Training

Our training classes help members of the University community build skills and expand their awareness of disability and digital accessibility. From overviews to quick practical tips to deep dives, and opportunities to achieve professional certification, we offer training that helps you provide digital information and experiences that are inclusive to people with disabilities. We also offer custom training on topics focused on the needs of your department or group.

To keep up between events:

Upcoming Classes & Events

Practical Steps for Creating Accessible Website Content
Thursday, November 14, 2024, 10:00 am12:00 pm
Alt Text Best Practices
Tuesday, November 19, 2024, 11:30 am12:00 pm
Practical Steps for Creating Accessible Website Content
Wednesday, December 11, 2024, 10:00 am12:00 pm
Private Film Screening: Planet of Snail
Friday, December 13, 2024, 1:00 pm3:00 pm
Accessibility Certification CAEC Workshop
Thursday, January 16, 2025, 8:30 am4:30 pm

Self-paced DubBot Course

This brief online course prepares you to use the DubBot tool to monitor your website for accessibility issues and fix them. It can be completed at your own pace.

Certification

Zoom windows showing 2021 CPACC celebration

At Princeton, we have created a welcoming and innovative program to certify staff in any role, whether technical or non-technical. To date, over 165 staff have earned certifications. We believe that everyone can benefit from and apply accessibility knowledge in their work, and we especially encourage those who:

  • Are responsible for supporting people with disabilities
  • Want to create more inclusive experiences
  • Create content
  • Create or manage IT
  • Organize and host meetings
  • Work with students

 

CPACC

Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies

The CPACC is a foundational professional credential through the International Association of Accessibility Professionals. The certification represents the ability to apply broad, cross-disciplinary conceptual knowledge about disabilities and accessibility.

OIT's CPACC training program is cohort-based and is offered in the summer. It includes an online course, three in-person training classes, study sessions, and the exam. Participants should expect to spend 50 hours in the preparation program. The thoroughness of the preparation gives Princeton a high pass rate. Those who do well in the course and practice exam have their certification fees met by the University.

Course topics include:

  • Disabilities, challenges and assistive technologies
  • Etiquette
  • Accommodations
  • Universal design
  • Standards and laws
  • Integrating digital accessibility in the organization

CPACC classes are open only to members of the University community. Contact us to ask about upcoming cohorts.

 

CAT

Certificate in Accessibility Testing

The CAT is a practical, "how-to" credential, focused on the tools and skills participants need to evaluate and improve the accessibility of the websites and applications they edit, build or manage.

Any University employee responsible for content, design or code should find the material relevant and useful.

Topics include:

  • How to structure and format content to be compatible with assistive technologies
  • Design considerations for common disabilities, including low vision and colorblindness
  • Helpful tools that can automatically find many common issues
  • How to test interactive elements using a keyboard and screen reader


The CAT exam is a demonstration of role-relevant skills rather than rote memorization: each participant is asked to evaluate a sample website, identify its issues, and explain what they would do next in their role. A developer might identify which parts of the code need to be rewritten, while a product owner might explain how they would describe each issue to the vendor.

Preparing for the exam involves 6 hours of instruction:

  1. Course: Getting Started with Digital Accessibility
  2. Course: Practical Steps for Creating Accessible Web Content
  3. Workshop: How To Test for Accessibility

Participants are encouraged to practice until they feel confident with each DIY testing step and their chosen screen reader before sitting for the exam.

Contact us to ask about upcoming cohorts.

Custom Classes

Custom classes are designed for small groups and departmental staff upon request.

Examples of topics previously taught include:

  • Introductory concepts on disability and accessible IT
  • Accessible presentations and documents
  • Accessible online meetings and events
  • Testing your website or application

Request a custom class

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