Higher Technical Qualifications (HTQs) are designed to be delivered within a course of education. Some Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours may be more safely and reliably delivered in workplace settings, so may not be fully covered by the HTQ. Some qualifications will deliver additional content or added depth and breadth through, for example, use of specialist learning environments, work placements or innovative teaching methods. Check with the qualification provider if you require further information on coverage.
This occupation is found in multiple industries, regardless of the specific industry sector accessibility will always be a consideration. The main sectors and industries this standard would be present in are:
- Commerce
- Education
- Financial services; professional services
- Health services
- Media; culture; graphical
- Public services
- Information Technology (IT) Services
- Energy
- Charities
The broad purpose of the occupation is to provide advice on accessibility best practice, helping organisations (externally and internally) to meet organisational, national and international accessibility standards and collaborate to ensure an inclusive user experience and compliance with relevant legislation. A Digital Accessibility Specialist provides training and assistance to professionals to design and develop accessible solutions. They test and audit digital content to ensure that it complies with accessibility standards and guidelines. They provide technical support for digital assistive technology (software and hardware) and facilitate end-user testing specifically with disabled user groups to ensure usability for people with disabilities and users of assistive technology. They procure and provide digital assistive technologies, content and services to meet accessibility requirements of individuals on behalf of both their own employer and clients.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with a range of professionals including, but not limited to, software engineers, managers and product owners (either internal or external) to ensure that end-user experiences meet the accessibility needs of individuals with disabilities and comply with national and international accessibility standards. They would form part of a wider multi-disciplinary team encompassing a variety of roles, depending on the organisation, which could include assistive technology trainers, accessibility testers, accessibility support specialists, developers etc. The occupation would include communication with assistive technology providers and external bodies to troubleshoot existing products and assist in the development of future products, solutions, and services. The occupation will also include interaction with assistive technology users both to provide support for their assistive technology, and as part of consultations with end-users as part of focus groups and disabled end-user testing. An employee in this occupation will be responsible for the analysis of solutions regarding accessibility. A Digital Accessibility Specialist could find themselves working in a variety of environments both internally within their organisation or on client facing duties and locations. Digital Accessibility Specialists additionally play a key role in advocating, supporting and presenting to the broader disability community. They are primarily desk-based, working on a mixture of client-facing and internal projects, however, the role may also involve travel to client sites, conferences, workshops, and seminars.
A Digital Accessibility Specialist isn’t required to supervise staff directly; however, they would be involved in overseeing complex project deliverables, such as directing developers, testers etc. in relation to accessibility considerations and the procurement of relevant technologies internally and externally. They would be responsible for the sign off of technical designs and project requirements relating to accessibility.
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Duty 1 Collaborate with organisations (internally and externally) at all levels to provide guidance on accessibility best practice helping them to meet organisational, national and international accessibility standards and guidelines to ensure an inclusive user experience and compliance with relevant legislation. |
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Duty 2 Raise awareness of accessibility within organisations (internally and externally) via multiple media channels (for example presentations, workshops and focus groups). |
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Duty 3 Provide guidance to organisations (internally and externally) on how to meet organisational, national and international accessibility standards and guidelines to ensure an inclusive user experience and compliance with relevant legislation. |
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Duty 4 Provide advice and assistance to a range of professionals, including but not limited to project managers, web designers, developers and product owners (internally and externally), to ensure interoperability between assistive technologies and mainstream technologies through the use of programming languages, frameworks and techniques to meet accessibility requirements across a wide range of operating platforms (for example web and native applications) for mobile and desktop to make content accessible for all users. |
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Duty 5 Advise organisations (internally and externally) on how to create accessible documents (digital or non-digital), communications and materials. |
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Duty 6 Provide technical support for digital assistive technology (for example text to speech, speech to text, magnifiers, interface customisation options), internally and externally. |
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Duty 7 Test mainstream digital applications against relevant accessibility standards producing any accompanying documentation (including test report and test plan). |
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Duty 8 Organise and facilitate end user testing, specifically with disabled user groups, against mainstream digital applications for accessibility or assistive technologies (software and hardware). |
