Discover clear, practical strategies to embed accessibility and inclusivity in government settings.
1,641 enrolled on this course

Duration
2 weeksWeekly study
3 hoursLanguages
English, Italiano, Español, Français, PortuguêsEnglish, Italiano100% online
How it works
Accessibility in Government: Getting Started
This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.
Explore the basics of accessibility with Government Digital Service
Learn how to create more accessible and inclusive public services. This two-week course covers key principles, legislation, and real-world practices for designing accessible government services.
Through case studies, you’ll learn to recognise common barriers to accessibility, and discover actionable ways to foster equality and inclusion in your organisation.
Understand accessibility fundamentals in government
Build a solid foundation in accessibility concepts and UK standards relevant to public service. Learn why digital accessibility is essential and how it underpins the effectiveness of government services for all.
Explore the principles behind inclusive service design and legislation and see how common barriers affect people’s experiences.
Apply inclusive design to services and policies
Develop key skills to recognise exclusion in digital, physical, and policy environments. You’ll assess and redesign services so that everyone, including disabled and neurodiverse users, can access them with ease.
Through new practical frameworks, you’ll implement inclusive design across teams and projects. With guidance on how to involve users in testing, gathering feedback, and refining services for real-world accessibility.
Build a culture of inclusion in the public sector
Examine how workplace attitudes and behaviours shape accessibility outcomes. Discover new ways to identify steps leaders and staff can take to embed inclusion across teams, programs, and departments. With these new strategies, you’ll create sustainable, inclusive practices in all aspects of government work.
Whether you work directly on digital products, service delivery, or policy, you’ll build confidence applying accessibility standards and inclusive design to deliver services that empower everyone.
Syllabus
Week 1
Introduction to Accessibility
Introduction to the course
Welcome to the course! Find out what you will learn over the next 2 weeks.
What is accessibility?
Learn about the basics of accessibility and digital accessibility and why they are important.
Understanding people and their needs
Learn about different disabilities and impairments, the barriers they can create for people, and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.
Accessibility in government
Learn about accessibility in government, including our standards and the accessibility specialist role.
Summary of the week
A review of what we learned this week, a look forward to Week 2, and an end-of-week review test to check your learning so far.
Week 2
Accessibility in Practice
Introduction to Week 2
Find out what we will be covering in Week 2.
Tools and technologies
Learn about different tools, assistive technologies, and processes for testing accessibility.
Everyday accessibility
Explore accessibility issues through different everyday scenarios.
Try it yourself!
Try different basic tests for accessibility using your own computer or smartphone.
What can users do?
A summary of what users can do to advocate for accessibility.
Summary of the week
A review of what we learned this week and throughout the course and your final end-of-week review test.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of the key principles of accessibility
- Demonstrate awareness of different disabilities and access needs and how to adapt content to enable digital accessibility
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of accessibility legislation and legal requirements
Who is the course for?
Open to all backgrounds, this course is ideal for anyone working in or with the government who wants to enhance accessibility and inclusion in their services, policies, or workplace.
Who will you learn with?
Senior Learning Designer in the Government Digital Service.
Who developed the course?
Government Digital and Data
Government Digital and Data is now live on FutureLearn, in partnership with the Government Digital Service (GDS), part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). Together, we’re helping build the right conditions for digital, data and technology transformation across government — working closely with departments and functions such as commercial, project delivery and security.
| Unlock nowUpgrade and unlock this entire course now | |||
Ways to learn | Subscribe & save | Buy this course | Start learning today |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose the best way to learn for you! | $349.99 for one year Automatically renews | $54/one-off payment | Free |
| Develop skills to further your career | Fulfill your current learning need | Try this course - with limits | |
| Access to this course | tick | tick | Limited to 2 weeks |
| Access to 1,000+ courses | tick | cross | cross |
| Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
| Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
| Tests to check your learning | tick | tick | cross |
| Certificate when you're eligible | Digital only | Printed and digital | cross |
Cancel for free anytime |
Ways to learn
Choose the best way to learn for you!
Buy this course
$54/one-off payment
Fulfill your current learning need
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Tests to boost your learning
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Subscribe & save
$349.99 for one year
Automatically renews
Develop skills to further your career
- Access to this course
- Access to 1,000+ courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Tests to boost your learning
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Cancel for free anytime
Start learning today
Free
Try this course - with limits
- Limited to 2 weeks
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) | |||
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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