The technologies which structure our digitally-connected world are exposed to hugely diverse audiences. We particularly rely on web and internet technologies to be universally available and comprehensible, but too often they fail in this regard. This workshop will introduce students to the best practices and knowledge necessary to guide the accessibility of their organizations' web technologies at all stages of the software development lifecycle. It begins by reviewing the policy conventions and organizational underpinnings of web accessibility, followed by an assessment of common industry enforcement practices. This is an introductory workshop and will be useful to all involved in information organizations from working, to management, to executive levels. Individuals interested in pursuing practical auditing skills may choose to continue with the "Web Accessibility Analysis and Auditing" iSkills workshop on October 21.
Learning Goals:
- Identify key policy conventions and technical standards which support web accessibility
- Distinguish between technical definitions of accessibility and users' lived experiences
- Relate accessibility processes to larger organizational goals
- Prepare an accessibility test plan
This workshop is accessible to all levels of technical knowledge, but a basic understanding of HTML and CSS will help guide learning.
Instructor: James Mackey, Analyst Planning & Design at Shared Services Canada, Government of Canada
