The Importance of Accessibility

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
September 10, 2025
Creating accessible materials isn’t just about supporting students with visual impairments; it’s about good teaching, inclusivity, and long-term efficiency. Accessibility benefits everyone, ensures compliance with the law, and helps you create high-quality resources that stand the test of time. Whether you’re preparing lessons for the classroom or documents for the workplace, accessibility should be part of your process from the start.

Universal Design Benefits Everyone

​When materials are created with accessibility in mind, they become easier to read and use for all students, not just those with visual impairments. Universal design principles—like clear fonts, structured layouts, and descriptive headings—improve readability, reduce confusion, and support diverse learning needs. Well-designed accessible materials can be reused year after year without needing to be recreated, saving you time and effort.

​Accessibility is the Law

Accessibility is not optional; it is a legal requirement under multiple U.S. federal laws:
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title II and III – Requires that public schools, colleges, and universities provide equal access to programs and services, including instructional materials.
  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 – Prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in any program receiving federal funding. Schools must provide accessible materials as part of “reasonable accommodations.”
  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) – Ensures that students with disabilities receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), which includes access to accessible instructional materials tailored to the student’s needs.
  • Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act – Requires that all electronic and information technology used by federal agencies (and by extension, often schools) be accessible to people with disabilities.
By following accessibility guidelines, schools protect themselves from legal complaints or litigation while ensuring that every learner has equal access to information.

​Consider Both Print and Digital Users

​Accessibility looks different depending on how people engage with materials.
  • Print readers with low vision benefit from large, clear, high-quality text that maintains readability.
  • Screen reader users need digital documents with proper headings, alternative text for images, and accessible formatting so the software can accurately read the content aloud.
By planning for both groups, you make your materials usable for the widest possible audience.

​Future-Proof Your Materials

​Even if your current students don’t need accessible materials, chances are future students—or colleagues—will. When you design with accessibility in mind now, you’re saving yourself from extra work later. Accessible documents, slides, and worksheets remain usable long-term, helping you build a durable library of high-quality resources.

​Avoid Common Pitfalls

​Accessibility can break down when shortcuts are taken. For example:
  • Shrinking content to fit more on a page often makes worksheets unreadable for students with low vision or those using magnification tools.
  • Overly complex layouts or decorative fonts may confuse screen readers or reduce clarity for everyone.
A quick accessibility check before sharing ensures your materials remain clear, legible, and user-friendly.

​Accessibility Extends Beyond Your Classroom

Accessibility isn’t only about your current students. When presenting at conferences or sharing documents with colleagues, you rarely know everyone’s needs. By making your materials accessible from the start, you ensure that all participants, whether in a classroom, staff meeting, or professional setting, can fully benefit from your work.

Printable Resources

Subscribe today!

Subscribe today to unlock premium resources & printables. Choose the subscription level that best fits your needs and get immediate access to additional printable resources, ECC tools, and more. Subscription plans are individual and non-transferable. Your membership helps sustain and grow this resource for the vision community. ​​Thank you for your support!

Article Pages

VI Basics
History of VI ​Vision Professionals​ ​Professional Publications ​​Program Tools & Templates ​Policy & Advocacy ​​Professional Support AT Resources​
Service Planning
VI Referrals​ ​Medical Vision Exam ​Visual DiagnosisFVLMALow Vision EvaluationsOther Evaluations​Service PlansGoals & Objectives
Consultation
​Unique Visual Needs
​Collaboration​​Instructional Adaptations​Environmental Adaptations​​Material Adaptations​Access ClassesFamily Resources
Teaching Strategies
Compensatory Skills
Concept Development​Alternative Communication​Emergent Literacy​Beginning Braille​​Braille Code​Braille Fluency & Comprehension​Braillewriter​​​​​Slate & Stylus Basics *S
​​​Nemeth Code Instruction *S
​​​Tactile Graphics​Print Concepts​​Abacus ​​Organize​​​Study Skills​​Time Management
Sensory Efficiency
​Auditory Efficiency​​​​​Listening Skills​​Visual Efficiency Skills​​Optical Device Use​Tactile Readiness
Assistive Technology
AT Assessment ​AT Instruction​
AT Basic Use ​​AT Problem Solving ​Braille Notetaker ​iOS/Tablet Instruction Audio Skills ​Video Magnifiers ​​Basic Computer Use Access Productivity
Social Skills
​Non-Verbal Skills​​​​​CommunicateCooperativeIdentity & Self-Awareness​Interactions & RelationshipsManaging Challenges & Safety
Self-Determination
Independent Living Skills
Personal Care ​Hygiene  ​Personal Health Mealtime Skills ​​​ Food Preparation​Household SkillsClothing Management​Money & BudgetShopping & ConsumerismPhone Use​Safety & Emergency Preparedness​​Services & Community Resources
Orientation & Mobility
Recreation & Leisure Skills
Career & Vocational
Interactive Activities
Recorded Presentations
Lesson Planning 
Thematic Units
Beginning of the Year Units ​​Fall Units​​Winter Units​​Spring UnitsHoliday Units
Printable Resources
**Additionally, each Teach Subscription page and each Thematic Unit contains additional unique printables!
*M = free member pages
*S = Basic subscription pages
*CS = Complete set bonus
*A = All Access subscription pages