The Internet Has Transformed How We Learn. But Accessibility Must Lead the Way

7/15/2025

The Internet Has Transformed How We Learn. But Accessibility Must Lead the Way

By Jessica Lopez

The internet has shaped our access to information in countless ways. Education has never been more within reach. For those of us committed to lifelong learning, it’s a dream come true.

Digital learning has been around for decades. Back in the 1970s, a community college pioneered delivering lectures via television broadcasts and mail-in homework packets (source). Today, learning is easier than ever. We saw this firsthand during COVID-19, when 93% of households with children engaged in distance learning (source).

The education technology industry stepped up, making training and upskilling accessible on a scale no one had imagined. And when employers leverage this infrastructure intentionally, they see measurable gains in innovation and productivity (source).

Bridging Skills Gaps

Digital learning creates opportunities for employees to engage in training that meets their needs and schedules. Traditional training models haven’t always accounted for the full range of learner needs. For many employees—including those with disabilities—online learning can remove long-standing barriers.

Live sessions often lack captioning. Printed materials may not be accessible to employees who are blind or have low vision. Fast-paced formats can assume a single learning style. Even when well-intentioned, these gaps can leave talented professionals behind.

Digital learning offers more flexibility and inclusion when built with accessibility in mind:

Asynchronous participation empowers learners to engage when they can focus best.
Captions, transcripts, and alt text support employees with hearing or vision disabilities.
Keyboard navigation and screen reader compatibility improve usability for people with mobility or dexterity disabilities.
Pacing controls and modular formats help everyone absorb information at their own speed.

These features don’t just remove barriers—they unlock talent. Roughly 1 in 4 U.S. adults has a disability, yet disabled professionals remain underrepresented in leadership and high-growth sectors. When companies invest in accessible learning, they send a clear message about the workforce they want to build.

That investment pays dividends. Businesses with inclusive talent practices report higher cash flow and stronger financial outcomes (source).

Meeting Employees Where They’re At

Beyond accessibility, online learning is becoming the norm. Nearly 73% of undergraduate students expect online education to be an option (source). As these students enter the workforce, they will look for training that’s on demand and built around their needs.

For businesses, that expectation carries weight. In a changing environment, ensuring your workforce can learn quickly and flexibly is critical. Companies that embed digital learning into their talent strategies see retention gains of up to 60% (source).

Employees want to feel supported and invested in. Digital learning, when done right, turns development into something people integrate into their daily work rather than a separate task to complete.

Normalizing Accessibility Practices

But disability inclusion is about more than technology—it’s also about behavior. If your goal is to build a workforce inclusive of disabled colleagues, digital learning is one of the most effective ways to start. Online courses allow employees to explore sensitive topics without the pressure of a live session. They can learn at their own pace, revisit material as needed, and reflect in their own time.

Training also reinforces an important point: accessibility is a shared commitment across teams and roles. Everyone has a part to play.
When implemented well, online learning creates a consistent baseline across teams. Employees can learn inclusive communication strategies, understand how to make meetings accessible, and recognize where ableism may show up in everyday workflows.

This is culture change—and it’s measurable. Inclusion training improves collaboration, reduces turnover, and builds trust. Harvard Business Review found that teams in inclusive environments outperform others by 80% (source).

A Quick Checklist for Leaders and Advocates

If you’re ready to take action, here are a few questions to bring to your leadership team:

Are our learning platforms compatible with screen readers and keyboard-only navigation?
Do our videos include captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions by default?
Are our PDFs and images accessible (with alt text and tags)?
Do we offer information formats that respect time zones, cognitive load, and energy cycles?
Are we measuring engagement by access and equity, not just completion rates?

Explore CDI’s on-demand disability inclusion training catalog at centerfordisabilityinclusion.org.

Learning for What’s Ahead

In the information age, time is often more precious than knowledge itself. Employees are more likely to engage with training that respects the competing priorities they face.

Accessibility isn’t just about the method of delivery—it’s about intention. As companies rethink how they develop talent, the question is whether their systems reflect the full potential of the modern workforce.

Just as learning is lifelong, accessibility is a commitment that lasts as long as your business does.

If you’re ready to explore how accessible digital learning can support your business goals, schedule a conversation with us.

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