It's becoming increasingly difficult to imagine a world without some degree of access to digital content. Digital content is present in virtually every aspect of people's lives these days, including education, employment, news, entertainment, health, banking, social media, and the purchasing of essential goods and services. For people with disabilities, accessible digital content can mean the difference between full, equal access and the inability to access even the most basic of services and resources.
Accessibility and the Law
Webster's Dictionary defines "accessible" as: "easy to approach, reach, enter, speak with, or use." This definition sums up what people with disabilities hope to experience with digital content. There is certainly a compelling argument to be made for why any organization should strive toward greater digital content accessibility. Some of the benefits of accessibility can include better search engine optimization (SEO), improved usability and accessibility for everyone, and an expansion of an organization's target audience. The most common driving factors that motivate organizations to achieve greater accessibility are compliance and risk mitigation, which reduce the potential for costly settlements, lawsuits, and negative public relations that can have an unwanted impact an organization's bottom line.
The legal repercussions for inaccessible digital content are taken very seriously by many organizations. As technology changes, so to have the laws related to the accessibility of digital content, also known as information and communication technology (ICT) accessibility. On January 18, 2017, the United States Access Board published a final rule updating the requirements for information and communication technology covered by Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and Section 255 of the Communication Act, often referred to as "508 Refresh" or "ICT Refresh." As a result of this update, American ICT accessibility standards are more consistent with the standards of many countries across the globe that adhere to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
On July 26 of this year, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) celebrated its 27th anniversary. Although far from perfect, the ADA represents one of America's most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation. It prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life—to enjoy employment opportunities, to purchase goods and services, and to participate in state and local government programs and services. The ADA is considered an "equal opportunity" law for people with disabilities.
The ADA was signed into law six months prior to the creation of the Internet. The impact that technology has had in people's lives following the ADA could not have been forecasted. Because of the ubiquity and importance of ICT in virtually every aspect of our lives today, over the last several years the Department of Justice has taken the position that ICT accessibility represents a critical civil rights issue for people with disabilities, and therefore falls under the ADA.
Although laws and standards such as Section 508 Refresh, WCAG 2.0 and the ADA, among others, are of paramount importance to ICT accessibility, they do not in and of themselves provide the tools, resources, professional development, sharing, and networking needed by individuals and organizations to make widespread ICT accessibility a reality.
International Association for Accessibility Professionals
The International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP), is the only organization of its kind in the world. A non-profit, membership-based division of the United Nations' Global Initiative for Inclusive Information and Communication Technologies (G3ict), the mission of IAAP is "to define, promote and improve the accessibility profession globally through networking, education and certification in order to enable the creation of accessible products, content and services." For more information, visit the About IAAP page.
Overview of IAAP Benefits
IAAP provides a number of offerings through its membership and services, including professional and organizational development tools and resources, certifications, and networking for individuals and organizations.
IAAP Webinars
IAAP hosts several webinars throughout the calendar year that feature industry leaders from across the globe. Topics for presentations include current trends, key technical issues related to achieving ICT accessibility and how to address them, and best practices. Live webinars allow attendees to ask questions and make comments, and are also archived for future retrieval. Complimentary access to the live and archived webinars is available to IAAP members based upon member level.
IAAP Certification
In addition to membership benefits, education, and resources, the IAAP currently offers two internationally recognized certifications, with additional certifications expected in the future that will include Procurement Specialist, Document Content Specialist, and Mobile Accessibility. The technical and academic aspects of the IAAP certification program, along with the logistics, are managed in partnership with AMAC Accessibility at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
CPACC Certification
The IAAP Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) requires demonstration of knowledge and understanding of disabilities, accessible and universal design, and accessibility related laws, standards, and management strategies.
The CPACC is an ideal certification for those who manage and support accessibility and require high-level conceptual knowledge and general understanding of accessibility. IAAP offers an outline of resources and information needed to prepare for the CPACC certification exam.
WAS Certification
The IAAP Web Accessibility Specialist (WAS) certification is intended for accessibility professionals who are required to evaluate the accessibility of existing content or objects in accordance with published technical standards and guidelines such as WCAG 2.0, and who provide detailed remediation recommendations. These professionals are expected to know and use the relevant technologies, not merely be aware of them. IAAP also provides an outline of resources and information needed to prepare for the WAS certification exam.
IAAP Connections
Connections is a member-only collaboration tool, facilitating member-to-member support on a number of topics, including resource sharing, technical questions, and guidance on best practices. IAAP Connections also contains an integrated member directory for one-on-one connections, as well as the establishment of sub-communities to foster discussions on specific areas of interest.
Nordic and UK Chapters
The IAAP serves as a center for accessibility professionals from across the globe, allowing professionals and those learning about accessibility to network, share, and develop their skills. With members from over 38 countries, IAAP currently has approximately 1,200 individual members and 67 organizational members committed to accessibility. In June of 2017, the Nordic chapter was officially formed. This chapter is led by Funka, a leading accessibility company based in Sweden. The Nordic chapter represents Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden. In July of 2017, the United Kingdom chapter was formed. It is being led by AbilityNet, a non-profit out of the UK that focuses on digital technology for people with disabilities. The objective of these and other emerging chapters is to promote the accessibility profession in their respective geographical regions by conducting awareness-raising events, promoting IAAP membership services including the IAAP training and certification programs, and providing input to IAAP on the needs of each region.
The Bottom Line
With society's ever-increasing dependency on digital content, leveling the playing field so that everyone has full and equal access has never been more urgent. Achieving a higher level of ICT accessibility, which can mean anything from more accessible PDF forms to online websites, apps and applications, also adds tremendous value to organizations' bottom lines. Many milestones have been reached when it comes to accessibility, but there is still a lot of work to be done. IAAP has quickly become a global leader for individuals and organizations pursuing a greater understanding and awareness of ICT accessibility and its implementation.
