Universal accessibility is never an afterthought with PowerTrain. When we develop courses, websites, templates, tools, and other resources, we consider the challenges faced by people with disabilities, and we routinely develop Section 508-compliant deliverables for both our Government and commercial clients that provide a fluid, non-cumbersome, accessible experience for people using assistive technologies. Through experience, we have refined our Section 508-compliant designs to maximize user interactions while allowing equal access for all. As a matter of fact, many agencies and organizations hire us to validate their compliance with Section 508 standards and then to “fix” any problems we identify.
Accessibility and Section 508 compliance
Accessibility for all users is important to PowerTrain. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act requires that when Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use information and communications technology (ICT), it shall be accessible to people with disabilities.
PowerTrain not only ensures 508 compliance in all its final deliverable products but also seeks to push the envelope to develop solutions that are both accessible and robust for all users. PowerTrain employs a diverse staff of highly trained professionals, which includes Certified Trusted Testers, VPAT reviewers, and JAWS-certified specialists. Staff are provided training for accessibility testing from Section 508 immediately as part of the PowerTrain onboarding process and receive tailored annual refresher training to ensure deep knowledge of standards and a commitment to accessibility.
PowerTrain’s accessibility standards
Our staff are trained in the latest document accessibility standards and include Certified DHS Trusted Testers, VPAT reviewers, and JAWS-certified specialists. Our staff are passionate about continually enhancing their skills, and are annually trained to both observe new procedures and maintain a focus on accessibility and update standards.
PowerTrain excels at creating content that is engaging and accessible to everyone. Through our work, we have refined our Section 508-compliant designs to ensure a positive experience for all users. No matter the deliverable, our intensive process ensures that our products are appealing, efficient, and functional to all users.
Project deliverables
All final and certain interim deliverables submitted by PowerTrain will be 508 compliant. Examples of these deliverable types can be found below.
| Deliverable Type | Accessibility Considerations |
|---|---|
| Word, PDF, and PowerPoint | Readable via screen readers with compliant tables and text color, size, and spacing. |
| Videos | Delivered in MP4 format with closed captioning. |
| Websites | Carefully designed to be fully accessible and compliant, with consciously chosen graphics/images, color themes, alt tags, and layout. |
| Training and Development | eLearning, storyboards, handouts, and other materials are carefully designed and reviewed for use with accessibility devices. |
| Learning Management Systems and Learning Content Management Systems (LMS and LCMS) | Hosting services maintain the original deliverables’ level of Section 508 conformance. |
PowerTrain has developed an efficient workflow for ensuring 508 compliance is always considered throughout the development process, no matter what deliverable type we’re working with. Every final product that we deliver goes through a thorough review and editing process by our eagle-eyed quality assurance specialists. All our websites, web-based training, site guides, templates and tools, and other documents are carefully evaluated to ensure they meet accessibility standards, as well as Government Printing Office (GPO) style guidelines and/or any customer style preferences.
Training course accessibility
PowerTrain excels at developing courseware that is fully compliant with the requirements of Section 508 to satisfy the needs of persons with disabilities, and that remains highly engaging to non-disabled users.
We recently developed a standardized, web-based set of 508 compliance checklists. With our new system, we ensure consistency in meeting and exceeding the rigorous Section 508 standards set by the Federal Government. When we develop your fully accessible courseware, we’ll go over our standard Section 508 checklists with you in the initial design meeting to make sure that we meet any special requirements that your organization might have.
After determining the optimal approach to accessibility, our writers, designers, quality assurance testers, and programmers will use our in-house proprietary Accessibility Compliance Checklists throughout the development process. Upon delivery of the final course, we provide you with a PDF of the completed checklists as a way of certifying 508 compliance.
This testing gives invaluable information about what it’s like to take the course as a person with a disability. We not only try to follow the letter of the law when it comes to compliance, but also to provide a fluid, non-cumbersome, accessible experience for people using assistive technologies to take our courses.
Learning is for everyone, and our stringent process ensures that our products remain engaging and effective while functioning seamlessly for all.
