Discover practical ways to design accessible, inclusive content in PebblePad, highlighted during a standout presentation at the University College Birmingham’s Learning, Teaching and Inclusivity Conference 2025.
At this year’s conference, PebblePad’s Product Manager and Accessibility Champion, Fabienne Loveder, delivered a compelling presentation on creating accessible content in PebblePad. With her signature clarity and warmth, Fab shared practical insights into inclusive assessment design and how small, thoughtful choices can reduce barriers to learning for all students.
Her message was clear: accessibility isn’t an add-on – it’s a mindset. And when embedded from the start, it transforms not just the learner experience, but the outcomes too.
Why inclusion matters
“Inclusive design flips the script,” Fab explained. “Rather than saying, ‘we’ll fix things if you don’t fit,’ it says, ‘you belong here, and the system will meet you where you are.’”
As education becomes increasingly diverse, learners bring a wide range of abilities, backgrounds and preferences. Yet many systems weren’t built with that diversity in mind. The result? Barriers that are costly, stressful and disempowering.
Fab highlighted the traditional approach to accessibility – bolting it on at the end – as unsustainable. Instead, she advocated for a ‘shift left’ approach: designing with accessibility in mind from the outset.
What inclusive design looks like
Inclusive design isn’t about lowering standards. It’s about raising the bar for everyone. Fab shared several practical strategies that institutions are already using:
- Flexible formats for both content and assessment
- Plain, transparent language in learning outcomes
- Universal Design for Learning (UDL) frameworks to support autonomy and reduce cognitive load
- Thoughtful use of AI to help learners express ideas in academic language without losing their authentic voice
“These practices don’t just help learners with declared disabilities,” Fab said. “They improve clarity, confidence and engagement for everyone.”
Accessibility in PebblePad: Small shifts, big impact
Text and instructions
- Use plain language and short sentences
- Break down complex ideas into smaller, digestible chunks
- Avoid jargon and overly formal tone
- Frame instructions positively to motivate learners
Media
- Add alt text to images
- Ensure captions and transcripts are available for videos
- Avoid overloading pages with visuals
Colour and contrast
- Use a consistent colour palette with strong contrast
- Avoid pale grey text on white backgrounds
- Steer clear of overstimulating ‘rainbow’ palettes
Layout and headings
- Apply heading levels to structure content for screen readers
- Use descriptive link text (e.g. ‘Accessibility Guide’ instead of ‘Click here’)
Assessment flexibility
PebblePad allows learners to showcase their skills in diverse ways. Fab encouraged educators to avoid rigid formats and instead offer multiple ways for learners to demonstrate competence.
![“Don’t make the content … so rigid that [learners] can’t be flexible with what they’re adding to it.”](https://pebblepad.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Fab-Quote-3-300x130.png)
Two Examples: Before and after
Example 1: Workbook introduction
Before: Pale grey text, dense paragraphs, jargon-heavy language, negative tone and poor ‘scanability’.
After: Introduce accessibility into the content’s layout, including:
- Clear headings and bullet points
- Plain, learner-friendly language
- Positive framing of assessment
- Visual appeal with balanced use of images
- Accessible colour contrast
Example 2: Competency framework
Before: One rigid assessment format (750 words), buried competencies, academic-heavy language and punitive tone.
After: Introduce accessibility into the content’s layout, including:
- Flexible options for demonstrating competence
- Clear titles and descriptions using PebblePad’s block properties
- Supportive, encouraging language
Golden rules for accessibility
Fab closed her presentation with three clear takeaways. First, start with design –embedding accessibility from the beginning is not only easier but also fairer and more inclusive.
Second, focus on consistent, incremental improvements; even small shifts can make a meaningful difference without requiring a complete overhaul. And finally, remember that inclusion doesn’t lower standards – it raises them, improving clarity, fairness and outcomes for all learners.
Ready to make your content more inclusive?
Download PebblePad’s Accessibility Guide today and start making small shifts that create a big impact.
