Creating Accessible Content: PebblePad’s Presentation on Inclusive Design at UCB 2025

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.

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.