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Duty 9 Produce personal and organisational documentation (for example presentations, reports, marketing material and templates) and communications that are accessible and useable, internally (for example stakeholders, project managers, developers). |
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Duty 10 Procure and provide digital assistive technologies, content and services to meet accessibility requirements of individuals on behalf of both own employer and clients. |
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Duty 11 Advise organisations (internally and externally) on how to embed accessibility within selection and scoring processes when procuring products and services (for example hardware, software, communication materials and technical support services). |
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Duty 12 Store, manage and share data securely in a compliant manner. |
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Duty 13 Practice continuous self-learning to keep up to date with technological developments to enhance relevant skills and take responsibility for own professional development. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K13 K14 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 |
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Duty 14 Test and audit mainstream digital applications against digital assistive technologies for interoperability (for example text to speech, speech to text, magnifiers), producing any accompanying documentation (including test report and test plan). |
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Duty 15 Provide advice and assistance to a range of professionals, including but not limited to project managers, web designers, developers, end users and line management (internally and externally), advice relating to digital input device assistive technology (for example braille displays, assistive keyboards, assistive mice, sip & puff, switch, eye tracking, voice input). |
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Duty 16 Organise and deliver training on both digital accessibility standards and assistive technologies (both software and hardware-based), including but not limited to project managers, web designers, developers, end-users and line management (internally and externally). |
K1: The characteristics and categories of disabilities (including temporary, situational and permanent disabilities) and how these affect individuals.
Back to Duty
K2: Commonly used accessibility guidelines (for example the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, EN301549 and Section508), methods to implement and achieve conformance and how these assist users with disabilities.
Back to Duty
K3: How accessibility is managed and integrated within an enterprise environment including policies, and reasonable adjustments.
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K4: How to utilise productivity suites ensuring output is accessible and advising on the implementation of accessibility features and content.
Back to Duty
K5: The implications and effect on users with disabilities, and UK businesses of international disability legislation (including Equality Act 2010, Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) No. 2 Accessibility Regulations 2018 and Accessible Canada Act C81 2018).
Back to Duty
K6: How to present using relevant technologies and aids in a manner that communicates the information (including a business case) to the chosen target audience, and understand the key facts and figures relating to accessibility.
Back to Duty
K7: The process to set-up, moderate and conduct activities relating to hosting workshops
including moderation usability testing, user research testing and end-user testing.
Back to Duty
K8: The basics of Hyper Text Mark-up Language, Cascading Style Sheets, JavaScript and Accessibility Rich Internet Applications, and how these should be used to enhance the accessibility of services (for example alt text, dynamic content, colour contrast).
Back to Duty
K9: How mobile applications are developed using appropriate development applications and the basics of the languages used.
Back to Duty
K10: The fundamentals of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), including the purpose, application and utilisation of WCAG in a variety of situations (for example web, mobile, desktop applications).
Back to Duty
K11: The basic principles of project management (including project life cycle methodologies), and how accessibility considerations are integrated.
Back to Duty
K12: The accessibility considerations when designing and developing an application's user experience using related standards and guidelines including ISO9241 Ergonomics of human-system interaction, The Principles of Universal Design by the Centre for Universal Design and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines to create an inclusive design.
Back to Duty
K13: How to use assistive technologies (both digital and physical), their use-cases and functionality, degrees of complexity (hi-tech, low-tech and no-tech).
Back to Duty
K14: How assistive technologies interact with other digital technologies.
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K15: The principles and application of testing methodologies to accessibility criteria and assistive technologies, and the impact of accessibility findings (including test documentation).
Back to Duty
K16: How to construct a business report (for example document layout and contents).
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K17: The purpose and importance of reasonable adjustments, and how these are managed.
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K18: Best practices regarding digital security including General Data Protection Regulations 2018, how these are applied to an organisation and the factors which can result in these being effective and how these can be mitigated.
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K19: The security considerations relating to the installation and utilisation of assistive technologies, how these tools may be misidentified by common security practices and the methods to mitigate such security constraints.
