Ratkaj Designs learns from accessibility training with Chax

🌍 Accessibility isn’t an add-on — it’s the foundation of good learning design. When we create training with universal accessibility and learner-centered design in mind, we’re not just checking a compliance box. We’re building learning that works for everyone. That means: -Considering neurodiversity and ensuring content is clear, flexible, and engaging. -Designing for different learning styles and preferences — visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and beyond. -Making sure accommodations (captions, transcripts, flexible pacing, multiple modes of engagement) are baked in, not bolted on. Here’s the truth: accessibility features don’t just help people with disabilities. They make learning better for all of us. Who doesn’t benefit from captions in a noisy environment, or from breaking down complex material into smaller, digestible chunks? If we truly want learning to stick, it has to be built for the full spectrum of learners in the room. 👉 What’s one accessibility practice you’ve used — or appreciated — that should become the new normal in training and education?

Writing an Accessibility Plan is both a privilege and a promise. Every commitment written into it represents more than an improvement, it represents a trust between your organization and the people it serves. When we listen to communities and people with lived experience, we’re not just collecting feedback, we’re acknowledging their stories: the good, the bad, and the uncomfortable truths. When we add that knowledge to our plan, it becomes a reflection of that dialogue and the responsibility it carries. As accessibility leaders, we hold the duty to make promises that are not only ambitious but achievable grounded in respect, collaboration, and action. The words we choose today will shape experiences for years to come. And those waiting for those promises to be met never forget. (For real, I've received feedback about things we said we’d do back in 2019. Sadly, the world has changed, and what we thought we could achieve then is no longer our current reality.) Accessibility planning is never finished. It’s a cycle of learning, unlearning, and rebuilding. That’s the beauty of it—it keeps us honest, humble, and accountable as we continue to move forward. Someone once said: “A promise means little without the will to keep it. Accessibility leaders know that progress isn’t measured by how fast we improve, but by how meaningful the improvement truly is.”

Setting a goal to learn coding can seem daunting, but the journey is incredibly rewarding! 🎯 I aimed to enhance my problem-solving skills and open up new career opportunities. The first step was identifying my motivation—what did I want to achieve? I realized I wanted to create solutions for real-world problems. I dove into online courses, starting with HTML and CSS, which provided a solid foundation. Step by step, I built simple projects like a calculator and a memory game, which kept the learning fun and engaging! As I progressed, I discovered video tutorials as a fantastic resource, bringing concepts to life in a way that felt natural. The results were amazing! I transformed from a curious beginner to someone comfortable tackling various coding challenges. What worked well was my commitment to continuous practice and seeking help from online communities. If I could change one thing, it would be to engage with a mentor sooner; having guidance could have sped up my learning process significantly. For those on a similar path, here’s what I recommend: Find your “why” to fuel your journey, take structured courses, and remember to have fun with hands-on projects! Collaborate with others in the coding community, and don’t hesitate to ask for help when you hit a snag. Your coding adventure is waiting, and every small step is a victory! 🚀

Most Accessibility Training Fails — Here’s Why I’ve delivered accessibility training to dozens of dev and QA teams. Here’s what I’ve learned: Most training fails because… ❌ It’s checklist-heavy and overwhelming. ❌ It ignores real-world workflows. ❌ It doesn’t show why accessibility matters to users. When training is interactive, hands-on, and tied to real roles (developers coding, designers prototyping, leaders reviewing contracts), it sticks. 💡 Accessibility training isn’t about memorizing WCAG. It’s about shifting mindsets and showing practical fixes. 👉 Question for you: What’s the most effective training you’ve ever attended — accessibility or otherwise? Image description: Ingrid FB Luster, in a blue blazer, sits in front of a bookshelf during a virtual meeting. A hands-on training chat window shows discussion about web accessibility tools and learning more about them. Learners are delighted about the session and the tools demo. #LinoratechInclusion #AccessibilityTraining #InclusiveLeadership #AccessibilityStrategy #AccessibilityCulture #DigitalAccessibility

