It takes a village to make a website accessible, which is why teamwork and self-sufficiency are so important when it comes to digital inclusion. It also takes the right tools and training, and that begins with a strong foundation. That’s where Deque University comes into play.
If you’re new to web accessibility, it can seem a bit overwhelming – especially with the recent Section 508 Refresh update. It’s hard to know where to start. Which is why we suggest our strongest “building block” course – Web Accessibility Fundamentals.
This course walks you through everything you need to know about the basics of Web Accessibility – from the types of disabilities that affect web browsing to an introduction of the Web Accessibility Content Guidelines (WCAG 2.0), as well as the issues to keep in mind when designing for inclusivity. From the wide variety of comprehensive courses on Web Accessibility offered at Deque University, the Web Accessibility Fundamentals class truly is our most comprehensive course.
Building the Basics with Web Accessibility Fundamentals
The Web Accessibility Fundamentals course provides a bird’s eye view on how certain disabilities can affect web browsing. You’ll learn about the challenges and successes of people with disabilities, and the principles of web accessibility.
Next, you’ll learn about the variety of technical standards that apply to digital content accessibility. The course will detail the role of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and the evolution of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, as well as the current standard used (WCAG 2.0) You’ll learn a little bit about the domestic and international rules and regulations regarding web accessibility, including Section 508.
You’ll also discover what can be done to make the web accessible from a structural and design perspective. The Web Accessibility Fundamentals course details how design choice and structure of a website affects the browsing experience of people with disabilities, and how the principle of Universal Design can help make websites easier to navigate for all users.
Some of the topics discussed in this section include:
- Making images accessible with meaningful alt text
- Transcripts and captions for Audio and Video
- Keyboard accessibility
- Creating accessible forms and tables
- Dynamic JavaScript
…and more. There’s also a bonus section on universal design in the real world, which will help give you a better understanding of accessibility outside the digital sphere.
In addition to the course, we highly recommend you watch our Web Accessibility 101 Webinar. Hosted by Deque’s Accessibility Program Manager Todd Liebsch, this webinar will give you a clearer picture of web accessibility in action. And the good news is it’s free to watch whenever you want.
Watch and Learn: Web Accessibility 101 Webinar
Our 45 minute webinar on Web Accessibility 101 will help strengthen your knowledge of web accessibility, with special focus given to the benefits of web accessibility for your business. Todd offers practical tips and information on where to begin, including:
- The basics of building accessibility into your website
- All you need to know about screen readers
- 3 different ways to approach web accessibility
- How Deque’s products and services can help you achieve and maintain web accessibility compliance
#GetEducated with Courses on Web Accessibility
Taken together, the Web Accessibility Fundamentals course and the Web Accessibility 101 Webinar will help get you on the right track to understanding digital inclusion – and why it’s so important. Probably the best part about creating an accessible web is that it really benefits everyone. An accessible website is clearer and easier to navigate for all users, which means that you’re creating a better web experience for all users.
We’ve written quite a bit about many of the other Web Accessibility courses offered at Deque University. Find out what you’ll learn in some of the following courses:
- HTML and CSS Accessibility
- MS Powerpoint Accessibility Techniques
- ARIA and JavaScript Accessibility
- Web Accessibility Testing Techniques
- Mobile Web Accessibility
In the spirit of inclusivity, we also award free scholarships to prospective students who qualify. We’re happy to say that our free Deque University Scholarship program is already having a profoundly positive impact on the beneficiaries.
