Creating frictionless learning experiences for everyone, regardless of their abilities, is essential for organizations and learners alike. Unfortunately, the topic of accessibility is often absent from discussions surrounding learning in the flow of work, as highlighted in a recent Deloitte session.
What is the significance of accessibility in learning, and what is its impact on success?
Accessibility: A key to frictionless learning
When it comes to learning today, individuals are not just learners; they define their own pathways, choose their content, and sometimes even create their own materials. This shift to self-led learning places additional responsibilities on the end-users, resulting in increased complexity.
Approximately 15% of the US population (1 in 7 individuals) has some form of learning disability, with the global figure reaching 20%. Unsurprisingly, research indicates that 38% of users desire a better user experience. Failing to address accessibility means hindering progress towards higher productivity, reduced turnover, and overall employee satisfaction.
Understanding accessibility requirements
To lay the foundation for frictionless learning, it is crucial to consider accessibility requirements within your LMS. Not sure what you’re looking for? Here’s our detailed requirements checklist for an in-depth understanding. At a high level, our research and extensive customer conversations suggest focusing on accessibility in several distinct ways.
- WCAG 2.0 – Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). WCAG 2.0, developed by the W3C in collaboration with global individuals and organizations, serves as a shared standard for web content accessibility. It provides guidelines on making web content inclusive for people with disabilities, covering natural information (text, images, sounds) and code or mark up.
- Multilingual Support. In today’s globalized world, with remote work becoming the norm, it’s vital to ensure your platform and content can accommodate different languages. Supporting multiple languages within the user interface enables inclusivity for non-native English speakers.
- Personalization and Data-driven Journeys. Personalization is an expectation in the digital age. To combat irrelevance and keep learners engaged, your LMS should facilitate relevant and personalized learning journeys using data-driven automation.
- Frictionless Mobile Experience. Considering that more than 50% of users access learning content via mobile devices, ensuring a frictionless mobile experience is paramount. Embracing Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) can enhance accessibility and usability across devices.
Beyond the application
While we have primarily focused on the LMS application itself, content plays a vital role in creating accessible learning experiences. When procuring learning content, it is essential to ensure adherence to WCAG guidelines, close captions, content sizing, multi-color options, backgrounds, and multi-language support. Additionally, prioritize Microlearning, engaging, and relevant content to enhance the learning experience.
In the quest for continuous and at-the-point-of-need learning experiences, it is crucial to prioritize the accessibility “must-haves.” By embracing accessibility guidelines such as WCAG 2.0, multilingual support, personalization, mobile optimization, and content considerations, organizations can build the foundation for frictionless learning experiences that lead to greater people success. Remember, accessibility is not an option but a requirement for achieving people’s success in the modern workplace.
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Written by Claire Moloney Claire is an enthusiastic and meticulous content writer whose passion is to support growth and continual learning for everyone.
