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Web Accessibility Evaluation Curriculum

About this Curriculum

Dislaimer

Please, read carefully the disclaimer before any use of this curriculum.

Background

This curriculum has been developed within the Support-EAM project. This is an EU 6th Framework Programme IST funded project (FP6-2003-IST-2-Support Action 004754) running from October 2004 to March 2006. The curriculum is part of Deliverable D4.1 named "Accessibility Evaluation Curriculum" and is based on the experience of the different partners in the project, the results produced within the Support-EAM project and the Certification Scheme worked out in the associated CEN/ISSS Workshop on Web Accessibility Certification.

Objective

The objective of this curriculum is to provide a unified training resource for Web Accessibility evaluators who want to do evaluation of websites against an evaluation methodology that has been harmonised at a European level and in the context of Web Accessibility certification.

Target audience

The target audience for this curriculum are people doing Web Accessibility evaluations. Therefore, basic knowledge about Web Accessibility in general and evaluation of website accessibility in particular is assumed for a good understanding of this curriculum. This basic knowledge will not be taught in detail here, but an overview and some useful links will be provided where appropriate.

Structure

Apart from this overview, the curriculum is divided into 4 modules:

Each of these modules contains at least the following subchapters:

Where reasonable and appropriate, a chapter called "Self-evaluation" (containing theoretical questions) and a chapter called "Exercises" (containing practical tasks) have been added. These chapters give the reader the possibility to verify his knowledge about the section and his understanding of the contents he has just read.

Contents of the Curriculum

Module 1: Web Accessibility in Europe

Module 1 gives an overview of the history and current developments in the field of Web Accessibility in Europe, containing information about the activities of the World Wide Web Consortium, the developments currently going on in European member states and the directions to be followed by the eEurope Action Plans 2002, 2005 and i2010.

to the contents of module 1

Module 2: How People with Disabilities use the Web

Module 2 contains descriptions of the main assistive technologies (screen readers, screen magnifiers, voice synthesizers, braille displays, etc.) and shows how these technologies help different groups of people with disabilities exploring the Web. In addition, it summarizes some basic characteristics about frequently used web browsers.

to the contents of module 2

Module 3: Evaluation Methodology

Module 3 presents a harmonised evaluation methodology. This is consolidated from the Unified Web Evaluation Methodology 0.5 and three existing schemes already used in practice for Web Accessibility Certification or labelling by partners in the Support-EAM project. The methodology provides tests for checking a website against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0 priority 1 checkpoints including examples which the tests have been applied to. Moreover, some information about tools that can support an evaluator's work is given.

to the contents of module 3

Module 4: Web Accessibility Validation Scheme and Quality Mark

Module 4 describes a scheme for Web Accessibility Certification at a European level that has been developed through a CEN/ISSS Workshop Agreement. Additionally, it provides the reader with information about existing quality marks in Europe and provides recommendations for a possible European Web Accessibility Quality Mark.

to the contents of module 4

Language Versions

The English version of the Web Accessibility Evaluation Curriculum is the common reference. Nevertheless, the Curriculum has been localised in several languages. Localised versions may reference local material, support or tools.

Contributors

Thanks to all organisations that contributed to this curriculum (in alphabetical order):