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Re: How to become a DHS "Trusted Tester"?

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From: Peter Shikli
Date: Jul 16, 2017 12:38AM

As a Trusted Tester (certificate# 301024), I can tell you that the
training program is intense. Completing it in 3 months is ambitious.
OAST suggests 6 months.

It is much less narrative than other classes focused on gaining broad
understanding of accessibility, which is quite worthwhile, particularly
in addition to the Trusted Tester training. The Trusted Tester Program
fields a test procedure, a detailed collection of steps involving
analyzing 81 specific failure conditions with the intent that any
Trusted Tester should come up with the same analysis, conclusions and
report. This objective metric contrasts with the sometimes subjective
opinions of accessibility consultants whose analysis reflects their
priorities, experience, and workflow.

By no means am I suggesting that a Trusted Tester is superior to an
experienced accessibility consultant, but rather that government
agencies sometimes prefer reliability to unpredictable expertise, even
when it is outstanding.

There is talk of WCAG melding into the Trusted Tester process, mainly
because WCAG is more rational on several points, but the Trusted Tester
Program is in response to a law, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act,
so modifying it for logical reasons is not the only driver.

As far as states go, I'm unaware of any having programs like Trusted
Tester, but many have passed accessibility laws that adopt Section 508
verbatim, thus making federal Trusted Testers relevant to states as
well. DoJ is also known for pointing out to agencies down to the local
level that federal funding is jeopardized by non-compliance to Section
508, so we're seeing even cities looking to Trusted Testers on
occasion. Enforcement is still the Wild West.

Cheers,
Peter