6 Accessibility Trends EdTech Can’t Miss in 2025!

Accessibility isn’t just about following the law anymore. It is about making sure every learner has the tools and support they need to succeed. About 1 in 6 people around the world live with a disability, which makes accessible education very crucial.

As we look ahead, the challenge will be to keep innovating to make education accessible for everyone. Today, the question isn’t whether accessibility should be a priority anymore; it’s about how we can use new technologies and strategies to ensure every learner has an equal chance to succeed. By focusing on accessibility now, we’re building a future where education is fair, inclusive, and effective for everyone.

1. Leverage Voice-First Interfaces to Shape Accessible Learning

With devices like Amazon Echo, and Google Assistant, and tools like ChatGPT, voice technology makes learning more accessible, especially for users with motor impairments or literacy challenges. Many edtech platforms now use voice-first interfaces to make it simpler and more convenient for all users to navigate. These technologies enable hands-free access to content, allowing learners to navigate lessons, get homework help, and access information more easily.

To make the most of this, educational platforms should integrate voice-activated controls like voice search, hands-free navigation, and dictation tools, which allow learners to interact with content through simple voice commands. Features like “skip to the next chapter” or “read this aloud” make learning easier for learners with motor or reading challenges. This creates a more inclusive and effective learning experience for all learners.

2. Ensure Seamless Cross-Platform Accessibility for Effective Learning

Learners are using devices more than notebooks these days, switching between mobile phones, desktops, and even wearables throughout their day. This shift makes it crucial for educational platforms to ensure that learning experiences are seamless and accessible across all devices. Inconsistent accessibility can create frustration and disrupt learning. To address this, product managers should perform accessibility audits to ensure platforms work consistently on every device.

By following responsive design principles like fluid layouts, flexible images, and mobile-first strategies, platforms can ensure content adapts easily across devices. This approach helps make educational sites more user-friendly, allowing learners to navigate smoothly whether they’re on a phone, tablet, or desktop. Testing across various devices ensures a consistent experience, so all learners can engage effectively

3. Create Accessible STEM Content to Open Opportunities for Blind and Low-Vision Learners

The lack of accessible STEM resources has been a barrier for blind and low-vision learners, making it harder for them to participate in these fields. However, there is a growing movement to change this, with help from organizations like the National Federation of the Blind. 

New regulations, including updates to the WCAG 2.2 guidelines, are pushing for more accessible math content. To make STEM more inclusive, educational platforms can integrate tactile and audio feedback into experiments and work with experts to adapt existing materials, ensuring all learners, regardless of vision, can access and engage with STEM resources.

4. Integrate Haptic Feedback to Foster Inclusive Digital Environments

Haptic technology is changing the way we learn by allowing learners to interact with digital content through touch. Using vibrations and feedback helps make learning more engaging, especially in fields like science and medicine, where hands-on experience is crucial.

With this technology, learners can “feel” virtual objects, making tough concepts easier to understand. In virtual and augmented reality environments, haptic cues also help blind or visually impaired users navigate and interact with content, making learning more accessible for everyone. This is helping create more inclusive, immersive learning experiences for all learners.

5. Enhance Touch and Pointer Accessibility to Improve Learning Interactions

The recent updates to WCAG 2.2 focus on making touch-based interfaces more accessible for users with mobility or dexterity challenges. As touchscreen devices are increasingly used in education, these updates aim to make it easier for everyone, including those who rely on assistive devices, to navigate digital content.

The guidelines now emphasize larger touch targets, simpler ways to interact with content, and alternative navigation options, like tapping instead of dragging, which helps users with limited dexterity. It’s also important for developers to test these interfaces using tools like VoiceOver or Switch Control to ensure that all users can engage with the content easily, regardless of their physical abilities. These changes are all about making learning more inclusive for everyone.

6. Prioritize Motion Design Adjustments for Inclusive Educational Content

Adjusting animations and motion graphics in digital content is important for users who are sensitive to motion, helping to prevent issues like dizziness and vertigo. In fact, digital experiences can greatly affect people with vestibular disorders, so it’s important to design with their comfort in mind.

As animations become more common in digital platforms, it’s essential to include options that reduce or remove motion, like motion-reduction settings and avoiding auto-play videos. While guidelines like WCAG provide some direction, they don’t cover all aspects of vestibular accessibility, pointing to the need for more awareness and advocacy. By making these changes, product managers can create more inclusive digital environments for everyone.

The future of accessible education is about using new technologies and smart design to make learning easier for everyone. This means using things like voice-controlled tools, making sure learning works across different devices, adding touch feedback, and adjusting motion graphics for comfort.

By focusing on accessibility now, we’re not just following rules, but making sure all learners — no matter their abilities — have what they need to succeed. As we keep finding new ways to improve, the goal should always be to make education fair and welcoming for everyone.