Learner Persona Builder

Part of the Accessible Online Course Design Toolkit

Designing an accessible online course ensures that all learners, including those with disabilities, can fully engage with your content. This resource provides instructional designers and educators with carefully selected tools to create accessible online learning environments. Whether you’re new to accessibility or looking to enhance your existing courses, these resources will help you implement Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles.

Tool Overview

This interactive tool helps you create detailed learner personas to guide your accessible course design. Understanding diverse needs allows you to build courses that work for everyone from the start. Your completed personas help you identify barriers, implement targeted solutions, apply universal design principles, test your course elements, and gather meaningful feedback.

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How to Use this Tool

  1. Complete each section with realistic details about potential learners.
  2. Consider various accessibility needs and contexts.
  3. Create multiple personas to represent your diverse audience.
  4. Use personas to test your course design and identify improvements.
Persona Profile

This is some detail about the section.

Give your learner a fictional name that feels authentic.

What they do now — work, school, caregiving, etc. This affects time and motivation.

Select an age range that reflects your target learner group.

Give your learner a fictional name that feels authentic.

City or region. Consider how geography may affect internet access, time zones, or tech availability.

Living alone, with family, shared space, caregiver role — anything that may affect their learning environment.

Persona Profile

Details about the section.

Name

i.e. Alisha

Give your learner a fictional name that feels authentic.

Age:

i.e. 22

Select an age range that reflects your target learner group.

Location:

i.e. Meriden, CT

City or region. Consider how geography may affect internet access, time zones, or tech availability.

Occupation:

i.e. Full-time Student

What they do now — work, school, caregiving, etc. This affects time and motivation.

Education:

i.e. Sophomore

Give your learner a fictional name that feels authentic.

Living Situation:

i.e. Lives on campus with 2 roommates

Living alone, with family, shared space, caregiver role — anything that may affect their learning environment.

Technology and Access

Occupation:

i.e. Full-time Student

What they do now — work, school, caregiving, etc. This affects time and motivation.

Education:

i.e. Sophomore

Give your learner a fictional name that feels authentic.

Living Situation:

i.e. Lives on campus with 2 roommates

Living alone, with family, shared space, caregiver role — anything that may affect their learning environment.

Name

i.e. Alisha

Give your learner a fictional name that feels authentic.

Age:

i.e. 22

Select an age range that reflects your target learner group.

Location:

i.e. Meriden, CT

City or region. Consider how geography may affect internet access, time zones, or tech availability.

Occupation:

i.e. Full-time Student

What they do now — work, school, caregiving, etc. This affects time and motivation.

Education:

i.e. Sophomore

Give your learner a fictional name that feels authentic.

Living Situation:

i.e. Lives on campus with 2 roommates

Living alone, with family, shared space, caregiver role — anything that may affect their learning environment.

Ready to build better online courses?

Take the next step in creating accessible learning experiences. Join our free “Inclusive by Design Online Learning Workshop” to learn how to use these tools effectively and create courses that work for all your students.

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