Public Health Joy

S4 E13: How to Make Online Learning Accessible with Leah Roman


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True accessibility in public health education means designing with everyone in mind from the start, not treating it as an afterthought. Joining us today to talk about building more inclusive, learner-centered e-learning experiences is Leah Roman. Leah is the owner and principal consultant at Roman Public Health Consulting LLC, where she applies over 20 years of experience designing accessible training for public health and related workforces.


In this episode, she shares how flexibility, empathy, and intentional design can help meet the needs of all learners, especially in virtual spaces. From transcripts to alternative text for visual images, Leah offers practical ways to reach adult learners and be as inclusive as possible through thoughtful design. Whether you're creating a course or sharing resources online, this conversation will leave you rethinking how to make your work more inclusive and impactful!


Key Points From This Episode:

  • How to gain access to the replay of the Bracing for 2025 Virtual Summit. [0:00]
  • Introducing today’s guest, Leah Roman, and her career background. [02:19]

  • How Leah was first exposed to e-learning and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. [05:42]

  • What accessibility means in e-learning and virtual environments. [08:23]

  • A story from Dr. Joyee Washington about teaching biostats online. [12:50]

  • Helping clients shift from in-person to online by rethinking learning goals and delivery. [15:29]

  • How to understand and match the needs of your audience. [21:06]

  • The importance of creating flexibility and choice in online learning. [22:29]

  • Adapting for learners with visual challenges and describing images accessibly. [26:11]

  • How to keep accessibility top of mind by building it into checklists and daily workflows. [28:46]

  • Unlearning old presentation habits to better serve all learners. [31:29]

  • What brings Leah joy in her work as a consultant. [33:59]

  • Ways to connect with Leah and learn more about her work. [35:56]


If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and, leave a review! For more transcripts, show notes,and more visit: https://joyeewashington.com/public-health-joy-season-4/ 

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Public Health JoyBy Dr. Joyee Washington

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