Picture this: it’s a Sunday afternoon, and you’re tucked into your favorite cozy corner with a cup of coffee at your side. You open up your laptop to dive into an online course, eager to learn, only to find that…the course isn’t accessible. Frustration creeps in, and the excitement for learning quickly fades. Sounds familiar, right? As the demand for online courses keeps growing, accessibility should be a top priority in order for everyone to enjoy and benefit from the digital learning experience.
In today’s blog post, we’re addressing the importance of accessibility in online courses along with practical tips and solutions for creating content that’s not only valuable, but also inclusive. So whether you’re a seasoned course creator or just dipping your toes into the world of online teaching, consider this your go-to guide for delivering a truly accessible learning experience to your audience. Grab your coffee, get comfy, and let’s make e-learning better for everyone!
Accessibility Courses – Table of Contents
- How To Design for Accessibility: for UX Designers (WCAG 2.2)
- Creating Accessible Websites
- Web Design Accessibility Certificate
- Practical Accessibility for Web Developers: Form Controls
- Web Accessibility Training Course – WCAG 2.1 Compliance
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How To Design for Accessibility: for UX Designers (WCAG 2.2)
Platform:
Udemy
Rating:
4.7 out of 5
Are you struggling to design accessible interfaces for digital products and not sure where to start? Don’t worry, this online course has got you covered! As a seasoned User Experience (UX) designer experienced with Accessibility, the instructor will teach you 51 essential best practices for designing accessible interfaces, all focused on the designer’s job. And the cherry on top? This course is based on the latest WCAG 2.1 and latest working 2.2 Guidelines, ensuring you’ll be learning fresh and up-to-date information.
This course is perfect for beginners with no prior knowledge of accessibility, WCAG, ADA, or usability. Throughout this course, you’ll significantly improve your design process, identify accessibility violations just by looking at an interface design, and impress your bosses and clients with your skills in designing accessible and user-friendly interfaces. You’ll also receive an Accessibility certification upon completion! So, why wait? Enroll in this course now and become a top-tier designer capable of designing accessible interfaces for all.
Skills you’ll learn in this course:
- Design accessible interfaces with appropriate color contrast.
- Create color-independent designs for better inclusivity.
- Design interactive elements that cater to diverse user needs.
- Identify accessibility violations in interface designs.
- Effectively communicate and advocate for accessibility in your team.
- Utilize accessible design best practices in various digital products.
- Analyze and improve existing designs for better accessibility.
- Enhance your current design processes to ensure accessible outcomes.
Creating Accessible Websites
Platform:
Udemy
Rating:
4.4 out of 5
If you’re looking to up your web development game and transition from “good” to “great,” then this course on web accessibility is a must! You’ll take a practical, step-by-step approach to creating accessible websites and web interfaces. By the end of the course, not only will your portfolio showcase your accessibility skills, but you’ll also be able to offer clients website upgrades that adhere to accessibility standards. Plus, these valuable skills can open doors to working on government websites, expanding your potential clientele.
Starting with the basics like WAI-ARIA, color accessibility, tabindex, and HTML semantics, the course will guide you through making a real-life website accessible from start to finish. So, are you ready to dive into web accessibility and set yourself apart from the competition? This course is the perfect place to start! And, if you ever have guideline questions or need course support, the instructor is just an email away, ready to provide fully fledged assistance.
Skills you’ll learn in this course:
- Understanding web accessibility and its importance
- Implementing WAI-ARIA techniques
- Enhancing color accessibility
- Mastering the use of tabindex
- Applying HTML semantics effectively
- Upgrading websites to adhere to accessibility standards
- Gaining skills to work with government websites
- Optimizing real-life websites for accessibility
Web Design Accessibility Certificate
Platform:
Udemy
Rating:
4.4 out of 5
If you’re into building websites, whether you’re a designer, developer, programmer, engineer, or just a web enthusiast, there’s a fantastic online course tailored just for you. The focus? Creating more inclusive websites and making the world a better place! By taking this course, not only do you get to improve your conversion rates, but you also add a valuable skill to your CV.
During the course, you’ll dive into a range of disabilities, including sight, hearing, motor, and cognitive, and explore inclusive design principles, WCAG compliance, and tools to make the process smoother. You’ll also learn how to use the ARIA specification. Upon completion, you’ll be well-versed in the fundamentals of accessible and inclusive design. This course is accredited by the International Association of Therapists and led by the experienced Chris Worfolk, a psychologist, software consultant, and accessibility mentor. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to expand your skills!
