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Designing for all learners

At Class, we believe that changing the way the world learns means ensuring equal opportunities for all learners to succeed. Whether in education or corporate training, accessibility is not just a checkbox—it’s a necessity. That’s why we are committed to making virtual education and professional development inclusive for all.

With more people learning online than ever, ensuring virtual classrooms meet the standards of accessible education is essential to the future of learning globally. However, to be truly effective, virtual environments must be designed to accommodate learners of all abilities.

In this article, we’ll explore what accessibility means in education and professional training, the challenges of traditional learning environments, and best practices for inclusive instruction. Finally, we’ll highlight how Class’s virtual learning and training platform promotes accessibility across education and corporate learning.

What is accessibility in learning and development and why is it important?

Accessibility ensures that individuals with diverse needs—including those with visual, auditory, motor, cognitive, and physical disabilities and impairments—can fully participate in educational and training programs.

According to the National Center for Education (NCE), roughly 15% of all K-12 students enrolled in public schools in the U.S. receive special education services. In higher education, 19% of undergraduates and 12% of graduate students report having disabilities. Similarly, in corporate settings, many professionals require accommodations for effective learning and career development.

Ensuring accessibility means implementing inclusive design principles so that all individuals—whether students, employees, or trainees—can engage, learn, and advance in their educational and professional journeys.

Challenges of in-person education to learners with disabilities

Traditional in-person education and corporate training programs often present barriers to learners with disabilities, including:

  • Physical barriers: Many educational institutions and workplaces lack the infrastructure to support mobility impairments.
  • Communication barriers: Without assistive technologies like captions or interpreters, deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals may struggle to engage.
  • Limited time schedules: Fixed class or training times can create challenges for those who need flexible access to learning.
  • Inaccessible materials: Printed or non-digitally formatted resources can limit access for those who require screen readers or alternative formats.

How Class supports an inclusive learning environment

At Class, we integrate accessibility best practices into our platform to support learners of all abilities. Our features are designed to ensure a seamless and inclusive learning experience in both educational and corporate settings.

With Class, you can expect and rely on a platform that supports accessible learning and development.

Closed captions

Class provides real-time text transcriptions for all conversations in the main classroom, ensuring that no one misses important information. We offer two options for captions:

  • Automatically generated captions
  • Manual captions

All participants can toggle captions on or off, enabling deaf or hard-of-hearing participants to fully engage with the material. This is also valuable for those with temporary hearing impairments or those studying in noisy environments. Captions help meet learners wherever they are and provide the support they need to succeed.

Class Notes

We take live transcription a step further with Class Notes, where students can highlight key parts of the transcript and add their own notes or comments. This makes learning more interactive and supports those who may have difficulty processing spoken information or remembering key points. After the session, users can easily view and export their notes for later use. (Coming soon)

Support for interpreters

Class offers a special camera role called Sign Language Cam, designed specifically to support sign language interpreters. This feature provides visual emphasis with a colored border and label for the interpreter’s video feed. The interpreter’s video can be pinned under the podium for persistence and better visibility.

Screen reader compatibility

Class is compatible with screen readers, allowing visually impaired users to navigate and interact with the platform using speech or keyboard commands. Key features include:

  • Reading on-screen text to provide visually impaired users with the content.
  • Audio feedback to indicate when users interact with actionable elements like buttons or links.
  • Image identification through alt text to describe images for screen readers.

Keyboard navigability

For learners or instructors who have difficulty using a mouse or touchpad, Class is designed to be fully keyboard-navigable. This means users can interact with the platform using only the keyboard. We've implemented keyboard shortcuts to help speed up navigation, making it easier for everyone to use Class efficiently and effectively.

Best practices for inclusive online instruction

Beyond technology, effective instruction plays a crucial role in supporting learners with diverse needs. Research highlights three key strategies for inclusive teaching and training:

  • Collaboration: Encouraging interaction between learners, instructors, and facilitators fosters engagement and support.
  • Personalization: Providing multiple ways to interact with content—such as recorded sessions, flexible assessments, and device-agnostic access—ensures inclusivity.
  • Authenticity: Designing learning experiences that are relevant to diverse backgrounds and professional contexts enhances engagement and retention.

Our commitment to accessibility

At Class, accessibility is an ongoing priority. We partner with Level Access to conduct thorough accessibility testing, ensuring compliance with global accessibility standards, including WCAG and Section 508. Our design system prioritizes usability, and we continuously refine our platform based on user feedback.

Designing an accessible future of learning online

Whether in education or corporate training, accessibility is essential to creating equitable learning opportunities.

By integrating accessibility into both technology and instructional design, and providing training and resources, organizations can ensure that all learners—students, employees, and professionals—have the tools they need to succeed.

For more information or to request our latest accessibility compliance documentation, contact us at support@class.com.

Courtney Walker Class
Courtney Walker

Courtney Walker is a Co-founder and Head of Product Design at Class. She’s inspired daily by educators and students who courageously challenge the status quo.

Courtney Walker Class
Courtney Walker

Courtney Walker is a Co-founder and Head of Product Design at Class. She’s inspired daily by educators and students who courageously challenge the status quo.

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