WebAIM - Web Accessibility In Mind

E-mail List Archives

Re: IAAP Certification Update

for

From: Paul Bohman
Date: Sep 11, 2015 5:42AM


I appreciate the feedback, Karl, and I know where you're coming from on
that point. Starting a professional organization is not an easy process,
and most of the work is done by volunteers who don't always have the
bandwidth to both contribute to our committees and do all of the PR and
marketing work, so it's usually more of an issue of time than anything
else. I do this work after hours, on top of an already extremely busy work
schedule.

That said, I fully agree that we need to make more of an effort to be more
transparent, and I agree that we need to reach wider audiences. I posted
this update on a few lists with those purposes in mind, and I will continue
to reach out to different advocacy groups, consumer groups, and others.
It's a necessary part of our mission.



On Friday, September 11, 2015, Karl Groves < <EMAIL REMOVED> > wrote:

> "The survey has been distributed primarily to IAAP members up to this
> point,
> because that is the target audience,"
>
> As an organization whose stated purpose is to grow the profession,
> that seems to contradict its mission.
>
> Since even before its creation, IAAP has had the appearance of being a
> pay-to-play organization.
>
> I'll go ahead and state this publicly: I have no intention to ever
> participate in anything IAAP does until it becomes significantly more
> transparent, until *all* members have a greater say in how it
> operates, and until they become more active in growing the profession.
>
> On Thu, Sep 10, 2015 at 11:33 PM, Paul Bohman < <EMAIL REMOVED>
> <javascript:;>> wrote:
> > Ron,
> >
> > Thanks for providing some feedback.
> >
> > The IAAP certification credentials are aimed at people who create and
> > design accessible virtual and real environments. This includes things in
> > the IT space -- like web sites, software, documents, multimedia, etc. --
> > and can include things in the physical space like consumer and industrial
> > products, transportation systems, architecture, etc. Our target audience
> is
> > designers, developers, and engineers (and the people who manage them, or
> > who test the quality of their output).
> >
> > Our target audience is not the service sector of AT professionals who
> work
> > directly with people with disabilities. In fact, many of the people who
> > would receive IAAP credentials will not work with people with
> disabilities
> > at all. They will instead be designing environments -- virtual or
> physical
> > -- that people of all kinds will access, including those with
> disabilities.
> > The goal of an accessibility professional in this context is to create
> > environments that are universally accessible to the broadest range of
> > people possible.
> >
> > We expect the IAAP credentials to be useful in private industry,
> > government, higher education, and any context that employs designers,
> > developers, or engineers.
> >
> > So the audience for IAAP is not the same audience as for RESNA or any
> other
> > group of assistive technology professionals. There is some overlap, but
> not
> > as much as it may seem on the surface.
> >
> > The survey has been distributed primarily to IAAP members up to this
> point,
> > because that is the target audience, but we welcome input from
> > accessibility professionals who may not be IAAP members. The survey is
> > still open, by the way, so feel free to contribute your responses.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Paul Bohman, PhD
> > Director of Training, Deque Systems, Inc
> > 703-225-0380, ext.121
> > https://DequeUniversity.com
> >
> >
> > On Thu, Sep 10, 2015 at 2:39 PM, Ron < <EMAIL REMOVED>
> <javascript:;>> wrote:
> >
> >> Paul if you solicited feedback from the stakeholder communities why is
> it
> >> that none of the leaders in the Higher Ed AT community that I have
> >> contacted ever saw this survey? I think what you all are doing is great
> for
> >> the vendor and government community. But trying to extend it beyond
> those
> >> groups will be very problematic.
> >>
> >> ATHEN was never included in the effort at all nor was AHEAD as far as I
> >> have been able to ascertain. So I find it somewhat disingenuous to try
> >> and develop a certification process that in all likelyhood will be
> totally
> >> irrelevant in the IHE AT service provider space. Sounds like the RESNA
> ATP
> >> all over again.
