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IAAP: CS203
IAAP Accessibility Tester Overview

IAAP Accessibility Tester Overview
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A self-paced course designed to raise and recognize accessibility skills in professionals that will implement or embed accessibility testing in their process.
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Introduction to the Course

Accessibility testing is more than a checklist—it’s about making digital spaces work for everyone. This course gives testers the practical knowledge, tools, and strategies to identify, report, and help fix accessibility issues across websites, apps, and digital platforms. Whether you're new to accessibility or sharpening your QA skills, you'll learn how to advocate for inclusion through testing that goes beyond the surface.

What is the challenge?

1 in 4 adults in the U.S. lives with a disability—and that’s just one country. Many digital products are built without their needs in mind. Accessibility barriers can exclude users who:

  • Rely on screen readers or voice navigation
  • Use keyboard-only input or high-contrast settings
  • Need simplified content or reduced motion

Testing ensures your product works for everyone—not just the majority.

What is this course about?

testing. You’ll learn how to:

  • Use automated tools and manual checks effectively
  • Test with assistive technologies like screen readers and voice input
  • Respond to user system preferences (like text scaling or motion reduction)
  • Write actionable accessibility bug reports and collaborate with teams to fix them

Who is this course for?

This course is designed for:

  • QA engineers and testers
  • Developers performing QA or validation
  • Designers looking to understand how testing affects UI
  • Accessibility specialists and advocates
  • Anyone responsible for product quality, compliance, or user experience

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.

Course Structure

Module 1: Accessibility for Testers (Web): A Comprehensive Overview

  • Lesson 1: Accessibility Testing Fundamentals
  • Lesson 2: Manual Accessibility Testing Techniques
  • Lesson 3: Screen Reader Testing
  • Lesson 4: Speech Navigation and Voice Recognition Testing
  • Lesson 5: Automated Accessibility Testing Tools
  • Lesson 6: Testing with Operating System Accessibility Settings
  • Lesson 7: Reporting and Remediating Accessibility Issues
  • Lesson 8: Creating a Test Plan

Module 2: Accessibility for Testers (Native Mobile): A Comprehensive Overview

  • Lesson 1: Introduction to Mobile Accessibility Testing
  • Lesson 2: Manual Accessibility Testing on iOS
  • Lesson 3: Manual Accessibility Testing on Android
  • Lesson 4: Testing with Mobile Screen Readers (VoiceOver & TalkBack)
  • Lesson 5: Accessibility Testing of Touch Targets and Navigation
  • Lesson 6: Testing Color Contrast, Zoom, and Operating System Accessibility Settings
  • Lesson 7: Reporting, Communicating, and Test Planning for Accessibility Issues

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Identify and evaluate accessibility issues across multiple testing layers.
  • Use screen readers, speech tools, and system settings to simulate real user experiences.
  • Run and interpret automated scans with industry-standard tools.
  • Report accessibility bugs clearly and collaborate with teams to fix them.
  • Embed accessibility testing in every phase of your QA or development workflow.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

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