eLearning modules for higher and further education institutions
Are you seeking online learning that provides disability awareness and accessibility guidance to all your staff?
All UK public sector organisations have a legal obligation to meet a base level of accessibility (Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations). Created specifically for HE and FE institutions, AbilityNet’s eLearning courses provide on-demand training for your staff on the importance of accessibility
- Part 1: Introduction to accessible teaching and learning
- Part 2: Accessibility and Me: Lived experience mini module series
- Office 365 and PDF Accessibility
All UK public sector organisations have a legal obligation to meet a base level of accessibility (Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations). Our eLearning modules offer you a cost-effective solution to train your staff in accessibility dos and don'ts.
Part 1: Introduction to Accessible Teaching and Learning
Part one provides your staff with an overview of digital accessibility. They will learn what accessibility is, why it is important, and how they can play their part in creating a learning environment where nobody is excluded.
Part 1 contains:
- Models of disability and impairment types,
- Key legislation,
- Introduction to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG),
- Introduction to assistive technologies,
- Tests to check learning.
As a self-guided module, all staff can complete the course in their own time, at their own pace.
Case study: The University of Westminster
The University of Westminster has been using the Introduction to accessible teaching and learning module to educate its staff, and customised the course to include information specific to the institution.
“The digital accessibility course really opened my eyes up to the importance of designing and creating content which can be used by everyone, regardless of what condition one might be experiencing. It taught me that removing as many barriers as possible proactively - rather than reactively - is what makes a great user experience for all” - feedback from staff learner.
Part 2: Lived experience mini module series
Part two introduces the categories of impairment using individual person-centred mini modules designed to introduce staff to specific accessibility requirements and considerations for a range of disabilities, impairments and conditions.
The mini modules cover:
- Cognitive difference/Neurodivergence
- Mental Health
- Vision
- Hearing
- Physical/Touch
These mini modules introduce the category of impairment, language dos and don’ts as well as highlighting misconceptions and stigmas. They then introduce personas based on students with lived experience of conditions within these categories. These personas are used to highlight the barriers the individuals experience, how assistive technologies can help, before demonstrating how you can avoid creating barriers.
The eLearning uses simple, easy-to-follow tips and common-sense considerations for accessible teaching and learning practice.
The individual impairment modules, although part of an end-to-end course, are designed to have ongoing value as a useful on-demand reference guide.
Accessible Content with Office 365, PDF Accessibility and more
Keen to keep everyone on track with accessibility?
Building on the tips in our introductory modules, our Digital Accessiblity – Microsoft Office and Outlook and PDF Accessibility eLearning courses provide practical, step-by-step guides to implementing accessibility within Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat Pro, ensuring your staff can create accessible content with confidence.
Digital Accessibility – Microsoft Office and Outlook
This reference-style eLearning module takes learners through the key elements of creating accessible content; considerations such as headings, alt text, descriptive links, lists, tables, fonts and the use of colour. These are then linked to how they can be applied within Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
PDF Accessibility
This comprehensive course is based on AbilityNet’s popular PDF Accessibility training course and provides step-by-step instructions on how to correct and create accessible PDF documents. The course includes demonstration videos and demo content for you to download and work through alongside the course content.
With a ‘Fundamentals’ and an ‘Advanced’ section, learners are able to upskill quickly to produce basic accessible PDFs, focussing on the use of tags, reading order, basic lists and simple tables, as well as many other core concepts. The Advanced section then expands on these core concepts introducing more involved and complicated topics such as complex tables, references and footnotes, and forms.
We have additional eLearning modules within our Accessible Workplace eLearning options - get in touch to discuss these courses.
Case study: The University of Derby
The University of Derby has been using the Accessibility and Me series of courses. Some staff shared this feedback:
“This was a really great training session. I am not very confident with technology but found that everything was explained so I could understand it.”
“It was a brilliant course, in particular the case studies giving someone else['s] view of how something is a barrier for them and why, but also the alternatives we could do to support them.”
Contact our accessibility experts
We offer tailored accessibility and usability support to higher education institutions, to help you ensure your website, apps and other digital services are usable, accessible and comply with UK accessibility regulations. Talk to us about your project.
Contact us:
- Via the form below
- Call our Digital Accessibility Services team on +44 (0)1926 562 671
- Email sales@abilitynet.org.uk
Case study: Birmingham City University eLearning accessibility module feedback“I've done the Accessibility course and a couple of AbilityNet courses on accessible videos and PDFs. It's changed the way I work - I'm thinking about accessibility needs as I create a document, video or piece of eLearning.”
Download a copy of our course brochure
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