> >>
> >> Ron Stewart
> >>
> >> On Wednesday, September 9, 2015, Paul Bohman < <EMAIL REMOVED>
> <javascript:;>>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> > I'm the Chair of the Certification Committee at the IAAP
> (International
> >> > Association of Accessibility Professionals). We've recently updated
> the
> >> > page about certification on the IAAP website to explain where we are
> in
> >> the
> >> > process (
> >> http://www.accessibilityassociation.org/content.asp?contentid28
> >> > )
> >> > I've also included the full text below. I welcome any comments or
> >> > questions.
> >> > IAAP Certification The International Association of Accessibility
> >> > Professionals (IAAP) will begin offering professional certification in
> >> > 2016.
> >> > Where We Are Now in the Process? Currently, the Job Task Analysis
> >> > validation survey has been distributed to the accessibility community.
> >> The
> >> > validation survey is used to define the core competencies of those
> >> working
> >> > at an entry level in the accessibility industry. The validation
> survey is
> >> > the foundation for the exam content outline (or blueprint) that will
> >> serve
> >> > as the basis for all exam content.
> >> >
> >> > Once the survey results have been finalized, the exam content outline
> >> will
> >> > be made publically available on the IAAP website.
> >> >
> >> > All accessibility professionals are encouraged to complete the
> validation
> >> > survey which can be accessed at
> >> > https://accessibilityassociation.formstack.com/forms/iaap_2015_ja
> >> > The Process of Creating a Professional Certification Professional
> Testing
> >> > (IAAP's exam development partner) outlines the critical steps
> necessary
> >> to
> >> > develop a valid and reliable examination.
> >> >
> >> > Access the full certification process outline
> >> > <
> >> >
> >>
> http://iaap.membershipsoftware.org/files/Exam%20Development%20and%20Procedures%20Guidelines.pdf
> >> > >
> >> > .
> >> > Goals of the Certification Program The IAAP certification program
> aspires
> >> > to the following goals for accessibility certification:
> >> >
> >> > - To define what accessibility professionals are expected to know.
> >> > - To increase the quality and consistency of the work performed by
> >> > accessibility professionals.
> >> > - To provide accessibility professionals with a credential as
> evidence
> >> > of their commitment to the accessibility field, and of their
> >> competence
> >> > within the field.
> >> > - To provide employers, the accessibility community and the public
> >> with
> >> > a metric to measure and assess the accessibility competence of
> current
> >> > and/or prospective employees.
> >> > - To provide colleges, universities, and vocational programs with
> >> clear
> >> > educational outcomes and a curriculum outline for teaching
> >> > accessibility.
> >> > - To strengthen the community of practice among accessibility
> >> > professionals.
> >> >
> >> > The Structure and Scope of the IAAP Certification Program The IAAP
> will
> >> > offer two levels of certification: an associate level credential, and
> >> > subsequent professional level credentials. Associate Level
> >> >
> >> > - *Foundation Level*: The Associate level credential is the entry
> >> level
> >> > credential. It is the foundation upon which the Professional level
> >> > certifications build.
> >> > - *Broad and Conceptual*: This level covers a broad range of topics
> >> > within accessibility, and the exam will be rigorous, but the exam
> >> > questions
> >> > will be mostly conceptual in nature, rather than technical.
> >> >
> >> > Professional Level
> >> >
> >> > - *Technical Detail*: Certifying at the professional level requires
> >> > detailed technical knowledge of the domain. For example,
> accessibility
> >> > professionals are expected to evaluate the accessibility of
> existing
> >> > content or objects according to published technical standards and
> >> > guidelines, and provide detailed remediation recommendations. They
> are
> >> > expected to know and use the relevant technologies, not merely be
> >> aware
> >> > of
> >> > them.
> >> > - *Multiple Professional Level Credentials*: The IAAP was
> conceived as
> >> > an organization for all accessibility professionals across a wide
> >> range
> >> > of
> >> > accessibility domains, such as accessibility of the web, software,
> >> > multimedia, documents, consumer products, industrial design,
> >> > transportation, architecture and the built environment, etc. The
> IAAP
> >> > will
> >> > develop multiple professional level certification exams for
> multiple
> >> > accessibility domains, depending on market demand.