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K20: How to communicate through different mediums, including tailoring communications to different user groups.
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K21: How to use incident management tools, triage incidents and appropriately communicate with assistive technology users.
Back to Duty
K22: How to audit digital applications (including web and mobile applications) against digital assistive technologies including screen readers, screen magnifiers, speech to text and literacy aids.
Back to Duty
K23: The preparation and processes required to conduct training with a variety of user groups for example project managers, web designers, developers, end users and line management.
Back to Duty
K24: How accessibility fits into the wider digital landscape, including current/future applicable regulatory requirements, and case law in the area of discriminating against employees with a disability.
Back to Duty
K25: How to use data ethically and the implications for wider society, with respect to the use of data, automation and artificial intelligence.
Back to Duty
S1: Present information, (for example business cases, testing findings, general information etc.) to a variety of audiences to ensure understanding.
Back to Duty
S2: Use hardware and software based assistive technologies for a variety of applications (for example testing, training etc.)
Back to Duty
S3: Use Interpersonal skills to develop and maintain effective and credible professional relationships both within and outside the team.
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S4: Conduct testing against a variety of platforms using appropriate standards and/or guidelines and assistive technologies.
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S5: Conduct workshops, surveys or focus groups, including the set-up, running and conclusion activities.
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S6: Both written and verbal communication skills when working as a team or individually.
Back to Duty
S7: Solve problems using a logical and analytical approach.
Back to Duty
S8: Identify appropriate assistive technologies and adaptive strategies for an individual's disability.
Back to Duty
S9: Practice disability etiquette, when communicating with individuals with disabilities.
Back to Duty
S10: Apply accessibility standards and regulations to practice.
Back to Duty
S11: Uses productivities suites and implementing accessibility best practices (for example reading level, colour contrast etc.) into produced documentation.
Back to Duty
S12: Create business reports, business cases and documentation appropriate for the target audience (for example developers, management etc.)
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S13: Identifies and rectify issues being experienced using appropriate troubleshooting methods relating to a user's assistive technology.
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S14: Apply security best practices.
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S15: Apply accessibility guidelines (for example WCAG, ISO9241 Ergonomics of human-system interaction) when designing and developing solutions on a variety of platforms (for example web, mobile etc.)
Back to Duty
S16: Collate and research information, or statistics (for example disability statistics, appropriate assistive technology for specific disabilities and correct terminology) required to present, in a manner which is appropriate to the target audience of any training (for example project managers, web designers, developers, end users and line management).
Back to Duty
S17: Keep up-to-date with developments in technologies, trends and innovation using a range of sources.
Back to Duty
S18: Lead a group of individuals using basic leadership skills as to achieve a common goal.
Back to Duty
B1: Motivated, empathetic and driven in the field of accessibility and the wider digital sphere.
Back to Duty
B2: Proactively Inclusive.
Back to Duty
B3: Manages time effectively and adheres to timescales when producing work product.
Back to Duty
B4: Inquisitive, innovative and forward-thinking regarding digital technologies which could have beneficial implications for disabled individuals.
Back to Duty
Qualification type: HTQ
Qualification level: 4
Applicant: Sheffield Hallam University
Awarding body: Sheffield Hallam University
Approval date: 02/03/2023
Occupational pathway: Not applicable
Placement: No
ST0863 Digital accessibility specialist
Qualification type: HTQ
Qualification level: 5
Applicant: Staffordshire University
Awarding body: Staffordshire University
Approval date: 01/06/2021
Occupational pathway: Digital Accessibility Specialist
Placement: No
ST0863 Digital accessibility specialist
Qualification type: HTQ
Qualification level: 4
Applicant: University College Birmingham
Awarding body: University College Birmingham
Approval date: 08/07/2022
Occupational pathway: Not applicable
Placement: No
ST0863 Digital accessibility specialist
Qualification type: HTQ
Qualification level: 4
Applicant: NCFE
Awarding body: NCFE
Approval date: 08/07/2022
Occupational pathway: Not applicable
Placement: No
ST0863 Digital accessibility specialist
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