Accessible Spreadsheets: from Excel (and Google Sheets)

For a fully keyboard-accessible alternative for this video, either view it in Chrome or any Android or iOS device, view in Firefox with the YouTube ALL HTML5 add-on installed, or disable Flash in current Internet Explorer.

Course Description

Are your spreadsheets inclusive by default? Learn how to create accessible spreadsheets in Excel and Google Sheets.

An accessible spreadsheet is one that allows people living with accessibility issues to receive the same information as everyone else. From accessible headings to keyboard navigation, spreadsheet accessibility includes topics as varied as the human senses.

This course teaches Excel and Google Sheet users to succeed in effectively creating accessible spreadsheets, taking them into account the laws and regulations relevant to you.

You can succeed in maintaining the accessibility that is already cooked into accessible spreadsheets or create your own so that everyone can participate in the editorial process. Meanwhile, you’ll be reducing the effort that will be required for your Web team to convert your spreadsheets to accessible HTML or PDF.

Not only will you comply with the regulation and standards (e.g., WCAG 2, Revised Section 508, ADA, ENG 301 549, AODA…): you’ll be broadening the audience for your content while enriching the experience of existing users.

“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 spreadsheet 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.

Our full-day course includes a thorough review of every pertinent standard that applies to accessible spreadsheets, including policies that call for WCAG 2 and EN 301 549 conformance (such as U.S. Section 508 and Ontario’s AODA). These new standards allow spreadsheet files (or the HTML or PDF that result from them) to be your primary format, but only if your spreadsheet files are truly accessible … and that is poorly understood. We’ll cover everything from tables to formulas 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 course, 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 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

There’s a need for people to understand what constitutes sufficiently-accessible spreadsheets, whether fillable or static, 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. Many spreadsheets continue to be developed based on assumptions that don’t address the specific needs of people living with disabilities and difficulties and thus fail to deliver the promise of accessible spreadsheets.

“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 accessibility 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 online projects, has developed strategy and design for CAST, 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.

“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 spreadsheet files that include everyone from Step 1, that comply with every global standard for accessible spreadsheets. Specifically, you will learn:

• Introduction
  • introduction to WCAG 2 and how it applies to spreadsheets
  • introduction to accessible spreadsheet software
• Creating accessible spreadsheets
  • working with cell structures (headings and data)
  • working with layout (spacing and alignment)
  • baking accessibility into spreadsheets
  • workflow for accessible fillable spreadsheet (including optional locking of unfillable regions)
• Flagging and repairing issues
• Exporting to PDF
  • setting the export options
  • exporting
  • touching up and testing

“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

Upon completion, participants will be able to successfully create an accessible spreadsheet file (WCAG 2 Level AA compliant) using Microsoft Excel and/or Google Sheets.

At the end of this event, you will:

• know many techniques you can apply right away to make spreadsheet content more accessible
• be able to make informed decisions as to when a spreadsheet is the right place to start
• understand better the experience of those living with disabilities using spreadsheets
• know you’re doing the “right thing” by ensuring that everyone can participate in the spreadsheet development process

“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*, 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 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:

• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Excel and/or Google Sheets

“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 ICT 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.

Who Should Attend

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

• heads of communication
• Web and document managers
• people who need to get their spreadsheets compliant with current and future government accessibility standards
• people who write, edit, plan, translate, proofread, or manage online spreadsheets
• people who coordinate people who build spreadsheets

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

Subscribe to our e-news to be notified when we schedule new instances of this topic.

Adobe invented PDF … now it’s an ISO standard

Return to top

Reviewed November 18, 2023