How can you make sure your e-learning course is accessible for people with cognitive impairments?

1 What is sustainable design?

Sustainable design is an approach to creating products and services that minimize the negative environmental and social impacts, while maximizing the positive ones. Sustainable design considers the whole life cycle of a product or service, from the sourcing of materials, to the production, distribution, use, and disposal. Sustainable design also aims to meet the needs and preferences of diverse users, including people with disabilities and special needs.

3 How can you assess the accessibility of your e-learning course?

Before you start designing your e-learning course, you should conduct a needs analysis to identify your target audience, their characteristics, and their learning goals. You should also review the accessibility standards and guidelines that apply to your context, such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) or the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework. These standards and frameworks provide criteria and best practices for creating accessible web content and learning experiences. You can use tools such as accessibility checkers, screen readers, or user testing to evaluate the accessibility of your e-learning course and identify any issues or gaps.

4 How can you improve the readability of your e-learning content?

One of the main challenges for people with cognitive impairments is to read and comprehend text-based content. To improve the readability of your e-learning content, you should use clear and simple language, avoiding jargon, slang, or idioms. Break up long paragraphs into shorter sentences and bullet points, then use headings, subheadings, and lists to structure and organize your content. Additionally, use fonts that are easy to read, such as Arial or Verdana, and avoid using all caps or italics. You can also use contrast, color, and images to highlight key points and support your text; be sure to provide alternative text for images, audio, and video content, using the alt attribute or captions.

5 How can you enhance the interactivity of your e-learning course?

For people with cognitive impairments, staying focused and motivated during an e-learning course can be a challenge. To enhance the interactivity of your course, consider providing multiple modes of presentation, expression, and engagement. This could include text, audio, video, or animation for presentation; quizzes, surveys, or discussions for expression; and gamification, personalization, or storytelling for engagement. Additionally, ensure that the navigation, instructions, and feedback are clear and consistent to help learners find their way and monitor their progress. Finally, consider providing options to adjust the pace, level, and difficulty of the e-learning course to suit learners' needs and abilities.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?