Accessible Digital Communications

Brief

As part of the training team at United Methodist Communications, I ideated and developed training solutions for local church communicators to help them use a variety of media to advance the denomination’s mission. To support congregations in building inclusive and welcoming cultures, these local leaders needed knowledge about best practices for accessibility in digital communications.

Learning Solution

Recognizing the limited time local church communicators often have for training, I broke the topic of accessible digital communications into a series of microcourses that could each be completed in 10-15 minutes. This also allows learners to select the areas of accessibility which they most need to learn about.

One microcourse introduces disability and accessibility, relating them to the denomination’s core teachings and values. Each of the other four microcourse gives an overview of one category of accommodations, who it supports, and the basics of implementation with visual examples. At the end of each microcourse, learners find links to resources for further learning and a short knowledge check.

• Introduction to Accessible Digital Communications

• Accessible Audio & Video: Closed Captions & Transcripts

• Accessible Design: Fonts & Layout

• Accessible Images: Alt Text & Image Descriptions

• Accessible Writing: Plain Language

Tools Used

• Articulate Rise

• Canva

• Thinkific

Results

• 68% course completion rate

• 94% of learners say they are likely to use the skills gained in their work

• 89% of learners would recommend the microcourses to a colleague

  • “I am happy to see UMC addressing these concerns and educating the congregations on the importance of inclusiveness.”

  • “I have been having difficulty finding this info…and it's all here. Thanks!”

  • “It's definitely something I can use for training [church members].”