Digital accessibility training prepares individuals and organizations to create online environments that are usable for people with a wide range of disabilities, including visual, auditory, cognitive, and physical disabilities. This article explores common topics covered in accessibility training, offers tips and best practices, and highlights local advocacy groups that can support the implementation of related strategies.
Digital accessibility training can be tailored to the specific needs of an organization. However, many training programs cover some or all of the following topics:
1. Understanding accessibility guidelines: Understanding the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) is a critical component of digital accessibility training. These international standards offer comprehensive criteria for making digital content accessible. Trainees should learn about the various levels of WCAG conformance (A, AA, and AAA) and the practical implementation of WCAG criteria.
2. Accessible design principles: Training for designers should cover design principles that support accessibility, like using high-contrast color combinations, readable fonts, and intuitive navigation structures. It's also important to teach staff how to make multimedia content accessible by adding captions to videos, transcribing audio files, and ensuring that images include descriptive alt text for screen reader users.
3. Creating accessible documents and PDFs: Educational content is often distributed as documents and PDFs. For this reason, schools and universities may particularly benefit from document accessibility training. This training would cover best practices including using proper headings, creating accessible tables, and providing descriptions for charts or images.
4. Testing for accessibility: While comprehensive accessibility testing is typically performed by a third-party accessibility expert, orienting your teams to the nuances of evaluating accessibility can help your organization better navigate the testing process. Training on testing should cover the different types of testing—including automated scanning, manual auditing, and functional testing with assistive technologies like screen readers.
Implementing an effective digital accessibility training program involves a thoughtful approach.
Here are some tips to consider:
1. Start with awareness: Begin by raising staff awareness about the importance of accessibility. Host workshops or seminars introducing the concept of digital inclusion and its impact on users with disabilities.
2. Offer hands-on training: Provide opportunities for staff to apply what they’ve learned through practical training sessions. These exercises could involve making a website more navigable or ensuring documents are screen-reader compatible.
3. Utilize online resources: Many free and paid resources are available to help organizations train staff in digital accessibility. Websites like W3C’s Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) and the ADA National Network offer guidelines, checklists, and case studies. Online courses and certification programs, like those offered by Level Access (Level Access Academy) or the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP), are also valuable.
4. Collaborate with experts: Your organization may have specific training needs that aren’t addressed by online resources. Consider engaging a third-party digital accessibility expert to host live training sessions tailored to your teams’ unique goals and priorities.
5. Create a long-term strategy: Establish an accessibility task force or designate accessibility officers to help your teams put their new knowledge and skills to work and ensure continued progress toward compliance. Accessibility isn’t a one-time project. Organizations need long-term strategies, and the end goal of training should be to better integrate accessibility into your day-to-day operations.
Implementing an accessibility training program can help lay the foundation for an ongoing digital accessibility program. Here are a few best practices for maintaining accessibility over time:
For those based in Kansas or the surrounding areas, several local advocacy groups are committed to promoting accessibility and disability rights. These organizations can offer support, guidance, and additional resources:
Embracing accessibility not only helps organizations fulfill their legal and ethical obligations but also creates a more inclusive, equitable digital environment. By training staff, implementing best practices, and collaborating with local advocacy groups, schools, businesses, and other institutions can make their digital offerings more accessible to all.