Accessibility in eLearning for the Life Sciences industry: Building inclusion from the start
5 mins
In the life sciences industry, learning is not just about professional development. It is a matter of compliance, safety, and global responsibility. Not only products and innovations face intense regulatory scrutiny, but also the performance and readiness of the workforce.
Whether training staff on new procedures, ensuring adherence to regulatory standards, or onboarding diverse teams across regions, the effectiveness of learning depends on the accessibility of the training itself.
Accessible eLearning ensures that every learner, regardless of ability, background, or technology, can engage with and absorb critical information. Yet too often, accessibility is treated as an afterthought, something addressed late in the development process.
The reality is that accessibility works best when it is built in, not added on later. Designing for inclusion from the outset does more than support compliance. It results in clearer, more engaging, and more effective learning for everyone. When accessibility becomes a natural part of the process, it strengthens both learning outcomes and organizational integrity.
Why accessibility matters in Life Sciences eLearning
Compliance and regulatory responsibility
Life sciences organizations operate under some of the world’s most stringent regulations. Training content must be accurate and accessible to all employees. Laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 508, and the European Accessibility Act establish clear expectations for equitable access to digital materials. By embedding accessibility into eLearning, organizations reduce risk, demonstrate ethical leadership, and enable every learner to meet compliance requirements.
Global workforce inclusivity
Life sciences teams often span continents, languages, and a wide range of roles and abilities. Laboratory scientists, clinical researchers, manufacturing teams, and medical affairs specialists all rely on training that is consistent and easy to understand. Accessibility helps bridge these differences, allowing organizations to reach everyone effectively, regardless of location or learning context.
Complex content demands clarity
Scientific and regulatory topics are often highly technical. Accessibility principles such as intuitive navigation, plain language, readable text, descriptive alternative text for visuals, and captions for multimedia help ensure that complex material is clear and engaging. When training is designed for accessibility, comprehension for all learners.
Inclusive learning enhances performance
Accessible learning experiences lead to stronger outcomes. They are easier to use, more engaging, and more effective for everyone. In an industry where accuracy and understanding are critical, accessibility is not just a design consideration. It is a business advantage.
Embedding accessibility from the ground up
Creating accessible eLearning for the life sciences sector goes beyond meeting technical standards. It means designing learning that reflects the industry’s core values of precision, quality, and inclusion.
Here are five best practices to support that goal.
1. Design with accessibility in mind from the start
Plan for accessibility at the earliest stages of development. Apply inclusive design principles such as clear navigation, sufficient color contrast, scalable fonts, and compatibility with assistive technologies. When accessibility is considered during storyboarding, it becomes an integral part of the learning experience.
2. Make multimedia content inclusive
Visuals, simulations, and narrated videos are central to life sciences training. Ensure they are accessible by:
- Adding captions and transcripts for all video and audio content
- Providing audio descriptions when visuals convey essential information
- Enabling keyboard-only navigation for learners who cannot use a mouse
- Avoiding flashing or overly complex animations that may create sensory barriers
Accessible multimedia helps ensure that complex topics such as mechanisms of action, laboratory techniques, and device operation are understandable for all learners.
3. Support cognitive and linguistic accessibility
Technical content can be demanding. Improve accessibility by:
- Using clear and concise language
- Breaking content into short, focused modules
- Reinforcing key concepts with summaries and visuals
- Providing navigation controls that allow learners to pause, review, and progress at their own pace
These approaches support neurodivergent learners, non-native speakers, and anyone engaging with complex material.
4. Combine accessibility and localization for global impact
In life sciences training, accessibility and localization are closely connected. Every translated course should preserve accessibility features such as captions, transcripts, descriptive text, and culturally appropriate adaptations. This ensures learning remains inclusive and effective across markets and regulatory regions.
5. Audit, remediate, and continuously improve
Accessibility requires ongoing attention. Regular audits help identify gaps against standards such as WCAG 2.1 AA. Prioritize high impact content, including compliance, manufacturing, and safety training, and embed accessibility into content governance. Equip learning and design teams with the skills needed to maintain standards over time.
Case study: DDI’s journey to inclusive learning
A strong example of accessibility in practice comes from DDI, a global leadership development organization that partnered with RWS to make its learning programs fully inclusive.
Through a comprehensive accessibility audit and remediation process, DDI and RWS identified opportunities to improve navigation, visual contrast, and compatibility with assistive technologies. The result was a scalable, accessible eLearning framework that met compliance requirements while enhancing the learner experience worldwide.
By integrating accessibility from the beginning, DDI created learning that works for everyone, demonstrating that inclusive design drives stronger engagement, consistency, and impact across global audiences.
Read the full case study: DDI Accessible Learning Success Story.
Building a sustainable accessibility framework
Embedding accessibility into eLearning requires structure and long-term commitment. A practical roadmap includes:
- Assess: Audit existing courses and platforms to identify accessibility gaps
- Align: Define internal standards, such as WCAG 2.1 AA, and update design templates
- Remediate: Prioritize critical content and track improvements
- Educate: Train design and localization teams to apply accessibility consistently
- Monitor: Review accessibility performance regularly as content and technologies evolve
By following this cycle, accessibility becomes part of the organization’s foundation, supporting compliance, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
For life sciences organizations, accessibility is more than a technical requirement. It ensures teams can access and apply the critical knowledge and skills needed to operate in regulated environments. Inclusive learning design helps ensure that everyone, everywhere, can understand and use essential information. It strengthens compliance, improves performance, and supports the industry’s ultimate goal of improving lives.
At RWS, we partner with life sciences organizations to design, localize, and deliver eLearning that is globally compliant, fully inclusive, and effective for every learner. Check out our latest eBook: Accessible eLearning: why it matters and five ways to achieve it.