> >> > - *Focus First on Web Accessibility*: The first Professional level
> >> IAAP
> >> > credential will focus on web accessibility.
> >> >
> >> > Certified Accessibility Associate (CAA) The Certified Accessibility
> >> > Associate (CAA) credential is IAAP's foundational certification,
> >> > representing the practical application of broad, cross-disciplinary
> >> > conceptual knowledge about 1) disabilities, 2) accessibility and
> >> universal
> >> > design, and 3) accessibility-related standards, laws, and management
> >> > strategies.
> >> >
> >> > Relevant domains for the CAA credential include the web and other
> digital
> >> > technologies, architecture and the built environment, consumer and
> >> > industrial design, transportation systems, and any domain in which
> >> > thoughtful design, policy, and management can improve disability
> access.
> >> >
> >> > The CAA is the ideal credential for those who manage and support
> >> > accessibility, but who may not personally design, implement, or
> evaluate
> >> > the technical details of accessible solutions. For those who do work
> at
> >> the
> >> > technical level, IAAP will be working to create domain-specific
> >> > professional credentials which build on the associate-level
> credential.
> >> The
> >> > first professional level he IAAP is actively developing is the
> Certified
> >> > Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA). The IAAP will add other
> >> technical
> >> > professional certification credentials in other domains in accordance
> >> with
> >> > market and professional demand.
> >> > Nature of the Certification Examination The IAAP wants accessibility
> >> > professionals – and the employers who hire them – to recognize the
> value
> >> of
> >> > IAAP credentials as a valid benchmark of a person's accessibility
> >> knowledge
> >> > and skills. To meet this goal, the IAAP will work closely with
> >> > accessibility professionals and assessment professionals to design the
> >> > exams and test their reliability and validity. The IAAP will monitor
> the
> >> > outcomes and continually assess the effectiveness of the exams to
> ensure
> >> > the trustworthiness of all IAAP credentials.
> >> >
> >> > The exact nature and format of the test is to be determined. At this
> >> point,
> >> > the IAAP anticipates that many questions will likely be in a format
> >> > amenable to automated scoring, but some questions – especially at the
> >> > professional level – may be more open-ended to allow for more nuanced,
> >> > performance-based assessments of actual skills.
> >> > Who Should Take the Associate Level Examination? The associate-level
> >> > credential is intended for accessibility professionals, for those who
> >> > manage accessibility outcomes, and for anyone who plays a key role in
> >> > ensuring that the digital and physical worlds are accessible to people
> >> with
> >> > disabilities including:
> >> >
> >> > - Accessibility professionals in any field (e.g. web design,
> software
> >> > engineering, hardware engineering, consumer and industrial product
> >> > design,
> >> > transportation, architecture and the built environment, educational
> >> > accommodations, etc.), whose job requires in-depth accessibility
> >> > expertise.
> >> > Accessibility professionals should also consider IAAP
> >> professional-level
> >> > certification, if available for their area of expertise.*
> >> > - Project, program, or portfolio managers and executive leaders
> >> > overseeing initiatives or organizations that focus on
> accessibility,
> >> or
> >> > which include accessibility as a key component.
> >> > - Anyone whose job requires accessibility awareness or competence
> >> (e.g.
> >> > technology professionals in diverse specializations, architects and
> >> > urban
> >> > planners, international development professionals, disability
> rights
> >> > activists, lawmakers and legal counsel, media producers, recreation
> >> and
> >> > hospitality providers, teachers and professors, health care
> providers,
> >> > emergency response coordinators, salespeople and support staff at
> >> > accessibility consulting companies, etc.).