Skills you’ll learn in this course:
- Understanding a range of disabilities and their impact on web accessibility
- Utilizing helpful tools for inclusive design
- Implementing inclusive design principles
- Achieving WCAG compliance
- Applying the ARIA specification
- Mastering fundamentals of accessible and inclusive design
- Expanding your CV with a valuable skill
- Enhancing conversation rates for your websites
Practical Accessibility for Web Developers: Form Controls
Platform:
Udemy
Rating:
4.4 out of 5
Are you a web developer looking to bridge the communication gap between yourself and accessibility testers? Look no further, because this course, “Practical Accessibility for Web Developers: Form Controls” is designed to guide you in creating WCAG 2.1/2.2 compliant web forms. Gone are the days of feeling frustrated with unclear requirements, as this course ensures you can create accessible web forms without getting lost in the myriad of WCAG criteria.
Throughout the course, you’ll gain knowledge on form elements like textboxes, select controls, radio buttons, and more, all while learning to ensure their compliance with WCAG guidelines. You’ll also explore ARIA attributes, screen readers, and potential pitfalls to avoid. While this course primarily targets web developers, accessibility testers and designers will find it just as valuable. A beginner-level understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript/jQuery is recommended, providing a solid foundation to expand your skills in accessible web development. Don’t miss this opportunity to improve the user experience for everyone visiting your site.
Skills you’ll learn in this course:
- Creating accessible web forms.
- Proper use of labels (traditional and hidden).
- Implementing fieldsets and groups.
- Designing user-friendly form instructions.
- Utilizing various form elements: textboxes, select controls, radio buttons, checkboxes.
- Effective management of buttons and marking required fields.
- Skillful integration of ARIA attributes.
- Navigating common accessibility pitfalls and screen reader compatibility.
Web Accessibility Training Course – WCAG 2.1 Compliance
Platform:
Udemy
Rating:
4 out of 5
Get ready to dive into the beginners and intermediate level accessible website design course, where you’ll learn both techniques and a whole framework for thinking about accessible website design. The course will provide you with the skills to understand, identify, and fix any accessibility issues you come across, and by the end, you’ll have all the knowledge you need to create and maintain websites aligned with WCAG 2.1 guidelines up to AA level. This is the standard most governments and organizations use in their legislation, so you’ll be up-to-date with the best practices in the industry.
Your guide, Jim Byrne, has over 25 years of experience as an award-winning accessibility specialist and website designer, having even shaped the WCAG 2 guidelines as the Director of the Guild of Accessible Website Designers. Throughout the course, you’ll learn about various accessibility aspects, such as medical and social models of disability, how people with different impairments access the web, and techniques for making non-text content accessible. Moreover, you’ll gain insights from disabled people themselves explaining their experiences with browsing websites.
This course is filled with bonuses like a 111-page website accessibility e-book, course audio, slides, and much more! So, whether you’re a beginner or experienced developer, this course has something to offer. Register today and let Jim guide you through the ins and outs of accessible website design!
Skills you’ll learn in this course:
- Understanding, identifying, and fixing accessibility issues in websites
- Building and maintaining websites compliant with WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines
- Comprehending the medical and social models of disability in the context of website accessibility
- Gaining insight into how people with various impairments access the web and the tools they use
- Making non-text content, such as images, videos, links, tables, and forms, accessible
- Familiarizing with the structure of HTML documents and its significance in website accessibility
- Learning the history, development, and concepts of WCAG 2.1 guidelines and levels of compliance
- Basics of ARIA and integrating it to make dynamic content accessible
In conclusion, accessibility in online courses moves beyond mere compliance with legal requirements; it’s about creating a more inclusive and user-friendly learning experience for everyone. By taking the necessary steps to make your course accessible, you are not only opening up your content to a wider audience, but you are also helping learners feel comfortable and confident as they seek to further their education.
Remember that the true meaning of accessibility is providing a level playing field for all learners, creating a space where everyone has the chance to succeed. As course creators, educators, and institutions, we shoulder the responsibility to make sure no one is left behind. With the wealth of tools, resources, and strategies outlined in this blog post, you are now equipped to make significant strides in building and delivering online courses that cater to the diverse needs of all your students. Let’s pledge to make online education truly accessible and inclusive for everyone, because learning should always be a universal right.