WCAG Deep Dive for Web teams

WCAG Deep Dive for Web teams / WAS preparation

Our courses incorporate adult learning principles and activities appropriate to a variety of learning styles: they qualify for continuing education credits (aka CEUs) certified by organizations such as IAAP and PPAC.

Course Description

Our courses incorporate adult learning principles and activities appropriate to a variety of learning styles: they qualify for continuing education credits (aka CEUs) certified by organizations such as IAAP and PPAC.

Go beyond the basics with this in-depth, hands-on course designed specifically for participants who are “in the trenches” with web technologies.

From fundamental techniques such as proper tagging and code structures, to advanced techniques including WAI-ARIA and 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 websites, forms, and web-based apps.

Designed in two parts, participants may choose the training applicable to their experience and job requirements.

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 should qualify for continuing education credits (aka CEUs) certified by organizations such as IAAP and 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 developer, is vice-chair of the IAAP Global Council and holds all available IAAP certifications in eAccessibility, including CPWA, WAS, and ADS.

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

What You Will Learn

You will learn how to make websites and web-based applications more accessible by complying with standards and guidelines. Our courses and learning guide combine to contain everything you should need to know in order to pass the IAAP WAS certification examination. Specifically, you will learn:

Creating Accessible Web Solutions 

• Guidelines, principles and techniques for meeting success criteria (including WCAG 2.1 and WCAG 2.2, WAI-ARIA, ATAG, basic concepts, limitations of the specific guidelines, principles, and techniques, what is normative vs. non-normative; what is included in different levels (A, AA, AAA)).
• Basic knowledge of programming (at a conceptual level; principles and concepts related to programming; impact of specific coding practices on web solutions vs. writing specific code).
• Accessibility quality assurance (i.e., assuring the quality of accessibility throughout the development life cycle, difference and overlap between user experience and accessibility).
• Accessibility supported technologies (including user’s assistive technologies and accessibility features; a combination of assistive technologies and users agent; design decisions in choosing technologies that support accessibility; e.g., not choosing Flash when something else has better accessibility support, differences in assistive technology supports and behaviors, differences in support for touch when a screen reader is on vs. off).
• Standard controls vs. custom controls (e.g., using standard controls when possible; if using custom controls build them using WAI-ARIA best practices).
• Single-page applications (e.g., focus control, delays for AJAX-Screen Reader compatibility, live announcements).
• Strategies of persons with disabilities in using web solutions (e.g., navigation of screen reader users, headings and landmarks, coping strategies, user-preferred methods vs. website-specific methods, using keyboard vs. mouse).

Identify accessibility issues in web solutions

• Interoperability and compatibility issues.
• Identifying guidelines and principles regarding issues (including WCAG 2.1 and 2.2, WAI-ARIA, ATAG, basic concepts, limitations of the specific guidelines, principles, and techniques, what is normative vs. non-normative; what is included in different levels (A, AA, AAA)).
• Testing with assistive technologies (e.g., navigation of screen reader users, headings and landmarks, screen magnifiers, high contrast, using keyboard vs. mouse).
• Testing for end-user impact (e.g., low vision, cognitive, mobile/touch on iOS and Android).
• Testing tools for the web (both automated and manual tools, i.e., what they are and what are their limitations; e.g., unit testing, browser-based tools, spider tools, bookmarklet, automated tools used to monitor site vs. external tools).

Audit and remediation of issues in web solutions

• Level of severity and prioritization of issues (e.g., cost-benefit; legal risk, user impact, what is the problem, what to focus on first).
• Recommending strategies and/or techniques for fixing issues (i.e., the best solution, a solution that is most widely useful, feasibility of solution, fixing vs. redesign, how to fix it).

Techniques for Web Content

• Why accessibility matters to everyone, not just those with disabilities
• Web Content Techniques for Guideline 1.1 Text Alternatives
• Web Content Techniques for Guideline 1.2 Time-based Media
• Web Content Techniques for Guideline 1.3 Adaptable
• Web Content Techniques for Guideline 1.4 Distinguishable
• Web Content Techniques for Guideline 2.1 Keyboard Accessible
• Web Content Techniques for Guideline 2.2 Enough Time
• Web Content Techniques for Guideline 2.3 Seizures
• Web Content Techniques for Guideline 2.4 Navigable
• Web Content Techniques for Guideline 2.5 Input Modalities
• Web Content Techniques for Guideline 3.1 Readable
• 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
• Testing and Repairing Web Content Issues
• Dealing with Issues that Cannot be Resolved
• Strategies Beyond AA
• Professional Certification
• Q&A until we run out of questions

Optional: Deeper Techniques for Web Applications and Forms

• 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

“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 HTML, CSS, and JavaScript/jQuery is required, experience with accessibility and WCAG 2.0, 2.1 or 2.2 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 development teams responsible for web, web app, and web form 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, EN 301 549, ADA (all Titles), AODA, Section 508, EAA, and ACA 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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Reviewed November 8, 2024