” to identify the graphical elements on
your page. This allows screen readers to describe what is contained in the graphics.
Use a NULL value for unimportant graphics to avoid confusion.
Make hyperlink text descriptive so that it can be understood out of context.
Avoid the use of frames because screen readers read content one frame at a time which
is likely to be out of synch with the way the page is visually presented.
Do not use blinking or moving text because it can contribute to seizures.
Include captions in videos. This not only will help the hearing impaired, but it is also
helpful when being viewed in a public place such as a library where sound wouldn’t be
appropriate.
Finally, when you have completed developing your website, test with a variety of browsers and
view your site using a variety of computer platforms, monitor sizes and screen resolution.
Implementing these design principles and guidelines into your website and eLearning content will
extend your audience and will provide equal access opportunity to individuals like Mary who
wanted to take an online college course but was unable to access it. Check out these websites
for more information on building accessible eLearning content:
www.webaim.org
www.w3.org
http://www.knowbility.org/