Accessible Documents by Design: workflow from source to PDF

(Word, Powerpoint, InDesign, PDF — Adobe Acrobat Pro, Kofax PowerPDF Pro, Nuance PowerPDF Advanced, Foxit) / W3C WCAG / AODA / PDF/UA / Section 508 / EN 301 549) course

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Course Description

PLEASE NOTE: When we present this topic in a public course, it is part of our comprehensive course that ALSO includes accessible Web pages … when we present it for your organization we can make it exclusively about accessible PDF: your choice!

It used to be that the only way to comply with Web accessibility standards for persons with disabilities or difficulties was to publish content in HTML. One of the most exciting parts of the new Standard On Web Accessibility and WCAG is that it has become feasible for you to choose PDF as the only container for certain content on your Web site … but only if you know how. We’ve worked with Adobe and other experts to put together this comprehensive and powerful course, where attendees walk away with immediately-applicable tips and techniques to make PDF files that are accessible.

De-mystify how to make PDF accessible whether your source is Word, Excel, PowerPoint, InDesign… or existing PDF! Sometimes the best way to provide content in an accessible format is to choose PDF, whether to reduce costs, or to share knowledge and processes more effectively.

Most adults suffer from some level of disability or difficulty that can be mitigated through accessible technologies. And when we design for the extremes, everyone benefits.

Not only will you comply with the standards (AODA, WCAG, Standard On Web Accessibility, Section 508, …): you’ll be broadening the audience for your content while enriching the experience of existing users.

Now covering WCAG 2.0 and 2.1!

“Thank you to you for providing such knowledgeable information during the training. The designers learned a lot: this will give them more confidence.”

– Nathalie L Lauzon, University of Ottawa

“Techniques I can use.”

– Liv Stenersen, Government Administration Services, Oslo (Norway)

“Fun and engaging… David is great!”

– James Welsh, Conference Board of Canada

David Berman will convince you of why accessibility is important for everybody, then provide in-depth familiarity with federal and international guidelines that will help your PDF content be a more effective resource for your entire audience. You’ll also gain familiarity with assistive technologies that help people with specific disabilities and difficulties.

Canada’s federal government led the world when it first introduced its accessibility-centric Common Look & Feel (CLF) policy, now replaced with its Standard On Web Accessibility and Standard on Web Usability. Our full-day course includes a thorough review of every pertinent standards that apply to accessible PDF, including other policies which call for WCAG Level A and AA compliance (such as U.S. Section 508 and Ontario’s AODA). These new standards allow PDF to be your primary format, but only if your PDF is truly accessible … and that is poorly understood. We’ll cover everything from tables to charts to fillable forms and testing recommendations.

Not only will you leave with ideas you can use right away, you may also gain a whole new attitude towards how technology can improve lives. By the end of the day you will not only be aware of why accessibility and standards affect everyone: you’ll be equipped with a thorough understanding  of what needs to be done and how, including tools and testing techniques. Each full-day participant leaves with a comprehensive 160+ page learning guide, detailing every relevant accessibility success criterion.

This course incorporates adult learning principles and activities appropriate to a variety of learning styles, and qualifies for CEUs (certified by organizations such as PPAC).

“Excellent… knowledge I can use.”

– Sandra Clark, Ministry of Trade and
Industry, Oslo (Norway)

“Focused and easy to follow.”

-Jason Hollett, gordongroup

“Great. He kept me listening and understanding.”

– Matthew Brunetti, Lixar IT

“Inspiring!”

– Morten Budeng, King Design

“Excellent.”

– Sylvie Nyman, Indian and Northern
Affairs Canada

What’s Wrong

Computer-mediated accessibility to information represents the greatest liberation in human history. Most people in our societies have some sort of physical or mental difficulty which can stand in the way of clear Web communication unless proper design steps are taken.

Now that PDF is recognized as a legitimate primary format for accessible publishing, there’s a need for people to understand what constitutes sufficiently-accessible PDF, and the steps to get there with the least expense and effort. Although most professional developers now create content with some awareness of browser incompatibilities
and platform dependencies, they still experience difficulties with emerging accessibility standards. Much PDF continues to be developed based on assumptions that don’t address the specific needs of people with
disabilities and difficulties and thus fail to deliver the promise of accessible PDF.

“Very good speaker – good sense of humour.”

– Johan Fong, House of Commons

“Entertaining.”

– Sjur Kristiansen, Telenor Telecommunications
Group

“Eye-opening. Love your method of teaching.”

– Jean Descrochers, National Research
Council

What Makes This Course Unique

Our course leader, David Berman, is a consultant on accessible for large IT projects, and has worked on Web accessibility projects for many large organizations including Statistics Canada, the National Research
Council, and IBM.

He is a high-level advisor to the United Nations on how accessible IT can help fulfill the Millennium Development Goals more rapidly.

He has been the project manager of numerous accessible Web projects, has developed strategy and design for CFIA, CRA, CMHC, Health Canada, Canadian Heritage, Industry Canada, and the International Space Station … as well as many private sector and non-profit organizations.

By addressing and understanding accessibility issues, publishers can more effectively deliver their message to their entire audience, regardless of physical or mental impediments, while complying with legal and moral responsibilities.

“I enjoyed it all.”

– Robert Hallat, Public Service Commission

“Right on target.”

