To ensure a positive digital experience for everyone visiting your website, the people contributing to the website (like content creators, developers, designers, etc.) will need to be informed about how to do their job with accessibility in mind. Luckily, there are a wide variety of website accessibility training options available.
WCAG training
Global accessibility standards for the web are set and governed by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium), an international group of individuals who develop standards to propagate long-term web growth. One of the W3C’s ongoing initiatives is the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), which provides support materials for ensuring an accessible digital experience as well as resources for a variety of organizational roles. The WAI is also responsible for creating web accessibility standards, which can be followed in the form of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Learning about WCAG should be part of any first-rate website accessibility training course. WCAG 2.0 training used to be the norm, but in 2018 the W3C released WCAG 2.1, so it’s best to look for training that offers this.
Web accessibility training courses
You’ll have a lot of options to choose from when looking for a web accessibility training course. The hard part is separating the wheat from the chaff. While many web accessibility courses claim to be legitimate and substantial, that may not actually be the case, so it’s important to conduct due diligence before embarking on any. One of the best free introductory web accessibility training courses is offered by EdX. It was created in conjunction with the WAI and also features contributions from TPGi. While this web accessibility online course is just a stepping stone into more comprehensive web accessibility training courses, it’s perfect for beginners or those interested in learning more about accessibility in general.
Web accessibility online courses
If you’re looking for a little more in-depth digital accessibility knowledge, a web accessibility online course is a convenient way to get up to speed on standards and techniques. TPGi offers an e-learning tool, TPGi Tutor, that covers a wide variety of accessibility-related content. Its course library includes everything from mobile accessibility testing to disability etiquette to PDF remediation. Self-paced and created by our experts, TPGi Tutor is a cost-effective option for individuals to learn all about web accessibility in a way that’s convenient for them.
Accessibility testing training
Those looking to expand their skill sets to include accessibility testing will be well served by both live instruction and accessibility training online. Each one has its benefits and drawbacks. Live web accessibility training (also offered by TPGi) is an engaging experience with the right instructor, and participants can get questions answered in real-time. However, it may not be as cost-efficient as web-based online accessibility training and requires more coordination to arrange with larger groups. Online accessibility training is much easier to coordinate and can be done solo, but can lack the energy and excitement of live training.
Regardless of the method of the web accessibility training you choose, make sure you opt for a well-regarded provider that you can trust. TPGi has been assisting clients with digital accessibility since 2002 and is a leading accessibility consultancy. Contact us today to get help with your accessibility training needs.