Accessibility in EdTech: More Than Just a Label

Accessibility is often promoted as an essential goal, particularly in education and technology. However, as with many movements, there is a gap between posturing and real action. We see accessibility being used as a feel-good label for companies, but are they genuinely committed to the cause, or is it all just window dressing? Let’s dig deeper into what accessibility really means and why it must be more than just a checkbox in education technology.

Take Nike as an example. Earlier this year, British Paralympian Sophia Warner publicly criticized the sports giant for posturing as champions of accessibility while failing to deliver on that promise. In their store displays, Nike featured single shoes on mannequins with a running blade for the other leg. Thus, promoting the idea that athletes could buy a single trainer if needed—an important accommodation for people with disabilities. However, these single shoes were not available for sale at all. It was an empty gesture, designed more for good PR than for genuinely helping those who would benefit from such a product. This reveals a harsh truth: just talking about accessibility isn’t enough. It's the actions that matter. [Read more about this story in The Guardian].

A similar superficial approach to accessibility struck me during a recent stay at the DoubleTree Hotel near the University of Texas in Austin. As I waited for the elevator on the sixth floor, I noticed the elevator control panel (pictured above). At first glance, it seemed compliant with accessibility standards: it featured Braille text. However, upon closer inspection, I realized something was off. The button, which I initially assumed was for going down, had an arrow pointing down but was incorrectly placed. The arrow was actually upside down, meaning it was supposed to represent going up. The Braille text was an upside down ‘up.’ Yet, this is the sixth and highest floor—there's no “up” from here! What gave this away was the Braille was inaccurately placed above the symbol rather than below. The hotel might have checked the box on adding Braille for accessibility, but their effort lacked any real value.

Inaccessibility of Accessible Features: More Common Than You Think

This might seem like an isolated incident, but it highlights a bigger issue: accessibility is often treated as an afterthought. It’s a detail that some organizations implement without truly considering its functionality. Instead of ensuring these features work and actually assist those with disabilities, they are included just for appearances.

The newly released Blaschke Report, AI & Accessibility in Education, discusses this problem in the edtech landscape. This report, a collaborative effort from the teams at CoSN and CAST, points out that technology has a tremendous upside to supporting learners with diverse learning needs, but we simply can’t just slap a label on AI and say it’s accessible. There are a variety of issues, both complex and nuanced, that technology providers and the education community must address to meet this promise.?

Action, Not Window Dressing

This is where local organizations like Learn21 and ETLA are able to support the work of larger advocacy organizations like CoSN and CAST. We firmly believe that accessibility must be built into the very fabric of edtech solutions. It can’t just be a label that we slap on to appease stakeholders or satisfy compliance checklists. Accessibility is about action—it’s about listening to those who need these accommodations, ensuring that the tools we build and advocate for actually work for them, and testing our solutions repeatedly until we get it right.

At Learn21 and ETLA, we don’t just talk about accessibility. We advocate for it at every level of education, from working with developers to ensure technology is inclusive, to helping schools implement accessible solutions effectively. We partner with leading voices in the field, constantly striving to ensure that the tools in K-12 education serve all students, not just the majority. For us, accessibility isn’t window dressing; it’s a commitment to action and an integral part of everything we do.

Final Thoughts

Real accessibility is not about merely appearing to do the right thing. It's about consistently taking meaningful steps toward making technology and spaces usable for all people. Whether it's in the design of elevators, the features in an online learning platform, or the shoes on a store shelf, true accessibility requires careful thought, proper implementation, and a commitment to action. When we neglect these principles, we end up doing more harm than good, excluding the very people we claim to serve.

By advocating for thoughtful, functional, and truly inclusive solutions, Learn21 and ETLA are working to build a future where accessibility is more than just a checkbox—it’s a cornerstone of every educational technology initiative. Let’s commit to doing more, not just talking about doing more.

Join the Conversation

Learn21 Chief Academic Officer and ETLA Executive Director, Dr. Stacy Hawthorne will be joining the amazing CAST (Center for Applied Special Technology) team of friendly Technical Assistance Specialists at the AEM Café to talk about AI and accessibility. The conversation is taking place on Thursday, October 3rd at 4:00–5:00 pm ET/1:00–2:00 pm PT. Connect with Stacy, ask questions, and delve into this crucial topic together. Register here.