Accessibility and 508 Training

[tamarasal]

Any recommendations for 508 document training classes or conferences, blogs, people to follow that focus on 508 accessibility - document concentration - PDF and PowerPoint mostly?

[Bevi Chagnon - PubCom.com]

WebAIM.org

The most authoritative, informational, and objective source for accessibility information is WebAIM.org. Although it focuses mainly on HTML-based technologies, there is a fair amount of information about PDFs, MS Office, Adobe InDesign, and other document file formats.

• The site's community forum: https://webaim.org/community/ 
• The mailing list archives: https://webaim.org/discussion/archives 
• The site's resources: https://webaim.org/resources/ 

IAAP -- International Association of Accessibility Professionals

Another invaluable and objective source. Also has a rigorous, intensive training and certification program for accessibility. Currently, the certs are only for HTML-based technologies, but PDF/UA and other certs will be forthcoming. If you're interested in accessibility, join this association and get certified.

• https://www.accessibilityassociation.org/ 
• Resources are at https://www.accessibilityassociation.org/content.asp?contentid=165 

DHS Trusted Tester program

The US Departmement of Homeland Security has a free program to certify individuals in accessibility. Again, focus is on HTML and not documents, but the program and certification are invaluable, nontheless.

• DHS OAST: https://www.dhs.gov/508-testing 

US Access Board

This is the federal agency that develops and maintains the US federal regulation called Section 508. Knowing the regulation is critical; it details what types of federal information must be accessible and the required standards. But it doesn't give information about HOW to make content accessible.

• Main website: https://www.access-board.gov/ 
• Sec. 508 regulation: https://www.access-board.gov/guidelines-and-standards/communications-and-it/about-the-ict-refresh 
• Sign up for the monthly free webinars. Some are on accessible ICT, others are on accessible buildings, rec facilities, etc. The presenters are good, but there are some shortcomings in some of the presentations. Sign up for announcements at www.accessibilityonline.org 

Conferences

The 2 main ones are:

• Accessing Higher Ground https://accessinghigherground.org/ 
• CSUN https://www.csun.edu/cod/conference/sessions/index.php/public/website_pages/view/5 

People and Blogs

There are tons of people who are experts for accessible HTML, but the field narrows considerably for those who know document accessibility. My best recommendations are:

• Rob Haverty, one of Adobe's accessibility experts. Blog is at https://theblog.adobe.com/author/haverty/ 
• Karen McCall, Karlen Communications. Truly one of the world's best for accessible Word, PowerPoint, and PDFs. Website has links to her books and online tutorials. https://www.karlencommunications.com/ 
• Kenny Moore. Independent consultant has very practical advice on making accessible PDFs. Sign up for his FaceBook blog: https://taggedpdf.com/ 
• Dax Castro moderates an accessibility FaceBook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/869192620114305/ and has a personal blog at http://section5oh8.com/. Focuses on PDFs and Adobe InDesign. Catch his presentations at conferences, too. He's a gifted trainer.
• Bevi Chagnon, PubCom.com (that's me!). Publishing technologist and designer is a member of the ISO PDF and PDF/UA committees that write the standards for accessible PDFs. Focus is on accessible Word, PowerPoint, Excel, PDFs, EPUBs, and Adobe InDesign. See her books, classes, and online training at https://www.pubcom.com  Sign up for her newsletter and blog-a-torials at https://www.pubcom.com/blog/  And catch her presentations at conferences.

Hope this helps you find the information and support you are looking for.