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Alice Boxhall, Rob Dodson, and Michael Wales

Take Udacity's free online web accessibility course. Get hands-on experience making web applications accessible and understand when and why users need accessibility.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Explore the diversity of different users experience with web sites and applications. Learn about using screen readers practically and recognize the challenge of building web experiences for all users.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Introduces developers to best practices for accessibility and provides fundamental knowledge of tools to do so
Provides comprehensive coverage of core accessibility concepts, from visual UI design to semantic navigation
Emphasizes hands-on practice, allowing developers to apply accessibility principles in real-world scenarios
Taught by experienced instructors with proven expertise in web accessibility
Course is free to access, making it accessible to a wide range of learners
Requires no prior knowledge of accessibility, making it suitable for developers of all levels

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Reviews summary

Foundational web accessibility for developers

According to learners, this course is an excellent starting point for understanding web accessibility, offering a solid foundation for developers and designers. Students frequently highlight the clear lectures and invaluable hands-on activities, making complex concepts like ARIA attributes and semantic HTML easy to grasp. Many remark on the exceptional value provided by this free course, appreciating its focus on the 'why' of accessibility. While it shines as an introduction, some experienced developers found it too basic, and it may require some prior web development knowledge.
Explains the crucial reasons behind accessibility principles.
"The instructor explains the 'why' behind accessibility, not just the 'how'."
"I appreciated how the course emphasized the human element of accessibility. It's not just about compliance, but about real people."
"An eye-opening experience! This course perfectly explains the importance of web accessibility and provides practical steps to achieve it."
Delivers professional-grade content despite being free.
"For a free course, the quality is exceptional. It taught me practical skills I could apply immediately to my work."
"It's free, but the quality rivals paid courses. The instructors made complex topics easy to grasp."
"Super valuable course for free! I learned so much about making my websites accessible."
Features engaging activities and demos for immediate application.
"...the hands-on activities are incredibly helpful. I've already started implementing changes at my job thanks to this!"
"The practical exercises solidified my learning. I now approach web development with a completely different mindset."
"I learned how to use practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work."
Provides a strong and practical introduction to web accessibility.
"This course is absolutely fantastic for anyone looking to understand web accessibility. The lectures are clear, concise..."
"A really solid introduction to web accessibility. It covers the core concepts well, particularly keyboard navigation and semantic HTML."
"Super valuable course for free! I learned so much about making my websites accessible. The focus management and semantic HTML sections were highlights."
Best suited for those seeking an introduction or refresher.
"As a seasoned developer, I found this course a bit too basic. I was hoping for more advanced topics or case studies."
"I struggled with some of the coding examples without much prior JavaScript experience. It assumes a certain level of familiarity."
"I think it's better for someone with existing development experience rather than a complete beginner."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Web Accessibility with these activities:
Review the principles of responsive design
Refresh your knowledge of responsive design principles to ensure your web pages are accessible to users on a variety of devices.
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Show steps
  • Read an article or watch a video about responsive design.
  • Review the key principles of responsive design, such as using flexible layouts, fluid images, and media queries.
  • Test your understanding by resizing a web page in your browser and observing how the layout changes.
Read Head First HTML with CSS and XHTML (2nd Edition)
Review the fundamentals of web development and accessibility best practices.
Show steps
  • Read Chapters 1 and 2 to understand the basics of HTML and CSS.
  • Complete the exercises in Chapter 2 to practice creating simple web pages.
  • Read Chapters 3 and 4 to learn about accessibility features in HTML and CSS.
  • Complete the exercises in Chapter 4 to practice creating accessible web pages.
  • Use the knowledge gained from the book to evaluate the accessibility of existing web pages.
Use screen readers to navigate web pages
Gain hands-on experience using screen readers to understand the needs of users with visual impairments.
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Show steps
  • Install a screen reader (e.g., NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver).
  • Navigate a simple web page using only the screen reader.
  • Identify common accessibility barriers encountered when using the screen reader.
  • Suggest improvements to make the web page more accessible.
Four other activities
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Create accessible forms using ARIA attributes
Enhance your understanding of ARIA attributes by building accessible forms.
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  • Review the W3C documentation on ARIA attributes for forms.
  • Follow a tutorial on creating accessible forms using ARIA attributes.
  • Implement the techniques learned in the tutorial to create an accessible form on a practice website.
  • Test the accessibility of the form using a screen reader.
Develop an accessibility statement for a website
Demonstrate your understanding of web accessibility guidelines by creating an accessibility statement.
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  • Review the W3C guidelines for accessibility statements.
  • Gather information about the website's accessibility features.
  • Write a draft of the accessibility statement.
  • Review the statement for accuracy and completeness.
  • Publish the statement on the website.
Volunteer as a mentor for a web accessibility project
Share your knowledge and skills by mentoring others in web accessibility best practices.
Browse courses on Web Accessibility
Show steps
  • Contact an organization that offers web accessibility mentoring programs.
  • Complete the necessary training to become a mentor.
  • Be paired with a mentee and provide guidance and support on web accessibility topics.
  • Attend regular check-in meetings to monitor progress and provide feedback.
Develop a website prototype with accessible features
Apply your knowledge of web accessibility by creating a website prototype that incorporates accessible features.
Browse courses on Web Design
Show steps
  • Plan the layout and structure of the website.
  • Implement accessibility features, such as clear headings, alternative text for images, and closed captions for videos.
  • Use a screen reader to test the accessibility of the prototype.
  • Gather feedback from users with disabilities to improve the accessibility of the prototype.

