Many companies are interested in ensuring that technology is accessible to people with disabilities. Some companies are motivated by a desire to do the right thing in order to ensure access for all of their customers; others are concerned with the possibility of facing lawsuits if their products are in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Because many students don’t learn about accessibility in their education, companies must train their employees on these topics. This means that having knowledge of accessibility can make you a great job candidate.
What can you do if your school doesn’t offer any classes on accessibility?
- Look for open source projects, summer internships, or research opportunities that allow you to learn more.
- Ask your department about the possibility of doing an independent study on accessibility.
- Find ways to learn on your own:
- AccessComputing’s Web 2.0 Curriculum is a web design curriculum that emphasizes standards-based and accessible design.
- The Teach Access Tutorial for Accessible Mobile and Web Apps will help you get a solid footing on accessibility via hands-on exercises and useful reference guides.
- Deque is offering scholarships to people with disabilities to give them access to Deque’s in-depth web accessibility curriculum for a full year at no cost.