Learning Management System Accessibility

Business area: Organisational Development & Learning

Directorate: People Branch

Division: Corporate Services

Project summary

People will partner with the Disability Employee Network, the Board and business stakeholders involved in the development and management of learning courses to improve accessibility of learning content on the DCJ Learning Management System (LMS).

Focus Area:

• Supporting access to meaningful employment.

Project objective

This project will ensure the new LMS and eLearning content is fully accessible to staff with disability. It will also aim to increase board member and business stakeholder understanding of the Web Content Accessibility Guide (WCAG) to ensure that the design, development and administration of eLearning content meets the AA level standards. Finally, it will seek to improve the Access and Inclusion Index rating for DCJ.

The challenge

Feedback from the DEN and results from the Access and Inclusion Index have highlighted the challenges staff with disability have in accessing the current LMS and engaging in individual eLearning.

As many owners of learning content are not aware of the WCAG standards many of the eLearning courses on the LMS do not meet these standards. Feedback on the SuccessFactors LMS has also highlighted accessibility issues with the system itself. This means that the Department is not meeting its obligations under the Disability Inclusion Act 2014 (NSW).

Why is this important?

The project will deliver the following benefits:

• Equity of access to the LMS and eLearning content supports individual career development of staff with disability as well as providing a better experience for all users.
• Improved accessibility to professional development increases DCJ’s potential of attracting and retaining staff with disability and achieve the NSW Government's goal of ensuring 5.6 per cent of government sector roles are held by people with a disability.
• DCJ will be able to empower staff with disability by providing more learning opportunities and increased career development.
• The project will also help to meet the legislation under the Disability Inclusion Act 2014 (NSW).

What will success look like?

The project will be successful when all staff with disability, disclosed or not, can access and engage in eLearning courses on the Learning Management System. Additionally, there will be understanding of the WCAG standards by the Board and stakeholders involved in the design, creation and administration of eLearning. Finally, staff with disability will be able to access all content on the LMS in a meaningful way.

How will you measure success?

All new eLearning content complies with level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guide (WCAG) and internal policies.

Implementation of a new LMS that meets accessibility requirements.

DCJ-specific surveys will seek feedback from members of the Disability Employee Network on their experience using the new LMS as well as accessing and engaging in new eLearning courses.

People Matter Employee Survey (PMES) results will be used to measure if staff perceive their disability as a barrier to success within DCJ.

An improvement in the Access and Inclusion Index will be measurable.

Summary of key stages

Status report

Current Status: Progressing

Date: January 2023

Status Notes:

January 2023

Centre for Inclusive Design was engaged to perform a Digital Accessibility Review against WCAG2.1 level AA of the two Core Induction Dashboards and the online evaluation form in Thrive. The review was completed on 12 December 2023 with a consulation on the findings to occur in late January 2023. 

June 2022

1. DCJ's new enterprise wide LMS was procured with a focus on accessibility. 
2. The system offers learners the opportunity to request adjustments to enhance their learning. 
3. An accessibility checklist has been developed to support the development of all digital learning for DCJ.   This forms part of the consultation process undertaken by OD&L when developing digital learning content.  

May 2021

Consultation has been occuring with employees and on opportunities for improvement across accessibility. Guiding principles and tools will be designed, with the inclusive design principles in mind, for all learning embedded in the consolidated LMS.