WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

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Online Course on Designing Accessible Web Forms starts October 26th

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From: Gunderson, Jon R
Date: Sep 29, 2010 3:51PM


Designing Accessible Web Forms

* Course Dates: October 26th to November 23rd (5 weeks)
* Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 3:00-4:00pm Central Time (Chicago Local Time)
* Instructor: Jon Gunderson, University of Illinois
* Cost: $195 for general public ($175 for WOW members, educators, and government employees)
* Registration Link: http://www.webprotraining.org/AccessibleForms.html
* More information at: http://formsonline.cita.illinois.edu/

Problems of Accessible Web Forms

A recent survey of over 40,000 web pages found on over 250 higher education websites found that less than 27% of the web pages that have form controls use proper labeling for accessibility. Creating web forms that are accessible to people with disabilities requires understanding of the labeling features of HTML markup and how browsers interpret labeling markup for assistive technologies like screen readers. The course will start by using simulations to help participants understand the issues people with disabilities face when using the web. Participants will learn the basics of labeling form controls, how to indicate required controls and provide feedback on invalid responses in a way that is usable by people with disabilities. Examples of more complex labeling of form controls for dates, phone numbers, validation codes and high density surveys will be included in the course. Participants will learn CSS techniques to layout form controls without using tables and how to highl
ight the active form control using CSS pseudo elements. The last part of the course will provide a preview of the form labeling capabilities of the new Accessibility Rich Internet Accessibility (ARIA) specifications which provide new capabilities to label form controls and provide accessible feedback on form validation as required by the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0.

Who Should Participate in the Course?

This course is designed for web developers interested in learning about the disability access issues faced by people with disabilities in using the web and how web forms can be designed to be accessible to people with disabilities. Participants should be familiar with HTML coding and the form elements. Knowledge of basic CSS techniques and javascripting will be helpful, but not a required part of the course.

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