Accessibility certifications: separating what IS good from what just sounds good

Authors note: Because of Medium’s refusal to address its accessibility issues for both authors and readers, I’ve moved my last three years of blogs to Substack. Please sign up there for notices of all new articles. Also, I will be updating older articles (like this one) and the updates will only be published on Substack. Thank you for your continued readership and support.

Certification is:

1. a standardized method with a formal process
2. that individuals use to demonstrate that they are qualified at a specific level in particular knowledge or skills.

• Hiring managers use certifications to identify candidates that possess the skills the organization needs.
• Project managers use certifications to reinforce that potential partners employ people with those skills.
• With respect to products, certification means that the product meets a particular standard.

People are increasingly posting that they (or their products) have been recently received a certificate in some accessibility-related topic. Even more so, people from outside of the United States are posting certificates as “proof” that their skill sets include an understanding of American accessibility requirements. These posts are frequently followed by congratulatory messages by people who don’t really understand what the certificate means or what work it entailed.

Time to separate the wheat from the chaff.

Certifications that actually mean something

Real certifications have:

• accessible examinations that people with disabilities can take in a manner equal to those without disabilities.
• exams that are constructed by people with training in survey and examination science that are Beta tested and have evolved. This includes figuring out the pass/fail line, randomizing the questions, and rotating in new questions.
• expiration dates.
• a renewal process that typically involves continuing education…