Accessibility Coaching

Introduction

Accessibility coaching sessions for staff in businesses and organisations is comprehensive, covering both in-person and online accessibility. The goal is to equip staff with the knowledge and skills to create and maintain inclusive environments for all users, including those with disabilities.

Here’s a detailed outline of what will be included:

1. Introduction to Accessibility

Understanding Accessibility: Definition, importance, and benefits for everyone.
Types of Disabilities: Overview of visual, auditory, cognitive, and motor disabilities and their impact on user experiences.
Legal and Ethical Responsibilities: Overview of relevant laws and standards, such as the ADA, WCAG, Section 508, and local regulations.
The Accessibility Regulations UK: The full name accessibility regulations is the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018
The Equality Act 2010: The accessibility regulations build on your existing obligations to people who have a disability under the Equality Act 2010 (or the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in Northern Ireland).

2. In-Person Accessibility

Physical Environment

Accessible Entrances and Exits: Ensuring ramps, automatic doors, and accessible pathways.
Interior Navigation: Ensuring hallways, doorways, and elevators are accessible, with clear signage.
Accessible Toilets: Layout and design considerations to accommodate all users.
Parking and Outdoor Spaces: Providing designated accessible parking and accessible routes from parking to the building.

Interaction and Communication

Customer Service Training: How to assist customers with disabilities respectfully and effectively.
Signage and Wayfinding: Using high-contrast, large-print signs, and Braille where appropriate.
Emergency Procedures: Ensuring emergency exits and alarms are accessible, with clear evacuation plans for individuals with disabilities.

3. Online Accessibility

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
WCAG Principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR).
Detailed Walkthrough of Guidelines: Covering key success criteria for levels A, AA, and AAA.

Technical Implementation

Semantic HTML: Using HTML elements correctly to convey meaning and structure.
ARIA (Accessible Rich Internet Applications): Implementing ARIA roles, properties, and states appropriately.
Forms and Inputs: Creating accessible forms with proper labels, instructions, and error handling.
Multimedia Accessibility: Adding captions, transcripts, and audio descriptions to multimedia content.
Responsive Design: Ensuring websites are usable on various devices and screen sizes.

Design Principles

Colour Contrast: Ensuring text and background colour contrast meet accessibility standards.
Keyboard Navigation: Making sure all interactive elements are operable via keyboard alone
User Interface (UI) Consistency: Maintaining consistent navigation and interface elements.

4. Tools and Techniques for Testing Accessibility

Automated Testing Tools: Introduction to tools like Axe, WAVE, and Lighthouse.
Manual Testing: Techniques for manual testing, including keyboard navigation and screen reader testing.
Assistive Technologies: Demonstrations of common assistive technologies like screen readers (JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver), magnifiers, and voice recognition software.

5. Creating Accessible Content

Text Alternatives: Providing alt text for images and text descriptions for non-text content.
Document Accessibility: Ensuring PDFs, Word documents, and other digital documents are accessible.
Captioning and Transcription: Creating captions and transcripts for video and audio content

6. Developing an Accessibility Mindset

Inclusive Design: Principles and practices of designing for all users.
User-Centred Design: Emphasizing the needs and experiences of users with disabilities.
Universal Design: Creating products and environments usable by all people without the need for adaptation.

7. Policy and Practice

Accessibility Policies: Developing and enforcing organisational policies on accessibility.
Training and Awareness Programmes: Continuous education and training for staff.
Feedback Mechanisms: Providing ways for users to report accessibility issues and ensuring they are addressed.

8. Case Studies and Real-World Scenarios

Interactive Workshops: Hands-on activities and exercises to practice accessibility skills.
Problem-Solving Sessions: Working through specific accessibility challenges relevant to the participants' projects.
Success Stories: Sharing examples of successful accessibility implementations.

9. Ongoing Support and Resources

Resource Libraries: Providing access to articles, guidelines, and reference materials.
Community and Professional Networks: Encouraging participation in accessibility forums and professional groups.
Regular Updates: Keeping up with new developments in accessibility standards and technologies.

Benefits of Comprehensive Accessibility Coaching

Improved Compliance: Ensuring adherence to legal requirements and standards.
Enhanced User Experience: Creating a more inclusive and usable experience for all users.
Skill Development: Building in-house expertise and capability in accessibility.
Increased Awareness and Inclusion: Raising awareness about the importance and benefits of accessibility within the organisation.

By covering these topics, accessibility coaching sessions can provide staff with the knowledge and tools they need to create inclusive, accessible environments both online and in-person.