Accessibility Training Overview

The courses listed below are intended to improve your understanding of IT accessibility, and Section 508 law, and help you produce digital tools and content that conform to the Revised 508 Standards.

Online Training Courses

The following self-paced courses provide an overview of key aspects of IT accessibility. (Note: Some of these courses are also available through the Federal Acquisition Institute (FAI). If you need to earn Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) to meet annual training requirements, we recommend you take designated courses through FAI.)

1. Accessibility of ICT for Government Executives

   High-level overview of the Revised 508 Standards. Explains roles and responsibilities of Federal government executives, including agency heads, CIOs and CAOs, and Section 508 Program Managers.
2. Micro-Purchases and Section 508 Requirements

   How to make micro-purchases that conform with the Revised 508 Standards, including how the requirements apply to micro-purchases of hardware, software, and other ICT. (FAI Course ID: FAC 047)
3. Microsoft Word & Accessibility Best Practices

   This training covers various techniques to create accessible and navigable documents. You will learn how to use heading styles and table of contents features to improve navigation, write effective image descriptions, and convert complex tables into simple ones for accessibility. Additionally, you will gain knowledge on creating accessible charts, integrating infographics, and creating PDF forms using Microsoft Word. Finally, the course will also discuss the strengths and limitations of the Accessibility Checker in Microsoft Word.
4. Procuring Section 508 Conformant ICT Products and Services

   This course is a basic overview of the Federal acquisition process for procuring ICT (Information and Communication Technology) products and services that conform to Section 508 standards. It explains the purpose of this procurement process, who is responsible for each aspect of the process, and what steps are involved as you procure ICT. (FAI Course ID: FAC 056)
5. Section 508: What Is It and Why Is It Important?

   Introduction to Section 508 and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Explains what Section 508 is and why it’s important, shows how conformance can make ICT more accessible, reviews job-related responsibilities for meeting Section 508 standards, offers resources to help you meet your Section 508 responsibilities. (FAI Course #: FAC 049)
6. Soliciting and Evaluating Accessibility Conformance Reports in Federal ICT Procurement

   This training covers how to identify when you need to create or request an Accessibility Conformance Report (ACR) for an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) product or service. It also covers the steps to take to write an ACR, and how to evaluate an ACR for a product. This training is intended both for those in the federal government who procure ICT and for vendors who provide ICT for federal government contracts.

Training Videos Library

Introduction to the Accessibility Requirements Tool (ART)

This video series demonstrates how to use the Accessibility Requirements Tool (ART). ART helps you generate a list of Section 508 requirements applicable to the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) you want to procure. The series explains when to use ART, how to create and edit your list of requirements, and how to use the list generated by ART.

Duration 9m 30s | 5-Part Video Series

How to Make an Accessible Document in Microsoft Word

The Accessible Electronic Document Community of Practice (AED CoP) created this series of videos to explain and demonstrate the minimum steps needed to ensure your Microsoft Word document is Section 508 conformant.

Duration 59m 21s | 14-Part Video Series

How to Test and Remediate PDFs for Accessibility Using Adobe Acrobat DC

The Accessible Electronic Document Community of Practice (AED CoP) created this series of videos to explain and demonstrate the minimum steps needed to ensure your PDF is Section 508 conformant.

Duration 63m 51s | 5-Part Video Series

How to Author and Test Microsoft PowerPoint Presentations for Accessibility

The Accessible Electronic Document Community of Practice (AED CoP) created this series of videos to explain and demonstrate the minimum steps needed to ensure your Microsoft PowerPoint presentation is Section 508 conformant.

Duration 43m 54s | 14-Part Video Series

Creating PowerPoint Templates

Learn how to use the Microsoft PowerPoint slide master to help others create accessible presentations. Understand how presentation templates can provide users with a variety of layouts and features that can reduce common accessibility issues when utilized.

Duration: 8m 18s | 1-Part Video Tutorial

How to Make an Accessible Spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel

The Accessible Electronic Document Community of Practice (AED CoP) created this series of videos to explain and demonstrate the minimum steps needed to ensure your Microsoft Excel spreadsheet is Section 508 conformant.

Duration 30m 50s | 12-Part Video Series

Accessible Name & Description Inspector (ANDI) Tool Overview

Get a basic overview on how to use the Accessible Name & Description Inspector tool (ANDI) to test websites and web-based applications for accessibility. ANDI is a free tool developed by the Social Security Administration.

Duration 31m 11s | 18-Part Video Series

How to Test Color Contrast using the Color Contrast Analyser

Learn how to use The Paciello Group’s Color Contrast Analyzer (CCA) to ensure the contrast ratio between text, and images of text, and it's background is sufficient. CCA is used to inspect color contrast when contrast cannot programmatically identified by ANDI

Duration 2m 33s | 1-Part Video Tutorial

An Introduction to Universal Design for Content Creators

This four-part video series provides an introduction to Universal Design for content creators, developers, managers and procurement professionals. It includes resources, tips, and tricks for designing products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.

Duration: 18m 21s | 4-Part Video Series

Creating Accessible Media

Get a brief overview on how to develop high quality audio, video, and multimedia that is accessible to users who cannot see visual information, or hear information conveyed using sound. Learn about text-based equivalents, captions and synchronized audio descriptions.

Duration: 5m 41s | 1-Part Video Tutorial

What is Alternative Text?

Alternative text, also known as alt text, is descriptive text that conveys the meaning of an image in digital content. It’s designed to make visual content accessible to people with vision disabilities. While there are other benefits of alt text for all users, this video focuses on people who use screen readers.

Duration 3m 25s | 1-Part Video Tutorial

On-Demand Webinars

• Digital Dashboard Accessibility Module Webinar (PPTX) - Overview of the purpose, uses, and function of the Digital Dashboard Accessibility module
• Trusted Tester Awareness Webinar (PPTX) - Overview of the purpose, benefits, and components of the Trusted Tester certification program
• Learn about the Revised 508 Standards from the U.S. Access Board.
  • Section 508 Refresh - ICT Final Standards and Guidelines - Overview of new standards (January 2017)
  • Old versus New: Original Section 508 Standards compared to the Revised Section 508 Standards - Overview of what’s changed (May 2017)
  • WCAG 2.0 and the Revised Section 508 Standards - Practical advice for implementing the new standards (March 2017)
  • Revised Section 508 Chapter 4 Hardware - How to implement the hardware provisions of the new standards (July 2017)
  • Revised Section 508 Chapter 5 Software (including Mobile) - How to implement the software provisions of the new standards (September 2017)

Additional Training Resources

• Event Calendar - find and register for upcoming training offered by GSA and other partners
• Training Inventory PDF file of (non-GSA) accessibility training resources
• Accessibility Presentations and Workshop Materials
• ADA/AccessibilityOnline (US Access Board)
  • Register for upcoming webinars
  • View archived CIOC ACOP / Section 508 training
• Partnership on Employment & Accessibility (PEAT)
  • Webinars
  • Videos
• Mapping of WCAG 2.0 to Functional Performance Criteria

Reviewed/Updated: October 2024