Career center

Learners who complete Web Accessibility will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Web Accessibility Specialist
This course will help you become a Web Accessibility Specialist by teaching you all about web accessibility and you'll get hands-on experience making web applications accessible.
Accessibility Consultant
Accessibility Consultants specialize in making websites accessible. This course will help you become an Accessibility Consultant by teaching you how to make web applications accessible and you'll understand when and why users need accessibility.
Assistive Technology Specialist
This course can help build a foundation for success in this role by teaching you how to use assistive technology and how it helps users access web applications.
Disability Advocate
This course can help build a foundation for success in this role by helping you understand the challenges that people with disabilities face when using the web.
Quality Assurance Analyst
Quality Assurance Analysts are often responsible for testing the accessibility of websites and web applications. This course can help build a foundation for success in this role by helping you understand how to test for accessibility.
Instructional Designer
Instructional Designers are often responsible for creating accessible learning materials. This course can help build a foundation for success in this role by helping you understand how to create accessible learning materials.
Technical Writer
One of the key responsibilities of Technical Writers is to write documentation that is accessible. This course can help build a foundation for success in this role by helping you understand how to write accessible documentation.
Web Designer
Web Designers are often responsible for the accessibility of the websites they design. This course can help build a foundation for success in this role by helping you understand how to design websites that are accessible.
Front-End Developer
Many companies require Front-End Developers to work on web applications that are accessible. This course can help you make web applications accessible and build a foundation for success in this role.
Web Developer
Many people in the Web Developer role have responsibilities that include making web applications accessible. By taking this course, you'll understand when and why users need accessibility. This course can help build a foundation for success in this role.
Software Engineer
Software Engineers are often required to work on web applications that are accessible. This course can help you understand when and why users need accessibility. This course will help you achieve the skills required to be successful in this role.
User Experience Designer
One of the main responsibilities that many User Experience Designers have is ensuring that websites are accessible. This will help you understand when and why users need accessibility. This course can help build a foundation for success in this role.
Product Manager
Many Product Managers are responsible for the accessibility of the products they manage. This course can help you understand when and why users need accessibility and build a foundation for success in this role.
Policy Analyst
This course may be useful for those who are interested in working as Policy Analyst roles.
Researcher
This course may be useful for those who are interested in working as Researcher roles.

Reading list

We've selected 11 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Web Accessibility.
Suitable for students with some knowledge of web accessibility, this book delves deeper into the topic, covering advanced concepts such as ARIA, WCAG 2.1, and testing and evaluation.
Provides a practical guide to designing inclusive web experiences for users with disabilities, covering a wide range of topics such as accessibility guidelines, user testing, and design patterns.
Provides a hands-on approach to web accessibility, covering the technical details of how to make web content accessible to users with disabilities and best practices for user experience.
Provides a comprehensive guide to web accessibility best practices, covering a wide range of topics such as accessibility guidelines, user testing, and design patterns.
Explores the principles of user interface design for accessibility, covering topics such as cognitive and perceptual disabilities.
Provides a quick and easy guide to accessible web design, covering the basics of how to make web content accessible to users with disabilities.
Provides a beginner's guide to web accessibility, covering the basics of how to make web content accessible to users with disabilities.
Provides a collection of tips and tricks for web accessibility, covering a wide range of topics such as accessibility guidelines, user testing, and design patterns.

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