Using accessibility tools for independent learning

At Scouts we are committed to ensuring that our movement is inclusive for all and we have a responsibility to ensure that our training for volunteers is accessible.

To ensure consistency within key areas of our training, to improve the ease and speed by which volunteers are able to complete their training requirements and to aid us in being more agile with updates, a number of our training modules are now available as independent eLearning.

The training modules include:

• Essential Information (module 1)
• Safety
• Safeguarding
• General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and
• Trustee Introduction

We recognise the need for accessibility and so where, for accessibility reasons, members cannot complete this training independently, a Training Adviser, Local Training Manager or County Training Manager could meet with them to go through the online learning with them, providing one-to-one support or, exceptionally, using a workbook.

We would encourage the workbook to be the last resort used by Training Advisers and Managers. To help and support members use the eLearning we have put together this guide which provides a number of hints and tips on how to make use of accessibility features, built into devices.

This guide provides advice about supporting independent learning, including:

• Using accessibility tools in IOS devices
• Using accessibility tools in Android devices
• Using accessibility tools in Microsoft Windows
• Supporting those with no device or internet access
• Tools to check the pass mark for members who have used the workbook

Using accessibility tools

Technology provides a wide range of settings which can help make online content accessible for those with vision or hearing problems, and in some cases, those with physical or motor issues. These accessibility settings can increase the size of the default font, zoom in on the screen, and even speak text or activate subtitles and captioning.

As we move into an ever increasingly digital world, let’s explore what technology manufacturers and our devices already have built in to support accessibility.