> >> >
> >> > *Note: The associate-level certification is the terminal (final) IAAP
> >> > credential for all careers except those for which a professional-level
> >> IAAP
> >> > credential exists. Currently the only professional-level certification
> >> > under development by the IAAP is for web accessibility. The IAAP will
> >> > consider developing other specialized credentials in the future.
> >> > When Will IAAP Offer the First Certification Examination? Registration
> >> for
> >> > the associate level certification will be offered in the first
> quarter of
> >> > 2016. The timeline for other professional level certifications is
> still
> >> to
> >> > be determined.
> >> > How Much Will the CAA Certification Examination Cost? The exam will be
> >> $325
> >> > for members; $425 for non-members. We will also offer an emerging
> country
> >> > rate at $150.
> >> > What Content Will the CAA Certification Examination Include? While the
> >> exam
> >> > blueprint is still in development, the chart below outlines the
> >> anticipated
> >> > exam content.
> >> >
> >> > Anticipated Exam Content Topic Sub-Topic Disabilities Theoretical
> Models
> >> of
> >> > Disability Types of Disabilities, Challenges, and Assistive
> >> > Technologies Disability
> >> > Demographics Disability Etiquette Accessibility and Universal Design
> >> > Individual
> >> > Accommodations versus Inclusive Design Benefits of Accessibility
> >> > Accessibility
> >> > Principles (WCAG 2.0) The Principles of Universal Design 2.0 Universal
> >> > Design for Learning (UDL) Usability and User Experience (UX)
> Standards,
> >> > Laws, and Management Strategies International Conventions and Treaties
> >> > Accessibility
> >> > Standards and Regulations National and Regional Laws Systematic
> >> > Organizational Governance and Management
> >> > Preparing for the CAA Certification Examination Certification
> Preparation
> >> > Training The certification will be competency-based, which means that
> the
> >> > IAAP will not require the completion of any kind of training.
> Successful
> >> > certification will depend on one's score on the certification exam.
> >> > Certificants will be able to study on their own, based on the content
> in
> >> > the Body of Knowledge document, or they can take certification
> >> preparation
> >> > courses if they choose.
> >> >
> >> > The IAAP does not currently offer an "official" IAAP certification
> >> > preparation training curriculum. The plan is to leverage the existing
> >> > third-party resources and services already in the market. Nearly all
> >> > accessibility companies and consultants provide accessibility
> training as
> >> > part of their business model, and information is available online in
> both
> >> > free and paid formats. The IAAP will publish a list of vetted
> >> certification
> >> > training providers for the benefit of those seeking exam preparation
> >> > training.
> >> > Maintaining Certification IAAP certification is valid for 3 years.
> Every
> >> > three years, certificants will be required to
> >> >
> >> > - Complete a certain number of continuing education credits (to be
> >> > determined) a portion of which must be offered or approved by IAAP
> >> > - Submit an application for certification renewal.
> >> >
> >> > Individuals do not need to retake any of the exams to maintain their
> >> > certification unless they allow their certification to lapse.
> >> >
> >> > As technologies and professional expectations evolve, these renewal
> >> > requirements are subject to change.
> >> > Continuing Education Units (CEUs) The IAAP will offer continuing
> >> education
> >> > units (CEUs) for classes, workshops, webcasts, conference attendance,
> and
> >> > other similar IAAP-sponsored activities. The IAAP will implement a
> >> process
> >> > to allow other organizations or individuals to offer IAAP-approved
> >> > continuing education credits for similar career-enhancing educational
> >> > opportunities.
> >> >
> >> > Types of Activities that May Qualify for Continuing Education Credits:
> >> >
> >> > - Attending classes, workshops, webinars, and other educational
> events
> >> > about accessibility
> >> > - Preparing or presenting educational materials about accessibility
> >> > - Publishing articles, books, blogs, or other publications about
> >> > accessibility
> >> > - Mentoring others in accessibility
> >> > - Speaking engagements at IAAP or other approved educational event
> >> > - Volunteer service with IAAP
> >> >
> >> > The IAAP is at the early stages of considering CEU options, so further
> >> > research and public discussion of the options is necessary before
> >> deciding
> >> > on an official CEU policy.
