Accessible documents for all

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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 Word: your choice!

Are your documents inclusive by default? Learn how to create accessible Word documents and Google Docs.

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 pleasing parts of the evolution of WCAG 2 is that it has become feasible for you to make Word files (as well as PDF files that start as Word files) be both technically compliant with the standards as well as functionally accessible … but only if you know how. We’ve worked with other accessibility experts, as well as Microsoft engineers, to put together this comprehensive and powerful course, where attendees walk away with immediately applicable tips and techniques to make Word content accessible.

Whether fixing existing .doc and .docx or Google Doc files … or creating a system of templates where accessibility is baked in, we’ll demystify how to make any document accessible.

Our approach saves time and money while making your documents easier for everyone to use. When we design for the extremes, everyone benefits.

Not only will you comply with the standards (AODA, WCAG 2, Standard On Web Accessibility, Section 508, …): you’ll be broadening the audience for your content while delighting existing authors and users.

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

This course teaches Word and Google Doc users to succeed in effectively creating accessible document templates and documents, taking into account your relevant laws and regulations.

You can succeed in maintaining the accessibility that is already cooked into accessible templates 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 document to accessible HTML (or EPUB or PDF).

Not only will you comply with the standards (WCAG 2, Standard On Web Accessibility, Section 508, AODA…): you’ll be broadening the audience for your content while enriching the experience of existing users.

“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 Word 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 Word, including policies which call for WCAG 2 Level A and AA compliance (such as Canada’s Standard on Web Accessibility, U.S. Section 508 and Ontario’s AODA). These new standards allow Word files (or the HTML, PDF or EPUB that result from them) to be your primary format, but only if your Word files are truly accessible … and that is poorly understood. We’ll cover everything from tables to charts 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 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

Tow that Word is recognized as a legitimate primary format for accessible publishing, there’s a need for people to understand what constitutes sufficiently-accessible Word, and the steps to get there with the least expense and effort. Many Word files 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 documents.

“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 creator and lead, David Berman, holds the world’ highest certifications available for accessible documents. He is a member of the ISO committees for accessible PDF and plain language. David 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 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 Word files that include everyone from Step 1, that comply with every global standard for accessible documents. Specifically, you will learn:

• Introduction
  • Introduction to WCAG 2 and how it applies to documents
  • Introduction to accessible Word and accessible Google Docs
  • Introduction to accessible PDF/UA
• Creating accessible MS-Word documents
  • Working with text structures (headings, lists, and tables)
  • Working with images (placement, alt text, and decorative images)
  • Working with layout (columns and text boxes)
  • Working with headers and footers (page numbering and sections
  • Baking accessibility into Word templates
• Using the MS-Word Accessibility Checker to flag and repair issues
• Exporting to HTML and PDF
  • Setting the export options
  • Exporting the PDF
• “Touching up” the resulting PDF document in Adobe Acrobat Pro
  • Adding additional accessibility features
• Using the WCAG checklist
  • Introduction to functional accessibility testing
  • Using Word’s Read Aloud
  • Using keyboard navigation
  • Using a screen reading device
  • Involving real users

“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 Word file (WCAG 2 Level AA compliant) using Microsoft Word or Google Docs.

At the end of this event, you will:

• know many techniques you can apply right away to make Word content more accessible
• have a comprehensive understanding of W3C WCAG 2 and current government accessibility policies, and how to meet them
• be able to make informed decisions as to what document format to start with
• understand better the experience of those living with disabilities using document authoring tools and readers
• know you’re doing the “right thing” by ensuring that everyone can participate in the document 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

• Beginner or intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Word or Google Docs
• Beginner or intermediate knowledge of Adobe Acrobat Pro

“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 our experts

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 documents and Web sites.

people who create, author, edit, translate, design, quality control, or manage Word files
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

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, multiday, or half-day course, optionally tailored for online or onsite delivery 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 November 14, 2020