Most Accessibility Training Fails — Here’s Why I’ve delivered accessibility training to dozens of dev and QA teams. Here’s what I’ve learned: Most training fails because… ❌ It’s checklist-heavy and overwhelming. ❌ It ignores real-world workflows. ❌ It doesn’t show why accessibility matters to users. When training is interactive, hands-on, and tied to real roles (developers coding, designers prototyping, leaders reviewing contracts), it sticks. 💡 Accessibility training isn’t about memorizing WCAG. It’s about shifting mindsets and showing practical fixes. 👉 Question for you: What’s the most effective training you’ve ever attended — accessibility or otherwise? Image description: Ingrid FB Luster, in a blue blazer, sits in front of a bookshelf during a virtual meeting. A hands-on training chat window shows discussion about web accessibility tools and learning more about them. Learners are delighted about the session and the tools demo. #LinoratechInclusion #AccessibilityTraining #InclusiveLeadership #AccessibilityStrategy #AccessibilityCulture #DigitalAccessibility

Top 5 Tips to Boost Your Coding Skills Fast and Effectively Top 5 Tips to Boost Your Coding Skills Fast and Effectively Hey there! If you’re here, chances are you’re eager to level up your coding skills, and I’m excited to help you on this journey. Whether you’re a complete newbie or someone looking to sharpen what you already know, I’ve put together five techniques that really made a difference for me. So grab a cup of coffee (or your beverage of choice), and let’s dive in! 1. Embrace the Power of Practice It’s no secret that practice makes perfect. But what does that really mean in the realm of coding? Think of coding like playing an instrument. You wouldn’t sit down with a guitar and expect to play a concerto after a couple of tries, right? The same goes for coding. Set aside a little time each day—maybe even just 30 minutes—to work on a small project or tackle a coding challenge. Websites like LeetCode, HackerRank, or Codecademy are fantastic places to start. You might notice that the more you engage with real-world problems, the more familiar you become with concepts. It’s like building a workout routine; the more you lift those weights, the stronger you get! 2. Build Burnout-Proof Projects Having a project that excites you can transform the way you learn. When I first started coding, I made a budget tracker because, let’s face it, budgeting was both necessary and a little boring. But you know what? I made it colorful, added fun graphs, and suddenly I was hooked! Pick a project that you’re genuinely interested in. Maybe it’s a personal blog, a game, or even an app that solves a problem in your life. You’ll find that passion fuels motivation. Plus, by completing a project from start to finish, you’ll learn valuable lessons about the coding process that you might not get from tutorials alone. 3. Connect with Others This might sound a bit cliché, but the coding community is one of the friendliest out there. Don’t be shy about reaching out! Join coding forums like Stack Overflow or Reddit’s r/learnprogramming, and don’t hesitate to ask questions or share your experiences. When I was struggling with a specific coding language, I found an online buddy—a seasoned coder who was kind enough to guide me. We shared our triumphs and setbacks, and it made the whole journey a lot less intimidating. Sharing knowledge and getting feedback from others can shed light on new approaches and can even spark fresh ideas for your projects. 4. Break Down Complex Concepts Long, complicated topics might seem daunting at first glance. Here’s a little trick that worked wonders for me: break them down! If you’re tackling something like algorithms or data structures, try to simplify them into bite-sized pieces. Let’s say you’re learning about arrays. Instead of trying to understand everything at once, focus on what they are, how to use them, and then look at common operations one step at a time. It’s like trying to e

Accessibility isn’t optional; it’s essential. When developing eLearning modules, keeping Section 508 accessibility standards in mind from the very beginning isn’t just about compliance: it’s about inclusion. Designing with accessibility means making sure every learner- including those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive disabilities- can engage with the content. I made a quick infographic to help remember key accessibility features-sharing it here in case it’s helpful! How do you make accessibility a priority in your design process? #InstructionalDesign #eLearning #Accessibility #Section508 #LearningDesign #InclusiveDesign

