The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) offers free online training to help you create and test digital content that is accessible to everyone. These courses teach you how to design and produce deliverables with built-in accessibility and human-centered design principles. You will learn to meet Section 508 accessibility standards while improving the overall customer experience through usability best practices.
Visit the DHS Customer Experience Directorate (CXD) Training Portal to create your free account and access courses on accessibility, customer experience (CX), and usability testing.
For additional resources on customer experience principles, visit the DHS CX Training Resources page.
Description: Section 508 is crucial for making Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessible to people with disabilities. Learn your job responsibilities and the resources available to meet Section 508 requirements. You must take the “What Is Section 508 and Why It Is Important” course before taking any other Section 508 compliance training courses.
Target Audience: Section 508 Coordinators, Trusted Tester candidates, IT personnel (including Project Managers, Program Managers, Instructional Designers), Leadership, CIOs, Procurement & Acquisition Officers, and Web Developers.
Program Duration: Unlimited
Delivery Method: Web-based, Self-paced
Prerequisites: None
Online Registration: DHS CXD/A&LS Training Resource Portal
| Course Name | Description |
|---|---|
| What Is Section 508 and Why It Is Important | Learn about Section 508's importance in making ICT products accessible to people with disabilities, understand job-related responsibilities and resources for compliance, and complete this prerequisite for other Section 508 training courses. |
| DHS Section 508 Playbook (Personnel Use Only) | Describes twelve plays to integrate strategic, business and technology management into a successful Section 508 program, to ensure Federal ICT is accessible to persons with disabilities. |
Note: Students registering for the “What Is Section 508 and Why It Is Important” course must use our Training Resource Portal. The DHS Section 508 Playbook can only be accessed by DHS personnel.
Description: Earn the Trusted Tester Certification for Web through the Trusted Tester for Web Certification Program. You will learn how to use the Trusted Tester Section 508 Conformance Test Process for Web to test websites and web applications for conformance to the Revised Section 508 Standards. You must score 85% or more on the Trusted Tester Certification Exam to be certified.
Target Audience: Trusted Tester candidates, Program Managers, Developers, System Owners.
Program Duration: Limited to 180 days (6 months) to complete the program.
Delivery Method: Web-based, self-paced
Prerequisites: None. Courses must be completed in order.
Online Registration: DHS CXD/A&LS Training Resource Portal
| Course Name | Description |
|---|---|
| What Is Section 508 and Why It Is Important | Learn about Section 508's importance in making ICT products accessible to people with disabilities, understand job-related responsibilities and resources for compliance, and complete this prerequisite for other Section 508 training courses. |
| Section 508 Standards for Web | Learn the basics of Section 508 Standards and which standards apply to web and web applications. |
| Trusted Tester Testing Tools | Learn about and install the tools for the Trusted Tester Section 508 Conformance Test Process for Web. Note: This course may require IT support and administrative access for software installation, potentially extending completion time by several weeks based on IT policies for government equipment and networks. |
| Trusted Tester Training for Web | Learn how to use the Trusted Tester Section 508 Conformance Test Process for Web to test websites and web applications and demonstrate your knowledge by completing an Incremental Exam. |
| Trusted Tester for Web Practice Exam | Prepare for the Trusted Tester for Web Certification Exam by testing sample web pages for Section 508 compliance using the Trusted Tester Section 508 Conformance Test Process for Web, and ensure you score 85% or higher on the Practice Exam to advance to the Certification Exam. |
| Trusted Tester for Web Certification Exam | Test web pages for Section 508 compliance using the Trusted Tester Section 508 Conformance Test Process for Web, and achieve a score of 85% or higher on the Certification Exam to become a certified Trusted Tester. |
Description: The Authoring Accessible Documents Program focuses on using Microsoft Office 365 and Adobe Acrobat DC Pro built-in tools to create smart documents that have enhanced functionality, improved readability, and are accessible for persons with disabilities.
The following courses are available in our Training Resource Portal:
- Authoring Accessible Microsoft Office 365 Word Documents
- Authoring Accessible Microsoft Office 365 Excel Documents
- Authoring Accessible Microsoft Office 365 PowerPoint Documents
- Authoring Accessible PDF Documents with Adobe Acrobat
Target Audience: Anyone who wants to create Section 508 conformant documents.
Program Duration: Self-paced
Delivery Method: Web-based
Prerequisites: “What is it Section 508 and Why It Is Important”
Online Registration: DHS CXD/A&LS Training Resource Portal
Note: Students registering for the Authoring Accessible Electronic Documents training will also be enrolled in the Accessible Document Authoring Q&A board. The Q&A board can be used to review and submit questions related to the training course. To access the Q&A board go to the Navigation Menu > Messages Boards > Accessible Document Authoring Q&A.
Description: The Section 508 for Contracting Officer Representatives (CORs), Program & Project Managers Program provides guidelines and best practices to assist IT Project Teams and CORs to effectively address their agency's Section 508 compliance obligations in each stage of the Acquisition Life Cycle. Students will cover Section 508 requirements, the acquisition process, procurement regulations, contract language, scoping and Section 508 artifacts.
Target Audience: Anyone responsible for the management and planning of programs or projects at DHS or is responsible for the integration of life cycle processes to include accessibility and Section 508 compliance.
Program Duration: Self-paced
Delivery Method: Web-based
Prerequisites: None
Online Registration: DHS CXD/A&LS Training Resource Portal
| Course Name | Description |
|---|---|
| What Is Section 508 and Why It Is Important | Learn about Section 508's importance in making ICT products accessible to people with disabilities, understand job-related responsibilities and resources for compliance, and complete this prerequisite for other Section 508 training courses. |
| Procuring Section 508 Conformant Products | Basic overview of the Federal acquisition process with regard to procuring ICT products and services that conform to Section 508. |
- Accessibility for Everybody: Understanding the Section 508 Accessibility Requirements
- Accessibility of ICT: An Overview for Government Executives (section508.gov)
- American Graphics Institute. Web Accessibility Training Class
- Web Accessibility for Developers
- Deque Accessibility Training
- Google Developers. Accessibility Testing - Totally Tooling Tips
- HTML Accessibility (W3C Schools)
- Illinois Online: Information Accessibility Design & Policy (IADP)
- Intro to Universal Design for Developers
- LinkedIn: Web Accessibility Training Courses
- O'Reilly Accessibility Handbook: Making 508-Compliant Websites
- Partnership on Employment & Accessible Technology (PEAT) | U.S. Department of Labor (dol.gov)
- Pro HTML5 Accessibility: Building an Inclusive Web
- Section508.gov (Home)
- U.S. Access Board Upcoming Webinars & Training
- U.S. Department of Labor Webinars
- Web Accessibility: Learn Best Practices, Tools & Techniques
- Web Accessibility in Mind (WebAIM)
- World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)