Accessibility: more than just a ‘nice to have’

Tony Barker, Workforce Learning and Development Lead, Skills for Care discusses why accessibility is so important across communications, design and technology.

I’ve been the Workforce Learning and Development Lead at Skills for Care for just over a year now, and one topic that keeps coming up in our team conversations is accessibility. Not just because it’s something we should be doing, but because it’s something we live every day.

Within our own team, we all have different needs. I’m visually impaired, so my screen is zoomed in to a level that lets me work comfortably and at pace. That might not immediately come to mind when we think about accessibility, but that’s exactly what it is - making sure people have what they need to do their job well.

Accessibility often gets framed in very practical terms. We hear about things like adjusting text size, choosing clearer fonts, changing colour contrast, or adding audio descriptions to images. These are all important - they’re part of meeting recognised accessibility standards, and as an organisation we make sure we’re doing what’s expected of us.

But the conversations we’re having now go further than that. We’re challenging ourselves to think about accessibility not as a checklist, but as a mindset. What does it really mean when we’re designing content, delivering workshops, or supporting the sector with workforce development and strategy?

Because the reality is simple: if something isn’t accessible, it isn’t inclusive.

That applies whether you’re designing a website, creating learning materials, building an app, or simply reviewing content and giving feedback. Accessibility isn’t just the responsibility of one person or one team - it runs through everything we do.

One of the areas we’ve been focusing on is how we design and deliver our learning. We’ve started to rethink how our workshops look and feel, with a clear principle in mind - less is more.

By reducing the amount of text and imagery on slides, we make it easier for people who want to engage visually to do so, without overwhelming them. At the same time, it creates space for conversation, which benefits people who prefer to listen and take part rather than focus on a screen. It’s about recognising that people learn in different ways and designing with that in mind.

We also make sure that anything important doesn’t live only in the moment. If content really matters, we share it after the session so people can go back to it in their own time. That removes the pressure to take notes quickly and means people can engage with the learning in a way that suits them.

Looking ahead, I think accessibility will continue to evolve, and technology will play a big part in that. We’re already seeing how tools can adapt to individual needs, and I expect that to grow. Artificial intelligence has the potential to make accessibility more personalised, responding to how each of us prefers to work and learn.

But while technology will help, it won’t replace the need for awareness and intent. Accessibility starts with understanding people, listening to their experiences, and being open to doing things differently.

I can honestly say that accessible technology has changed my life. It’s enabled me to work, learn and develop in ways that might otherwise have been difficult. And as my needs have changed over time, the technology has adapted with me. That’s what good accessibility looks like, it’s not fixed, it grows with you.

That’s why this matters so much. When we get accessibility right, we don’t just make small improvements, we open up opportunities. We allow people to take part, contribute and thrive.

So, whether you’re creating content, designing systems, or delivering learning, I’d encourage you to pause and think: who might this not work for? And what could we change to make it better?

Because accessibility isn’t just a ‘nice to have’. It’s fundamental to building a workforce and a sector that truly works for everyone.

Find out more about Global Accessibility Awareness Day.

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