Cambridge University Press Receives Award for Inclusive Learning Design Innovations

Cambridge University Press Honored with Disability Smart Award

On July 10, 2025, the International Education group at Cambridge University Press & Assessment announced a significant achievement: the Cambridge Latin Course has been awarded the 2025 Disability Smart Inclusive Product Design Award. This prestigious recognition was presented by the Business Disability Forum, which acknowledges organizations prioritizing accessibility in their product development processes.

Mark Cavone, Regional Director North America for International Education at Cambridge, expressed his honor at receiving the award. He remarked that this accolade reinforces their dedication to integrating accessibility at the very core of their educational products. According to Cavone, the intention is to forge learning experiences that are not only functional but also aspirational. He emphasized the belief that inclusive design serves to enhance overall usability for all learners.

The Cambridge Latin Course underwent a thoughtful redesign, executed collaboratively with the Cambridge School Classics Project (CSCP). This initiative aims to ensure that individuals with disabilities are accurately represented in the content and that the learning material is usable by diverse learners, accommodating a wide range of needs. Lilian Dogiama, who heads accessibility and inclusion efforts at Cambridge, highlighted that the project was a product of extensive teamwork and shared values among their partners.

Originally published more than two decades ago, the Cambridge Latin Course has evolved into a widely used resource for secondary students beginning their Latin studies. The redesigned course includes updated materials that reflect contemporary best practices in accessibility and educational design. Each unit combines a student book with comprehensive digital tools and teacher support aimed at enhancing the learning experience.

The print edition showcases a redesigned layout that prioritizes visual clarity and easy navigation, with considerations made for font selection, color contrast, and spacing. Additionally, the digital components are constructed to facilitate flexible learning, featuring intuitive interfaces, comprehensive alt text, and diverse content formats such as audio, video, and interactive elements.

Utilized by Latin students worldwide, the Cambridge Latin Course aligns with Cambridge’s ongoing mission to craft high-quality academic materials accessible to all. The insights gained from this initiative have catalyzed broader enhancements to internal publishing workflows at Cambridge, establishing new benchmarks for accessibility across both print and digital media.

Cambridge International Education, as part of the University of Cambridge, is dedicated to developing an educational framework that fosters knowledge, understanding, and skill-building among learners aged 3 to 19. By offering a flexible and globally recognized educational structure, Cambridge is committed to ensuring that all students are adequately prepared to face future opportunities and challenges.

This recognition not only celebrates Cambridge's commitment to inclusivity but also serves as a reminder of the possibilities that arise when inclusion becomes a fundamental priority from the outset of product development. For more information about Cambridge’s ongoing educational initiatives and resources, visit www.cambridgeinternational.org/usa.

In conclusion, the Disability Smart Inclusive Product Design Award underscores the importance of accessible educational resources and serves as an inspiration for other organizations to prioritize inclusivity in their projects and initiatives.