Why I Left Skool.com: Building a Truly Accessible LMS for My Community

Choosing the right platform for online education and community building deeply influences user experience, especially for individuals with disabilities. As someone committed to digital accessibility, I made a difficult but necessary decision: I moved my accessibility community from skool.com to a custom-built Learning Management System (LMS) on this very website. Today, I’m explaining why I made that move, what I learned along the way, and what I now offer through my new platform.

Video Guide

Why I Chose Skool.com Initially

When I first set up my community, skool.com attracted me with its modern features. It included built-in community tools, seamless course integration, and an appealing user interface. I believed I could make the platform accessible by customizing my content. I knew how to add alt text, format headings correctly, and follow best practices for accessible materials. But I soon discovered content-level accessibility wasn’t enough.

The Inaccessible Reality

While using the platform, serious accessibility issues quickly became apparent. Buttons lacked proper labels, keyboard navigation was impossible, and assistive technology couldn’t access course content. These weren’t just usability flaws; they actively prevented people from learning, and that couldn’t be ignored.

To address the concerns, I contacted skool.com’s support team and asked when they planned to implement accessibility features. Their response made it clear: accessibility wasn’t on their roadmap. That told me everything I needed to know. Continuing to promote a platform that refused to prioritize inclusion simply wasn’t an option.

Admitting My Mistake

It’s clear now that assuming accessible content could make up for an inaccessible platform structure was a mistake. Foundational accessibility, something that must be built into the platform itself, was overlooked. This experience became a valuable learning opportunity for me. Even accessibility professionals make missteps; what truly matters is how we choose to respond.

Building My Own Accessible LMS

After I left skool.com, I searched for LMS platforms that supported accessibility. I quickly learned how few platforms meet even the most basic accessibility standards. Most developers still prioritize flashy design over functional, inclusive features. The gap in the market surprised and disappointed me.

Since no available platform met my needs, building a custom solution became the only option. A fully accessible LMS now runs under The Accessibility Guy website. Every button includes proper labels, keyboard navigation functions seamlessly, and screen readers can interpret all content—giving me full control over customization. From the ground up, this platform was designed as an inclusive learning space.

My new LMS reflects everything I believe in about accessibility. It isn’t perfect, but I designed it with care to include everyone. To celebrate its launch and help others join the journey, I’m offering 50% off for life to new members who use the code justforyou.

Let me be your champion for inclusion. I offer tailored solutions (and self-paced courses!) to ensure your documents meet and exceed compliance expectations. For more detailed insights, tutorials, and in-depth discussions on accessibility and related topics, don’t forget to check out my YouTube channel: The Accessibility Guy on YouTube. Subscribe for regular updates!