– Marius Monsen, Reaktor ID

“He knows what to do!” “This will guide us for the AA Standards”

– Bassil Wehbe, Agriculture Canada

What You Will Learn

You will learn how to make your current communications more accessible by complying with standards and guidelines. Specifically, you will learn:

• why we make documents accessible
• assistive technologies used by document users
• which laws and regulations apply to your documents
• W3C WCAG success criteria and how they apply to documents
• using templates to build documents that are accessible by default
• standards on developing accessible documents
• specific technologies and design techniques used to satisfy core  accessibility issues
• how to make documents even more accessible
• understanding of how enterprise-wide document development processes can save money and time by making document generation more systematic
• testing frameworks for accessible documents

“Very good: made me think…”

– Bente Mollevik, Norwegian Savings
Bank Association

“Great: very comprehensive. Touching on all aspects of accessibility.”

– Marc Iafelice, CFIA

“David really knows his topics. Very well done: got the point across in a way that can be apply to everyone.”

– Sean Strasbourg, CFIA

Goals/Objectives

At the end of this event, you will:

• be exposed to techniques you can apply right away to make document content more accessible
• have a comprehensive understanding of W3C WCAG and current government accessibility policies as they apply to documents … and how to meet them
• be able to make informed decisions as to which document format is the best medium
• be able to make informed decisions as to when to make documents accessible on your own versus outsourcing
• know how to handle situations where a document will intentionally not be made accessible
• know you’re doing the “right thing” by ensuring accessibility for all

“Excellent.”

– Steinar Sandum, Adax, Svelvik (Norway)

“Interesting content, really well delivered. Visual and engaging. Gives us a common language and approach.”

– Chris Cook, CFIA

“This will change the way we work.”

– Sharon Drolet, Canadian Food Inspection Agency

What You Get

When David Berman Communications hosts this course publicly*, regular ticket holders receive:

• a complimentary, comprehensive 160+ page learning guide, detailing every applicable accessibility standard (also
  available separately for $97, with optional 1-on-1 distance coaching)
• a thirty-minute one-on-one personal coaching tele-session with David or one his top experts within a month
• the option to attend this course again in the future, as a refresher, at no additional cost
• the option to attend the first half on one date and the second half at a future date
• a money-back guarantee: if, after coaching and refresher, you don’t think you’ve got your money’s worth, we’ll refund your entire fee

(*If you are attending one of our courses hosted by another organization, confirm which of these items apply.)

Register (at https://davidberman.com/register ) or call 1-613-728-6777… or bring this event to your site: for a keynote, half-day, or full-day event, customized for your group.

Prerequisites: None

Berman speaks on accessibility in Oslo, Norway

“Clear and entertaining: will allow more strategic planning rather than just reactionary stumbling.”

– Steve Doody, Justice Canada

“This will make us better communicators.”

– Luc Bergeron, SSHRC

“Perfect.”

– Jean Leclair, Environment Canada

About the Expert Speaker

David Berman is the principal of David Berman Communications. He has over 25 years of experience in graphic design and strategic communications. He has worked extensively in adapting the printed word for electronic
distribution, including software interface development.

David was appointed a high-level advisor to the United Nations on how design and accessible IT can help fulfill the Millennium Development Goals more rapidly.

He has extensive experience as a senior consultant in applying accessibility and standards to government Web sites, as well as to private sector clients such as IBM, both as a strategist and compliance testing leader. He regularly teaches accessibility principles as part of his professional development workshops, and developed a custom two-day workshop for the National Research Council on common look and feel. His plain writing, design, and accessibility work include award-winning projects for the City of Ottawa, the Ontario government, and Canada’s federal government.
Clients include IBM, Justice Canada, HRDC, Canada Revenue Agency, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Region of Ottawa-Carleton and the Ontario Literacy Coalition.

David has been featured in the Financial Post, the Globe And Mail, the Ottawa Citizen, the Montreal Gazette, Marketing, Applied Arts, HOW, and Communication Arts magazines, as well as ABC and CBC.

In addition to operating as one of the leading design strategists in Canada’s capital, David ranks #1 on speakerwiki.org on this topic for a reason. His arc as an internationally-celebrated expert speaker has brought him to over 30 countries. David is a National Professional Member of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS) and the Global Speakers Federation (GSF).

David is currently Ethics Chair of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada, was named a Fellow (the highest professional honour for graphic designers in Canada) in 1999, and has served as a director and sustainability chair of Icograda, the world body for graphic and communications design.

Guest Presenters

David will often include guest subject matter experts within a full-day course. For instance, in 2011 he has been joined by:

Who Should Attend

This course is targeted to all project managers, Webmasters, production coordinators, IT professionals, strategists, and controllers, involved in developing documents and Web sites.

• senior departmental officials
• chief information officers
• heads of communication
• Web and document managers
• people who need to get their Web presences compliant with current and future government accessibility standards
• people who manage or plan Web sites and electronic publishing
• people who coordinate people who build Web sites and documents
• people who design or program Web sites, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, or InDesign documents
• people who represent clients who hire others to develop Web sites and documents
• people involved in: IT project management, analysis, architecture, interaction design, graphic design, prototyping, writing, development, quality control
• developers of online applications, games, mobile apps

This course delivers knowledge required for EN 301 549, WCAG 2.0 and WCAG 2.1 Level A and Level AA awareness training as documented in the Government of Canada’s Accessibility Responsibility Breakdown as well as current Treasury Board policy and evolving Accessible  Standards Canada standards. This course incorporates adult learning principles and activities appropriate to a variety of learning styles, and qualifies for CEUs.

Language:

English (French available upon request)

Duration:

One-day course, half-day course, or keynote presentation (we also provide this course customized on-site for your organization).

“I love David’s approach.”

-Carole Dubuc, Canadian Armed Forces

“Clear, concise, and very useful.”

-Annette Kallevig

“Excellent, eye-opening, and not preachy!”

-Carrie Walker-Boyd, Canadian Food Inspection Agency

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Adobe invented PDF … now it’s an ISO standard

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Reviewed January 9, 2016