Creating accessible forms: AcroForms and LiveCycle Designer / AEM Forms Designer
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Transcript of the video David Berman on The New Standard on Web Accessibility WCAG 2.0 events.
(The speaker, David Berman is sitting in an armchair by the fireplace. Throughout the entire video, he addresses the camera directly.)
I’m David Berman and I’m often asked why Web accessibility matters so much, and why people should care: why people should bother making sure their web presences are accessible.
The simple answer is legislation tells us we have to. I have the background of knowing how to make websites accessible and i’ve put together this one-day course which takes you through why it matters, what the major issues are,and how to make your web presence accessible. It’s really important for us that when people come out of this course that they have usable knowledge.
And so we focus on WCAG 2.0 Level AA. Why? Because that’s the standard that the United States has in Section 508. That’s the standard that the Canadian government has chosen, and the new Web standards and provinces and states like Ontario’s AODA call for that level AA compliance. If you learn this, you’ll learn the standard that everyone in the world is heading towards.
The most important point I want to share is that accessibility matters to everyone.
When we know how to make a site accessible for the extremes, and we do it well, we do it in a way that the site becomes more usable for everyone.
A more usable site is going to make it more likely that your audience is going to connect with your message. If you can get your audience to support themselves by going to the site, you can drive down your support costs, as well as having more satisfied customers.
Why wouldn’t you want that? [chuckles] I find this course is fascinating and educational for both people in management, as well as IT professionals.
I find when people come out of this course they’re excited, they’re motivated, they’re entertained.
Most importantly, they’re educated … and the information sticks. Over the past ten years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with hundreds of organizations on four continents: professionals who see the value to their business, to their communities,to their bottom line, in making their web sites more accessible.
If you’re a manager, if you’re an IT professional, if you’re a programmer, if you’re a designer, join us: for web accessibility matters.
(Text on screen:
Web Accessibility Matters.
(David Berman Communications wordmark)
Course Description
Go beyond the basics of PDF with this in-depth, hands-on course designed specifically for participants who need to create accessible, fillable PDF forms.
From fundamental techniques such as proper tagging and code structures, to advanced techniques including programmatic solutions to accessibility issues, this course provides designers and developers with the tools they need to meet WCAG conformance and functional accessibility with their PDF forms for both LiveCycle Designer / AEM Forms Designer (XFA) and AcroForms.
Participants leave with techniques they can use right away for authoring, designing, producing, and testing all relevant WCAG criteria.
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 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 Internet 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 PDF forms more accessible by complying with emerging standards and guidelines. Specifically, you will learn:
- Why accessibility matters to everyone, not just those with disabilities
- Applications and Forms Techniques for Guideline 1.3 Adaptable
- Applications and Forms Techniques for Guideline 2.1 Keyboard Accessible
- Applications and Forms Techniques for Guideline 2.2 Enough Time
- Applications and Forms Techniques for Guideline 2.4 Navigable
- Applications and Forms Techniques for Guideline 3.2 Predictable
- Applications and Forms Techniques for Guideline 3.3 Input Assistance
- Applications and Forms Techniques for Guideline 4.1 Compatible
- Testing and Repairing Applications and Forms Issues
- More Tools and Resources available for Testing and Repairing Software Accessibility
- Web Content Techniques for Guideline 3.2 Predictable
- Web Content Techniques for Guideline 3.3 Input Assistance
- Web Content Techniques for Guideline 4.1 Compatible
- Q&A until we run out of questions
“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
Prerequisites:
Experience with Acrobat AcroForms and/or LiveCycle Designer / AEM Forms Designer (XFA) forms is required, experience with accessibility and WCAG 2.0 or 2.1 is recommended.
“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
Who Should Attend
This course is targeted to all design and development teams responsible for PDF forms design and development. QA teams would also benefit from the content of this course.
Language:
English (French available upon request)
Duration:
Two-day course (recommended) or one-day course (we also provide this course customized on-site for your organization).
Experience
Web accessibility
We are experts in the fulfillment of WCAG, AODA, and Section 508 requirements regarding accessible documents and Web publishing. We have performed accessibility audit and review for Tim Berners-Lee’s World Wide Web Foundation, on both government and business Web sites in each of over 40 countries.
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
We have expert knowledge in all relevant requirements of the accessibility standards called for in the regulations under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA).
We are experts in the fulfillment of AODA regulations regarding accessible documents and Web publishing. Our strength in this area is such that we run regular courses in Ontario that specifically teach executives, managers, educators, content developers, and Web programmers how to comply with AODA regulations. The Accessibility Directorate of Ontario itself (who governs AODA) has repeatedly sent their managers and staff to be trained personally by us.
Ontario municipalities and school boards
Our AODA clients for consulting and training have included a variety of municipalities and public institutions in Ontario (including the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, City of Cambridge, City of Oakville, City of Ottawa, City of Owen Sound, City of Hamilton, City of Peterborough, County of Essex, County of Wellington, Halton District School Board, Hamilton-Wentworth School Board, Limestone District School Board, Niagara Parks Commission, Norfolk County, Region of Peel, Toronto Transit Commission, and the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.)
Higher education/academia
Our clients for consulting and training have included a variety of colleges and universities within Ontario (including Algonquin College, Brock University, Carleton University, Durham College, Humber College, McMaster University, Mohawk College, Seneca College, St. Lawrence College, University of Guelph, University of Toronto, University of Waterloo, University of Windsor, W. Ross MacDonald School for the Blind, and York University), elsewhere in Canada (Concordia University), the United States (Boston College, Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Virginia, Savannah College of Art and Design), and beyond (Cardiff Metropolitan University, London School of Printing and Publishing, Universidad de las Americas, Yarmouk University, Bauhaus / Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Binus University, Caldas University, Central Academy of Fine Arts of China, Federal University of Pernambuco, Lebanese American University, Vilnius Academy of Arts, VCU Qatar).
David is Chair of Carleton University’s Carleton Access Network for accessible information technology, run out of Carleton University’s Paul Menton Centre as an initiative of the School of Engineering.
Corporations and private sector
Our private sector clients for accessibility work include Actuate, Adobe, Blindside Networks, BMO (Bank of Montreal), Bruce Mau Design, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Conference Board of Canada, Empire Life, eXplorance, gordongroup, IBM, Jewish Federation of Ottawa, Lixar, Minto, NetCentric, OC Transpo, OpenText, Oxford Properties, Shaw Media, The Home Depot, Toronto Transit Commission, United Way, Yamaha Music
Government Accessibility
We have been involved with United States and Government of Canada Treasury Board standards on accessibility for over a decade, and have provided training to most major departments and agencies in the federal government. We have also provided consultation to the governments of Manitoba, Ontario, Queensland (Australia), India, and Norway.
“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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