Instructional designers and learning solutions organizations know that accessibility in e-learning has become a core expectation for organizations delivering digital training, and for good reason. Standards like WCAG 2.1 and Section 508 establish what is required, but the deeper motivation for most learning developers is simpler: training should work for everyone. This includes people who use screen readers, keyboard-only users, people who rely on captions, and those who use other assistive technologies to engage with content.
In addition, courses built with accessibility in mind tend to be better overall. By creating a clear structure, easy navigation, and media that does not depend entirely on visuals, you make the learning experience stronger for every learner, not just those with disabilities.
Accessibility Keywords
You may come across some new words and phrases when you’re just getting started in accessibility. Check out our Accessibility Keywords resource for definitions of the terms — and then bookmark it for easy reference as you get rolling on your accessibility journey.
Using Storyline 360 as a Foundation
Structuring Content for Assistive Technology
Two of the most important aspects of creating a structurally accessible product are focus order and object labeling. Developers must define a logical reading sequence for every slide so keyboard and screen reader users encounter content in an order that makes sense. Decorative elements get removed from the accessibility tree so they do not create “noise,” and every meaningful element gets a label that describes what it is.
Done well, this work is largely invisible to the learner. Done poorly, it creates confusion for keyboard and screen reader users who can encounter information in a random nonstructured order or have decorative elements described that serve no contextual purpose. Users may know there is a button or link on the screen, but without proper labeling they will have no idea what that link or button does once pressed.
Designing Accessible Interactions
Smart developers build interactions into their courses to help make the learning engaging and memorable. From an accessibility standpoint, however, interactions are where things get complicated. Many of the patterns that show up by default in e-learning, including drag-and-drop activities, are simply not usable with a keyboard or screen reader. Rather than leaving those interactions in place and hoping for the best, take time to rebuild them in ways that work for all users. The learning objectives do not change, but the way learners complete the activity does.
Providing Equivalent Access to Information
Equal access means every learner receives full instructional value when interacting with the course. When a course includes a chart, diagram, or map, don’t stop at adding alternative text to the image. Instead, provide text summaries, structured data tables, and written descriptions that convey the meaning the visual is meant to communicate. A learner using a screen reader should walk away knowing exactly what a sighted learner knows.
Creating a Consistent User Experience
A simple and consistent navigable interface is easier to use for everyone. Be sure to configure the Storyline player to support high-contrast, clear navigation controls and layouts that keep cognitive load manageable. We also stay away from design patterns that tend to create problems, including auto-playing media and navigation sequences that do not give learners control over how they move through the material.
Testing and Quality Assurance
It takes more than good intentions to make a course accessible. Every course we produce gets tested using JAWS, NVDA, and keyboard-only navigation to verify that it actually works. Testing consistently turns up issues that are not obvious during development, including focus sequences that look correct on screen but read out of order, or interactions that are technically operable but still confusing in practice. Manual testing identifies these issues quickly and allows our team to develop a plan for remediation.
Ongoing Accessibility Practices
Accessibility is an ongoing commitment. It requires attention throughout the life of a course. If a specific interaction genuinely cannot be made fully accessible within the platform, build a documented equivalent alternative so no learner reaches a dead end. Building courses that hold up across all of that takes more than a checklist. It takes a consistent commitment to getting it right.
Our team of accessibility and learning solutions experts works together to develop courses that are informative, engaging, and accessible to all users. By combining expertise in instructional design, adult learning theory, digital accessibility, and user experience, we develop learning experiences that are both impactful and inclusive. Learn more about how we ensure every course is built to maximize understanding, participation, and usability.
Written by Eric Felder, MS, Senior Accessibility Engineer
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