Examples of an eCourse Being “Accessible by Default”

Last updated: 5/21/2025

The following are examples of how an eCourse might be made as accessible as possible by default:

  • Captions should be toggled on by default so that learners who have hearing disabilities are guaranteed access to audio information; however, learners should be able to toggle captions off within an eCourse if they'd like

    Turn captions on by default in Storyline

  • Accessible text should be toggled on by default so users can customize text spacing and utilize assistive features like high contrast modes without needing to toggle a setting

    Learn more about accessible text

  • Slide media should require users to manually start it: that is, by default, it should not play automatically when a user navigates to a slide; however, you can provide an "autoplay" option for users to select within an eCourse

  • Navigation should not occur automatically, by default — that is, users should not be automatically navigated from one slide to another when a slide's timeline ends; however, you can provide an "automatic navigation" option for users to select within an eCourse

    Learn more about manual vs. automatic navigation

  • All activities should be fully accessible
    • Inaccessible activities are avoided and never required for course completion
    • If an activity cannot be made fully accessible due to the nature of the activity, try to provide an accessible alternative within the eCourse, as proximate to the inaccessible activity as possible
    • An activity that cannot be made fully accessible due to the nature of the activity should still be made as accessible as possible, as certain learners may benefit from the activity being made accessible in the ways it can be without being inhibited by the ways in which the activity cannot be made fully accessible
    • Learning objectives and learning theory/best practices may not be sufficient justification for offering an inaccessible activity, especially one that is required for course completion; it is an eCourse developer's responsibility to design or find an activity that allows all users to achieve and/or be assessed for a learning objective
    • Example of an activity that cannot be made fully accessible due to its nature + accessible alternative