> >> >
> >> > The Qualifications of the Certification Team The certification
> process at
> >> > IAAP is in good hands with our headquarters and volunteer leadership
> >> team.
> >> > Here are abbreviated biographical sketches of some of the key players:
> >> > *Paul Bohman, PhD, Chair of the IAAP Certification Committee*
> >> > Dr. Paul Bohman has been the Chair of the IAAP Certification Committee
> >> > since its inception and has steered the process through the formative
> >> > stages, from the initial concepts to the more concrete proposals
> >> currently
> >> > under consideration. He is also Director of Training at Deque
> Systems, a
> >> > web accessibility software and consulting company based in the
> Washington
> >> > DC area. At Deque he has created the Deque University platform, which
> is
> >> a
> >> > custom learning management system for teaching web accessibility, and
> has
> >> > personally created or overseen the creation of a complete web
> >> accessibility
> >> > curriculum of online self-paced courses. He also travels frequently to
> >> > provide instructor-led training on web accessibility to clients.
> >> >
> >> > His doctoral dissertation
> >> > <
> >> >
> >>
> http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article#64&;context=etd
> >> > >
> >> > investigated web accessibility in the higher education curriculum in
> >> three
> >> > different countries, and his doctoral studies included extensive
> training
> >> > in research design, assessment design and evaluation, statistics,
> >> learning
> >> > and instructional theory, psychology, sociology, and social justice.
> >> > Previously Dr. Bohman taught web accessibility at George Mason
> >> University,
> >> > participated in the creation of the Web Content Accessibility
> Guidelines
> >> > 2.0, and was a founding member of WebAIM with Cyndi Rowland. At
> WebAIM,
> >> Dr.
> >> > Bohman created a full web accessibility curriculum (at that time
> based on
> >> > WCAG 1.0), some of which is still available on the WebAIM site. He
> also
> >> > created the WebAIM listserv, which continues to be one of the most
> active
> >> > groups on the internet for discussing web accessibility.
> >> > *Christine Murphy Peck, IAAP CEO*
> >> > Christine Murphy Peck is the CEO of the IAAP. She holds 29 years of
> >> > experience in nonprofit management, certification management,
> education
> >> > strategy development, corporate education and facilitation and
> strategic
> >> > planning. Peck currently leads the SmithBucklin Washington, D.C. team
> >> > responsible for implementing educational strategy, program design and
> >> > delivery, eLearning, certification and accreditation, with a focus on
> >> > outcomes and client growth.
> >> >
> >> > Previously, Peck founded Peck Performance Group, a consulting practice
> >> > serving clients in the areas of education, training and organizational
> >> > development, and served as president and chief learning officer. She
> >> served
> >> > for seven years as the director of education and learning of the U.S.
> >> > Tennis Association, where she established a full-service educational
> >> center
> >> > providing professional development and educational resources to staff
> and
> >> > volunteers in more than 1,000 community-based organizations. She has
> >> worked
> >> > extensively with nonprofit organizations, including start-ups and
> >> > turnarounds, helping these organizations develop to their full
> potential
> >> > while managing multiple projects with combined budgets of more than
> $20
> >> > million.
> >> > *Dr. Reed Castle* IAAP's partners with Professional Testing Inc. an
> >> > independent testing company that provides assistance with exam
> >> development,
> >> > administration, and scoring. Professional Testing develops,
> administers,
> >> > and maintains licensure and certification examination programs.
> >> > Professional Testing staff guide the exam development activities and
> have
> >> > extensive psychometric and test development experience.
> >> >
> >> > Dr. Reed Castle is the leads the exam development activities from
> >> > Professional Testing. Dr. Castle has over 25 years of experience in
> >> > psychometrics and exam development and has assisted with development
> in
> >> > with a multitude of examinations over his career. In his current
> >> capacity,
> >> > he oversees and provides consultation to a variety of clients by
> >> directing
> >> > psychometric services with respect to credentialing examinations and
> >> > providing NCCA and ANSI/ISO 17024 accreditation assistance. He
> >> successfully
> >> > evaluates client needs to implement best management practices Dr.
