Step 5: Invest in Training

Delivering an accessible college experience requires upskilling all staff. Colleges should invest in training to support staff to learn basic accessibility principles and what adjustments can be made to content to improve accessibility.

For example, supporting learning resource creators (such as teaching staff) in understanding how to make fully accessible documents, provide high quality text descriptions for complex images and diagrams, or how to make accessible formulae in Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine (STEMM) subjects. To learn more about how to create accessible documents, check out our guide.

Get started by taking a look at the beginner training resources available on LexDis including an introduction to accessibility e-learning resource.

To improve your staff’s ability to make learning accessible at your college, consider training in the following subjects:

• Introduction to digital accessibility and users with diverse needs.
• Understanding regulation compliance and what colleges must do by law.
• How to test for accessibility issues.
• How to create accessible documents.
• Accessible social media and communications.
• Different types of assistive technology and productivity tools.

Investing in training will not only create an accessible learning experience for every student at your college, but it will also help reduce the reliance on specialist disability support and third party accessibility testing and auditing.

This guidance has been created in response to research from All Able Ltd and Thomas Pocklington Trust that looked at blind and partially sighted students’ access to information and assistive technology in mainstream FE. This showed a lack of inclusive practice creating a barrier to accessibility.  Read about this research.

Online Training

Another option that colleges could invest in is our Online Training: Starting the Conversation course. This free, self-paced online course is designed for professionals working in FE; to help them learn about vision impairment and how to better support blind and partially sighted children and young people. The course is designed to:

• Build your confidence in understanding what is a vision impairment and its impact.
• Equip you with practical tools and tips to help you to overcome barriers to learning for children and young people.

Learn more about the course, and register here.