Many years ago, I worked for a National Center on Low-Incidence Disabilities where we were working to develop accessible online learning and various solutions and supports for families, learners, scholars, etc. At the time, there were no checklists - heck, there wasn't even really much around CSS or other tools at the time. We were having to forge solutions (which is a really fun space to be in). But in the meantime, my focus shifted more into online learning. And as a field, we didn't really do much with accessibility for a long time. But some amazing scholars and colleagues are filling this gap, so I want to highlight their work. Here are a few new and recent resources from this community of scholars along with one by Rieber & Estes in 2017 that I think is foundational to moving forward: * Accessible and inclusive online learning in higher education: A review of the literature - Dr. Amy Lomellini, Patrick Lowenthal, Chareen Snelson, and Jesus Trespalacios - https://lnkd.in/gBd553zj * Advancing accessibility: Practical strategies for designers and educators, edited by Rebecca M. R. and Dr. Amy Lomellini with chapters by multiple authors * The imperfection of accessibility in instructional design: An ethical dilemma - Dr. Amy Lomellini, Rebecca M. R., and K. Grennell * Accessibility and instructional technology: Reframing the discussion - Lloyd Rieber and Michele Estes

When I think about accessibility in learning and in the workplace, one thing is clear: it has to be built in from the start. Too often, accessibility is treated as an afterthought, or something to add at the end of a project. However, starting with accessibility means designing for everyone right from the start. Think about it: WHY would we design for only some and include others later? I want to give a special shout-out to my colleague, Stan Leyenhorst, founder of Universal Access Design (UADI). Stan leads UAD’s work reviewing blueprints, performing accessibility assessments, and teaching simulation and sensitivity training for designers, engineers, and city staff. Stan, alongside Cara and the Harper Learning team, worked closely on several accessibility projects that are now being offered in 25+ airports across Canada. His lived experience and deep commitment to universal design have inspired me to think differently and to ask, “Who are we designing for?” Stan’s TEDx talk, “Access for Everyone, Everywhere, All the Time” https://lnkd.in/gmJmuiSB was the spark for my own shift in perspective. In his talk, Stan explains how so many of our environments are built with a focus on able-bodied people. Accessibility features are only added as an afterthought, usually once someone needs them. Through his stories and experience, I immediately realized that this makes ZERO sense. We need to build (environments, programs, courses, etc.) from the start in a way that includes everyone. No person should ever be considered as an afterthought. Stan and his team solidified our commitment to include accessibility from the start in all of the learning design we do at Harper Learning. (Plus, what a fun group to work with!) #TedXTalk #StorytellingForChange #AccessibilityFromTheStart #AccessibilityMatters IMAGE DESCRIPTION: The graphic shows three people sitting around a circular table in a bright, modern office. Light is streaming in from a window. One person, using a wheelchair, is speaking. The other two people are listening closely. Below the photo, the slide text says, “Accessibility from the Start. Accessibility must be built in from the start, not added as an afterthought.” The Harper Learning logo is displayed at the bottom of the image.

Hello! This week I’m sharing accessibility resources for educators! I’m working for a college, and I’ve been collecting resources about helping students learn better. These might be useful if you’re an educator, a learning designer, or you work for a company that provides educational materials. And some things could be useful if you're creating training materials for your job, even if you aren't in education. Title II of the ADA will start impacting public schools in the US next spring, so now is a great time to start making things accessible! Articles - Accessibility Checklist for Instructional Designers from the University of Illinois - https://lnkd.in/e7Q83fdA - Creating Accessible Course Content with Canvas LMS from Illinois State University - https://lnkd.in/dgv-P2C3  - Creating an Accessible Classroom from the University of Texas at Austin - https://lnkd.in/evj9Pcps - Creating an Accessible Course from Cornell University - https://lnkd.in/eQErTFer Videos - Accessibility for Instructional Designers by Lindsay O'Neill (playlist on YouTube) - https://lnkd.in/eA5VMW8v - Empowering Accessibility: Strategies for Success from OLC (48 minute webinar on Zoom with transcript) - https://lnkd.in/eTUVq9UK - 5 principles for creating accessible Canvas pages from How To Canvas (14 minute video on YouTube) - https://lnkd.in/dhyqNHHp  - WCAG for Instructional Designers: Accessibility Tools from Instructional Design Tips (9 minute video on YouTube) - https://lnkd.in/dYfmBvrJ  Sites / Resource Collections - Accessibility Resources and Tutorials from Boise State University - https://lnkd.in/eJfNEW4K - Instructure Accessibility Toolkit - https://lnkd.in/e6YgsuaA - Instructional Accessibility Guides & Resources from the Metropolitan State University of Denver - https://lnkd.in/d9ceGCeW - Universal Design For Learning Framework - https://lnkd.in/dUcRDuM7 If you have more accessible education resources then please share them with us in the comments!