How can you create an inclusive and accessible training program for all users?

1 Know your audience

Before you start creating your training program, you need to understand who your users are, what they need to learn, and how they prefer to learn. You can use surveys, interviews, or focus groups to gather information about your users' demographics, goals, challenges, and preferences. You can also use analytics tools to track their current usage patterns, feedback, and performance. This will help you tailor your training program to suit your users' needs and expectations.

2 Choose the right format

When creating a training program, you can consider various formats depending on your users' learning preferences and the type of content you want to deliver. For example, instructor-led training (ILT) is a live session where an instructor can demonstrate complex concepts, answer questions, and provide feedback. This can also include interactive elements such as quizzes, polls, or exercises. Alternatively, self-paced learning (SPL) is a flexible option where users can access pre-recorded videos, slides, or documents at their own pace. Assessments or checkpoints can be used to track progress and completion. Blended learning (BL) combines ILT and SPL to balance the benefits of both formats and cater to different learning styles and preferences.

3 Make it accessible

Accessibility is the practice of making your training program usable and understandable for all users, regardless of their abilities or disabilities. This can improve the learning experience and outcomes for your users, as well as comply with legal and ethical standards. To make your training program accessible, use clear and simple language, avoid jargon and acronyms, and provide definitions or explanations for technical terms. Incorporate multiple modes of communication, such as text, audio, video, or graphics, with captions, transcripts, or alternative text for each mode. Design a consistent and intuitive layout with navigation options for adjusting font size, color, contrast, or volume. Additionally, use inclusive and diverse examples, scenarios, and images to avoid stereotypes or biases. Lastly, provide accommodations or adjustments for users who need them such as extra time, assistive devices, or alternative formats.

4 Evaluate and improve

After you deliver your training program, you need to evaluate its effectiveness and identify areas for improvement. You can use various methods to collect feedback and data from your users, such as surveys, tests, interviews, or observations. You can also use metrics and indicators to measure your users' satisfaction, engagement, retention, and performance. Based on your evaluation results, you can make changes or updates to your training program, such as adding, removing, or modifying content, format, or delivery methods. You can also use your evaluation results to celebrate your successes and recognize your users' achievements.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?