> Castle
> >> > has his PhD in Quantitative and Qualitative Methods with an emphasis
> in
> >> > Measurement, Statistics, and Research Design from the University of
> >> > Nebraska-Lincoln, a Masters in Educational and Counseling Psychology
> with
> >> > an emphasis in Measurement and Statistics from the University of
> >> > Missouri-Columbia and a Bachelors in Psychology from University of
> >> > Missouri-Columbia.
> >> > *The Certification Committee* The Certification Committee is the
> >> governing
> >> > body of the professional certification program. Their mission is to
> >> assure
> >> > a comprehensive level of knowledge through certification in the
> >> > accessibility profession. The Certification Committee is responsible
> for
> >> > establishing the policies and procedures that guide the professional
> >> > certification program.
> >> >
> >> > The Certification Committee is comprised of experts from across the
> >> > accessibility industry. The Committee represents multiple areas of
> >> > accessibility to ensure that all interests are represented.
> >> >
> >> > The Certification Committee consists of the following individuals:
> >> >
> >> > Paul Bohman, PhD, Director of Training, Deque Systems, Inc. (Chair)
> >> > Arlington, Virginia, USA
> >> >
> >> > Katie Haritos Shea, Senior Accessibility Subject Matter Expert
> >> > (WCAG/Section 508/ADA/AODA)
> >> > Oakton, Virginia, USA
> >> >
> >> > Allen Hoffman, Office of Accessible Systems & Technology, Department
> of
> >> > Homeland Security Washington, DC, USA
> >> >
> >> > Jay Cardinali, Worldwide Accessibility Manager, Walt Disney Parks and
> >> > Resorts
> >> > Orlando, Florida, USA
> >> >
> >> > Ken Nakata, Director, Accessibility Consulting Practice, Cryptzone
> >> > Seattle, Washington, USA
> >> >
> >> > Robert Pearson, Accessiblity Officer, Accessible Media Inc. (AMI)
> >> > Toronto, Ontario, Canada
> >> >
> >> > Valorie Sundby, Web Accessibility Specialist, Self, Modis - 5280
> >> Solutions
> >> > Littleton, Colorado, USA
> >> >
> >> > Nigel Lewis, CEO, AbilityNet
> >> > London, United Kingdom
> >> >
> >> > David MacDonald, President, CanAdapt Solutions Inc.
> >> > Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
> >> >
> >> > Cristopher Broyles, Director of Digital Accessibility/Chief
> Accessibility
> >> > Officer, Perkins School for the Blind
> >> > Boston, Massachussetts, USA
> >> >
> >> > Christian Vinten-Johansen, IT Manager, Pennsylvania State University
> >> > State College, Pennsylvania, USA
> >> >
> >> > Kevin Prince, IT Accessibility Consultant, Access1in5
> >> > Christchurch, New Zealand
> >> >
> >> > JoAnne Juett, Integration Specialist, HighPoint Global
> >> > Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
> >> >
> >> > Paul Bohman, PhD
> >> > Director of Training, Deque Systems, Inc
> >> > 703-225-0380, ext.121
> >> > https://DequeUniversity.com
> >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > > <javascript:;>
> >> >
> >> > >> > >> > >> > >>
> > > > > > > > >
>
>
> --
>
> Karl Groves
> www.karlgroves.com
> @karlgroves
> http://www.linkedin.com/in/karlgroves
> Phone: +1 410.541.6829
>
> Modern Web Toolsets and Accessibility
> Modern Web Toolsets & The Next Generation of Accessibility Testing Tools
> <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uq6Db47-Ks>
>
> www.tenon.io
> > > > >


--

Paul Bohman, PhD
Director of Training, Deque Systems, Inc
703-225-0380, ext.121
https://DequeUniversity.com