In today’s digital world, accessibility has become a necessity. Government agencies, higher education institutions, and corporations are increasingly recognizing the importance of making learning content accessible to all. To satisfy legal requirements, ethical considerations, and a growing emphasis on inclusivity, the demand for effective accessibility training has never been higher.
Recent investments in accessibility training by various state governments and higher education institutions highlight this trend. These organizations understand that accessibility isn’t just about compliance, even if compliance is at the root of why it is top of mind today. They see that to proactively build inclusive learning experiences that consider the needs of all users adds value to their organization, enhancing both learning and business outcomes.
Instead of waiting for accessibility issues to arise (sometimes in the form of costly lawsuits), forward-thinking organizations are taking proactive steps to equip their teams with the knowledge and skills to create accessible content from the start. Ensuring accessibility from the outset improves system efficiency, reduces security vulnerabilities, and prevents the need for costly retrofitting, all the while ensuring that organizations meet federal and state accessibility mandates.
Tailored courses to fulfill immediate needs
Tailored accessibility courses are a good first step for organizations looking to enhance accessibility. Courses that provide practical, hands-on training in essential accessibility practices help organizations integrate accessibility seamlessly into their learning and development strategies.
Key topics include:
- Creating Accessible Documents: These courses help your team learn how to develop accessible content in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; Google Docs, Slides, and Sheets; and in PDFs.
- User Experience (UX) and Development: Tailored to designers and developers, these courses ensure digital products are inclusive from the ground up, whether considering color, images, or the overarching product or program. Bonus points for complementary courses on accessible agile development to connect these concepts directly to job responsibilities.
- Mobile and Web Accessibility Testing: Equip teams with the skills to evaluate and enhance accessibility across various digital platforms—beginning with the fundamentals then moving into specifics, including testing screen readers and generating accessible test reports.
- Compliance and Reporting: Courses on developing compliance reports using the ITI VPAT to meet industry accessibility standards round out an accessibility training program, providing an end-to-end training solution for team members, no matter what role they perform.
Utilizing a comprehensive, flexible training program ensures that organizations can build internal expertise and maintain long-term accessibility practices, equipping teams to champion accessibility and ensuring that all learners, regardless of ability, have equal opportunities to succeed.
Looking beyond immediate needs
While a suite of eLearning courses can serve as a strong foundation, additional synchronous courses delivered through expert facilitators can provide in-depth, hands-on learning experiences that further elevate accessibility practices in an organization.
The push for accessibility is only growing stronger. The increase in digital accessibility lawsuits means organizations must ensure they meet WCAG 2.2, ADA, and Section 508 standards or face the consequences of not doing so. Organizations that prioritize accessibility now will be able to meet compliance standards and enhance user experiences, foster inclusivity, and future-proof their learning solutions from the ground up. With accessibility training in place, teams can confidently create content that serves all learners, regardless of ability.
At ansrsource, we guide clients through the complex landscape of accessibility, helping them develop sustainable strategies for long-term success. Recognizing the diverse needs of different sectors, we offer a suite of 20 eLearning courses designed to be adaptable for government agencies, higher education institutions, and corporate clients. For organizations looking to go beyond training, we support content development, content adaptation, and consultation to define best practices to make learning materials more accessible. Reach out today to discuss how we can tailor our accessibility solutions to meet your organization’s needs.
