With our learning materials impacting about 25 million students across Europe, Sanoma Learning has a central role in promoting accessibility, inclusiveness, and equality in education. As a part of our strategy to develop inclusive content, we defined our new Accessibility Guidelines, which contain Sanoma Learning's principles for promoting accessibility throughout learning materials.
“Our core accessibility principles are designed to ensure that all students, regardless of physical, sensory, cognitive, or learning difference, can fully engage with learning materials and activities. By removing barriers, promoting inclusive design, and providing alternative formats or supports where needed, the guidelines help create a learning environment that is more supportive for all students”, states Nanette van Mourik, Sustainability Manager at Sanoma Learning.
Check out Sanoma Learning’s Accessibility Guidelines here.
These guidelines serve as a framework that complements local accessibility practices. As a company operating across Europe, it is essential for us to also follow national and local laws, regulations, norms, and curriculum requirements when applying these guidelines in business operations. Furthermore, Sanoma Learning is committed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and we adopt high market standards with ISO-standardized Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
Europe-wide regulations also play a role in ensuring the quality of our materials, as is the case with the European Accessibility Act (EAA). As Nanette explains, the EAA was introduced by the European Union to make sure that everyday products and services - especially digital ones - are easy to use and accessible for everyone, including people with disabilities. “This is especially important for learning, since education today depends so much on technology and online resources”, continues Nanette van Mourik.
We can see the results of our inclusive learning strategy in practice, as it’s the case of Bingel DC in Belgium (VAN IN) and the Netherlands (Malmberg). The adaptive digital learning platform for primary education provides personalized exercises aligned with each country’s curriculum. Bingel DC recently announced the launch of breadcrumb navigation and improved ReadSpeaker functionality, part of our ongoing commitment to digital accessibility and an inclusive learning experience for all students.
“During my visit to a school, I saw the facts in a more tangible way. It was crucial to see and experience how students interact with our products and identify areas for improvement. Every student should have equal access to knowledge", says Wouter Würdemann, Product Manager in Malmberg.
Lauri Lampi, Editorial Project Manager at the Nordics, also reinforces the importance making our learning solutions accessible. “Offering accessible content allows the teachers to use our material with all of the kids in their classrooms. It’s great to see the progress we have made over the past years to enhance our offering, and that we aim for better inclusiveness over time!”.
Learn more about Sanoma’s Sustainability Strategy: https://www.sanomalearning.com/en/sustainability/