CYMC 861 - Web Accessibility Auditing and Reporting
Course Description
Did you know that standards that meet the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) need to be fully implemented by 2025?
One of the key requirements of AODA is ensuring digital spaces are accessible to everyone. Updating web content and design to ensure digital accessibility can be time consuming and costly, especially when working with external vendors. That’s why this skillset is in-demand by employers to have in-house. By getting a microcredential in this area, you will not only increase your marketability, but you will also contribute towards a sustainable, digitally-accessible future.
What to Expect
This Curv Microcredential shows that you can conduct effective web accessibility audits and prepare standard reports.
When you sign up, we provide refresher resources and practice exercises that you can do on your own to prepare. Then, you will be asked to complete an assessment showing what you can do. Your work will be reviewed by an expert and you will receive a personalized result. If you meet our standard for expertise, you will receive a Toronto Metropolitan University Curv Microcredential from The Chang School that proves you can:
- Perform a web accessibility audit
- Produce a web accessibility report according to standard reporting formats
- Implement the relevant tests, tools, and strategies for the context/situation when evaluating web accessibility
Meet the Industry Expert
Meet Greg. This Curv Microcredential was created by Greg Gay, expert in web accessibility since the mid-1990s and lead on many research and development projects in information technology and accessibility. Greg is an expert in both the technical and non-technical aspects of accessibility, evangelizing inclusive design as a best practice for building IT systems that are usable by everyone.
Who Should Take This Program?
This Curv Microcredential is designed for someone with foundational web development experience and an interest in digital accessibility. For example, you might be a web developer tasked with ensuring your websites are AODA compliant. The program is suitable for someone who is:
- Looking to gain formal recognition for expertise in web accessibility
- Concerned about digital barriers
- Tasked with ensuring that your workplace is AODA compliant
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for this microcredential?
You should have foundational knowledge of WCAG 2.0 level AA compliance and how to perform accessibility testing of web content before enrolling. If you can answer ‘yes’ to all of the following questions, then you may be ready to enroll:
- Have you used a variety of automated accessibility checkers?
- Do you know how to measure colour contrast?
- Do you know how to assess the readability of web content? Do you know how to validate HTML?
- Are you familiar with using screen readers to test web content accessibility?
- Can you use multiple manual testing strategies to identify accessibility issues without the need for an automated checker or screen reader?
- Can you examine webpage markup to identify potential barriers and accessibility features?
- Do you understand what WAI-ARIA is, and how it should be used?
- Can you select the most appropriate type of web accessibility audit and report for a given audience?
What do I need to do for the assessment?
For the assessment, you will perform an audit of a website and complete a report to record your findings. The assessment for this microcredential is specifically testing your understanding of WCAG 2.0 level AA compliance. Once you complete the assessment, you will receive your result from an expert assessor.
What are the technological requirements for the assessment?
You will need a:
- Desktop version of Office 365, Office 2021, or Office 2019
- Stable Internet connection (no minimum connection speed required)
- Computer with an Internet browser (e.g. Edge, Safari, Chrome, Firefox, etc.)
- Mobile phone* capable of receiving an SMS text message
*Why do I need a mobile phone? To log in to the my.torontomu.ca portal and access the microcredential environment (D2L Brightspace), you will need a mobile device for two-factor authentication.
How much time do I have to complete the assessment after enrolling?
Your microcredential will last two weeks. In the first week, you will have access to the microcredential environment (D2L Brightspace) to explore the supporting materials and practice activities that prepare you for the assessment. The supporting materials are self-paced and can take approximately two to seven hours to complete, depending on your prior knowledge and experience.
In the second week, you will gain access to the assessment. You will be able to open the assessment window at any time within that second week. Depending on the microcredential, the assessment window may be time limited (for example, three hours).
What are my support options?
Upon enrolling, you will have access to supporting resources that will help you access the required software for the assessment. If you have any questions or experience any technical issues, you may contact Toronto Metropolitan University’s Computing and Communications Services (CCS) by email or phone.
What happens once I complete the assessment?
Once you complete the assessment, you will receive personalized feedback and a mastery score from the expert assessor.
The successful completion of the assessment will result in a shareable Toronto Metropolitan University digital credential. This credential can be shared on your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or anywhere you want to display your achievements.
If you are not able to demonstrate mastery, you can re-enrol and try again when the next offering of this microcredential is available. Be sure to review your personalized feedback and ensure that you have filled any gaps in knowledge or skill before a second attempt. The Chang School website, Professional Web Accessibility Auditing Made Easy, includes free resources on web accessibility auditing and reporting that may also be of interest.