What web browser should I use?
The Open edX platform works best with current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari.
See our list of supported browsers for the most up-to-date information.
IAAP Accessible Development Overview
Enrollment is Closed
COMING SOON! This training will prepare the front-end developers to implement the accessibility standards and to embed them in their processes, minimizing the risks of retrofits.
A self-paced course designed to raise and recognize accessibility skills to help frontend developers to embed accessibility in their processes by understanding universal design principle and web accessibility standards.
About This Course
Whether you’re here out of personal interest or because your boss said so, welcome! This course is designed to help developers build websites and applications that are accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. Accessibility isn’t about ticking boxes, it’s about creating inclusive digital experiences. And as a developer, you have the power to make that happen.
This course is designed to help developers build accessible websites, applications, and native mobile experiences. From HTML structure and ARIA roles to accessible JavaScript, CSS, and mobile screen reader support, each module builds foundational and advanced skills to help developers create inclusive user interfaces.
What is the challenge?
Many digital experiences remain inaccessible, posing significant barriers for:
- People with disabilities using assistive technologies
- Individuals with temporary or situational impairments
- Older adults and those with low digital literacy
Web accessibility ensures that everyone can navigate, perceive, and interact with digital content. This course helps you understand how your code choices directly impact real users.
What is this course about?
This course teaches the technical foundations developers need to build accessible websites and apps, starting with:
- How browsers and assistive technologies communicate
- The role of HTML and ARIA in accessible development
- Practical coding strategies for building inclusive interfaces
- When to use built-in HTML semantics vs. custom ARIA attributes
- Resources to support you in testing and improving accessibility
Accessibility is not just a feature—it’s a mindset.
Who is this course for?
This course is designed for:
- Front-end and native developers at any level
- Engineers working with JavaScript frameworks or custom components
- Anyone writing HTML and CSS for public- or internal-facing digital products
- Anyone creating native mobile applications
- Teams building or maintaining UI components
- Developers interested in inclusive, human-centered coding practices
Before You Begin: Start with the Fundamentals
Before diving into this course, we highly recommend that you first complete the Fundamentals of Accessibility module.
That foundational course covers the essential knowledge every designer should have before applying accessibility in their practice. It explores:
- What digital accessibility is and why it matters
- How people with disabilities interact with digital environments
- Definitions and categories of disabilities (visual, auditory, motor, cognitive, etc.)
- The wide range of users who benefit from accessible design—including older adults, people in temporary or situational circumstances, and users of assistive technologies
- Accessibility as a human right and its legal and ethical implications
- An overview of international laws and policies (e.g., ADA, AODA, EAA, etc.)
- Introduction to key standards and guidelines, including WCAG, ATAG, UAAG, and COGA
- Deep dive into WCAG principles (Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, Robust)
- WCAG conformance levels (A, AA, AAA) and how to interpret and apply them in real-world projects
Understanding this foundation will allow you to engage more meaningfully with the design-specific practices presented in this course. It ensures that your design decisions are not only technically informed but also rooted in empathy, context, and global perspective.
If you haven’t taken the Fundamentals course yet, we encourage you to start there before continuing. It will provide the conceptual clarity and shared language needed to make your accessibility efforts truly effective.
Additionally, to get the most out of this course, you should be comfortable with:
- Basic HTML and CSS
- JavaScript fundamentals
- The idea of progressive enhancement
No accessibility experience is required—we’ll guide you through each concept clearly.
Course Structure
Module 1: Developer Foundations
- Lesson 1: How the Web Works With Accessibility APIs
- Lesson 2: What is HTML?
- Lesson 3: What is ARIA?
- Lesson 4: Think Like an Accessibility Engineer
- Lesson 5: Use Your Resources
Module 2: HTML Semantics Overview
- Lesson 1: Document Structure and Page Setup
- Lesson 2: Landmarks and Page Regions
- Lesson 3: Content Structure and Headings
- Lesson 4: Lists and Grouping Content
- Lesson 5: Tables and Data Presentation
- Lesson 6: Forms and User Input
- Lesson 7: Media and Visual Content
- Lesson 8: Putting It All Together
Module 3: All About ARIA
- Lesson 1: ARIA Roles and Semantic HTML Equivalents
- Lesson 2: ARIA States and Properties
- Lesson 3: Adding Interactivity with Custom ARIA Components
- Lesson 4: Informing Users of Changes in Dynamic Applications
Module 4: Advanced Web Accessibility
- Lesson 1: Advanced CSS for Accessibility
- Lesson 2: Accessible JavaScript Patterns
- Lesson 3: Responsive and Mobile Accessibility
- Lesson 4: Accessibility Testing Beyond the Basics
- Lesson 5: Accessibility in Design Systems and Frameworks
Module 5: Native Mobile Accessibility Basics
- Lesson 1: How Mobile Screen Readers Work
- Lesson 2: Labelling and Describing Elements
- Lesson 3: Touch Targets and Navigation
- Lesson 4: Accessible Forms and Inputs
- Lesson 5: Basic Accessibility Testing on Devices
- Lesson 6: Core Mobile Accessibility APIs (UIKit, SwiftUI, Android Views, Jetpack Compose)
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Understand how web and mobile accessibility APIs power assistive technologies
- Use semantic HTML and ARIA correctly and responsibly
- Create accessible interfaces with JavaScript and manage dynamic behavior
- Design inclusive layouts using responsive, zoom-safe, and high-contrast CSS techniques
- Build and test accessible forms, tables, media, and custom widgets
- Perform accessibility audits and manual testing with screen readers and keyboard-only navigation
- Integrate accessibility into design systems and component libraries
- Develop native mobile apps that are compatible with VoiceOver, TalkBack, and other platform tools
- Use mobile accessibility APIs in Swift/SwiftUI, Android XML, and Jetpack Compose
- Test and validate accessibility in both web and native apps
With 98% of the internet still not fully accessible, there’s a huge opportunity and responsibility for developers to help change that. Learning this is more than just a skill boost or a résumé win (though it is that too). It’s the first step toward building digital spaces that include everyone.
Welcome to your IAAP course. Let’s create a more accessible, equitable, and human-centered web together.