In this article:

• Why accessibility should be integrated in education from day one
• How inclusive learning shapes the creators of tomorrow

At Passion4Social, we always advocate for baking accessibility into digital experiences and services from day one, rather than trying to fix barriers later.

So, it will come as no surprise that we think it makes perfect sense to apply the same logic to education.

If we want to achieve our vision of a more accessible digital world, we need to re-evaluate how we support the young people who design, build and shape that world in the future.

Accessibility should never be an afterthought

Children are a bit like sponges.

They absorb new information, ideas and experiences, without even realising they are learning.

Consequently, the things they encounter early in life become the things they simply accept as everyday experiences.

As someone who studied interpreting and translation, I have to admit I’m more than a little bit jealous of today’s generations, especially those youngsters from countries that consistently top education league tables like the PISA study.

They seem to be surrounded by opportunities to pick up new languages, technology and digital skills from the moment they enter the classroom; whereas I didn’t properly start learning languages until secondary school.

Sadly, they were viewed in some quarters as being an unnecessary evil, meaning us poor Scottish students were still “looking for the train station” long after we should have been.

The point is, like foreign languages or computer studies, when we introduce accessibility early, it becomes a natural part of how young people think about the world around them.

Imagine a future generation of:

• Designers who automatically consider colour contrast
• Developers who understand there are many ways of achieving navigation on a website
• Content creators who know why captions and alternative text are essential to getting their messages out to everyone
• Marketers who recognise the importance of clear and accessible communications

And for those who think accessibility restricts creativity, remember that accessible content does not need to be dull.

We will say it again: these should never be afterthoughts tacked on at the end of a project. They should be part of how we think about creating digital experiences from the very beginning.

That starts with education.

Inclusion is learning together

Education can also be a powerful space for inclusion. When young disabled people learn in environments designed to be accessible, they have the level playing field they need to participate and have their voices heard.

This is something I have experienced personally.

When I was at school, there were times when the mainstream classroom lacked the assistive technology I needed to participate in subjects such as computing and administration.  As a result, I was taught separately within the visual impairment unit.

Let me be clear: I am not in any way knocking the excellent support I received, nor am I ungrateful to the teachers who had a profoundly positive impact on my life.

I am acutely aware that many children cannot access education at all in many parts of this country.

Yet, I can’t help wondering about the possibilities of having access to both the mainstream learning environment and additional support when required.

That, to me, is the difference between providing support and building inclusion.

It’s about amplifying disabled voices and learning from those with lived experience. If you’re looking for where to start, check out our guide on digital accessibility in action: Who should you be listening to?

Today’s classrooms shape tomorrow’s creators

Fact! If accessibility is integrated into our education systems, everyone benefits.

Young disabled people can participate more fully in learning and bring their lived experiences into the classroom.

Their peers have the opportunity to learn along with them, developing a greater understanding of different experiences and perspectives.

Every child who grows up in an inclusive learning environment gains the confidence to contribute, share and influence the world around them.

They become the designers, developers, teachers, business leaders and decision-makers of the future.

Building a more inclusive digital future

By baking accessibility into education from day one, we have an unrivalled opportunity to build more than accessible digital experiences.

An opportunity to create a generation that expects inclusion, understands its value and sees accessibility not as an optional extra, but as an essential part of designing experiences that work for everyone.

Here’s a thought to end on: for accessibility to become second nature in the future, we need to start teaching it when those young minds and imaginations are still sponges. If you are eager to keep this momentum going, we invite you to explore our Accessibility for All webinars to continue learning together.