{"id":19576,"date":"2023-05-12T20:47:37","date_gmt":"2023-05-12T20:47:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/blog\/accessibility-in-the-classroom\/"},"modified":"2025-05-21T13:57:34","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T18:57:34","slug":"accessibility-in-the-classroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.xello.world\/en-ca\/resources\/blog-posts\/accessibility-in-the-classroom\/","title":{"rendered":"Accessibility in the Classroom: Are EdTech Companies Doing Enough?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Not all EdTech programs are created equal when it comes to delivering accessibility in the classroom. Find out what to look for in the programs you need to serve all students, of all abilities.<\/em><\/h2>\n

One would believe the goal of EdTech programs is to provide value to all students, of all abilities. However, truly accessible technology is less common than educators may think, according to Te Thebeau, VP of Product Experience at Xello<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI find research and accessibility are often talked about but are ultimately viewed as \u2018nice to haves\u2019 with little to no funding or traction. Other times, they\u2019re simply non-existent. Perhaps due to lack of expertise, cost, or some other perceived barriers,\u201d he says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thebeau believes educators need to be more aware of accessibility standards so they can properly assess whether the EdTech programs they\u2019re evaluating are truly serving all of their students.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And he doesn\u2019t just talk about the importance of accessibility technology, he lives it. Thebeau suffers from profound hearing loss incurred during a diving accident years ago. As a result, he reads lips to assist his hearing and often watches movies with closed captioning. His direct experience is one of the reasons he\u2019s passionate about designing EdTech that accommodates learners of all abilities. He brings this sensibility to his work at Xello.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Effect of Accessible EdTech<\/h3>\n

\u201cBecause everyone benefits from an accessible experience, we don\u2019t view accessibility as an \u2018add on\u2019 or a \u2018check the box\u2019 item at Xello. We want to remove the barriers of technology so <\/span>all <\/span><\/i>students can focus on creating a successful future for themselves and this is an important commitment for us,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n

When it comes to living with a disability, Thebeau has a lot of company. <\/span>More than 1 in 10 youth in Canada<\/span><\/a> have one or more disabilities. And in the U.S., there are more hard-of-hearing internet users than the entire population of Spain (based on data from the World Bank, WDI, 2008), and more blind and low-vision users than the entire population of Canada (NHI Survey, 2008).<\/span><\/p>\n

Generation Z are the first digital natives in classrooms and expect to be able to interact with programs that accommodate all abilities. It\u2019s critical for technology to provide a high standard of operability and accessibility for everyone.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFor us it\u2019s all about inclusion and equitable access to knowledge and opportunities, regardless of one\u2019s abilities. This really makes sense when you consider that about 20 per cent of the population of the U.S. lives with some form of disability,\u201d says Thebeau.<\/span><\/p>\n

He spearheads a team of talented designers, researchers, and content writers at Xello to deliver a well-rounded product experience.\u00a0<\/span>
\n\u201cThe core of what we\u2019re trying to accomplish is to create human-centered experiences built on human insights and data, not best guesses. The latter still tends to dominate the way many companies think about solving [accessibility] problems in EdTech,\u201d he says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What to Look for in EdTech Accessibility in the Classroom<\/h3>\n

With his first-hand experience and expertise with an EdTech product, Thebeau is an ideal person to offer insight into what educators should be looking for to ensure the technology they invest in is genuinely accessible to all students.<\/span>
\nHe recommends EdTech programs that adhere to these standards:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n