Skills for Access

Our Philosophy

Multimedia can enhance accessibility of learning

One of the core attributes of well-developed multimedia e-learning is that it can enhance the accessibility of learning programmes, so the pressure to distort the medium in the name of 'accessibility' has to be avoided.

"In some cases, the best way to enhanced accessibility may be to use more media… used in the right way, multimedia is a critical resource for accessibility!" Slatin and Rush (2002) 'Maximum Accessibility', p359.

"Multimedia is a very, very, powerful learning tool and it's certainly my preferred way of learning. It has advantages over oral lectures because I can listen to a lecture, but I can't read my writing afterwards! If I have something that's presented through multimedia formats, all there for me, I can go back to it and it's clear and I can understand it." Natasha Campbell, who has dyslexia

It's always essential that e-learning resources are designed as far as possible to be optimally accessible, but under the UK's DDA, where accessibility solutions are not possible, or are unjustifiable from a technological, pedagogical or financial perspective, reasonable alternative provisions may be made.

In fact, the nature of DDA legislation, and a lack of current case law, is such that there are no technical criteria for 'SENDA compliance' or 'DDA compliance'. Part IV of the DDA (the Education part) deals with accessibility of educational experiences rather than specific web sites or e-learning resources.

So legislation should be considered not in micro terms but at the broader level - in terms of the overall accessibility of a mode of assessment, or of a module, course or degree programme. What is important is to assess the impact of any potential shortcomings innate in the accessibility of a multimedia learning resource on the overall teaching and learning experience, and to make sure that there is an equitable, accessible alternative.

Accessibility as a chore?

Some multimedia developers might see accessibility as a procedural or bureaucratic exercise invented by people without knowledge of media production or web development, and apparently with nothing better to do than constrain creativity and innovation.

The response to this approach is to convey accessibility not from the point of view of constraints, but from the point of view of making a real difference to people. Seen this way, accessible design is part and parcel of the design challenge that could mean the difference between a user experiencing untold frustration or experiencing a world of possibilities. Given the opportunity for a little bit of thought most designers would not willingly exclude a section of their audience from experiencing their work.

In the web design field, the rise in prominence and popularity of standards-compliant, visually creative design shows that developing with accessibility in mind is not necessarily at odds with rich graphic design - it's just good design! The same should apply to multimedia.

"A lot of the things that we might do for accessibility reasons are actually basically pure and simple good design and in fact they help everyone who uses it, not just disabled people." CA, Multimedia e-learning developer

And the unplanned benefits of taking an inclusive design approach to the wider success of a product can never be underestimated. Think of the many products originally designed for an apparent niche market, such as a particular group of disabled people, that have become mainstream - cassette tape players, 'kerb cuts' on pavements, ramps into buildings, and subtitles on TV.

Accessible… and fun, and rewarding, and…

'Accessible' remains worthless without 'usable' - which, depending on the aims of the resource, could imply 'valued', 'trustworthy', 'worthwhile', 'enjoyable', 'fun' or many other desirable adjectives!

So 'accessible' is only one attribute of a successful multimedia e-learning resource - accessibility to disabled people should extend beyond the minimum condition of being able to access information, it should be looking towards making the experience of accessing and using the information worthwhile and beneficial.

On to Part 3: An approach to ensuring optimum accessibility of multimedia.