Explorer

Accessibility Explorers will learn what accessibility is and develop the basic skills needed to understand how the accessibility of products and services impacts customer experience. Explorers can use this knowledge to identify how to improve the accessibility of Pearson solutions they support and make those solutions more equitable.

Benefits of Earning the Explorer Badge

Learn where to find reliable and valuable accessibility resources.

Become informed about the latest accessibility guidelines and specifications and how Pearson is implementing them.

Understand the effects disabilities can have on access to digital information and the assistive technology tools used to overcome those effects.

Six Required Courses for Earning the Explorer Badge

Assistive Technology and Adaptive Strategies

Estimated Time for Completion: 1.5 hours

Disabled people may interact with websites and digital content in unique ways by using specialized software and hardware called Assistive Technology. This course introduces how people with disabilities might use assistive technologies and adaptive strategies to interact with digital information. It covers how some assistive technologies are also used by people without disabilities and why it's important to design products and content so that they work well for everyone.

Continuous Improvement Through Accessibility Policy

Estimated Time for Completion: 30 minutes

This course provides an overview of the Accessibility Policy and Maturity Model for Assessments. Details about the intent of the policy, the continuous improvement framework, and how the policy aligns to the Global Accessibility Policy Framework are covered. Each level of the Product Accessibility Maturity Model and the associated key performance indicators (KPIs) are also discussed. The course addresses product team expectations, documenting accessibility, and how to use the policy and maturity model resources to make continuous improvement in accessibility.

Introduction to the Accessibility Champion Program

Estimated Time for Completion: 30 minutes

The Accessibility Champion Program (ACP) provides role-based training resources designed to increase accessibility skill sets. This course covers the ACP structure and the journey toward becoming an Accessibility Champion. It also introduces how Accessibility Champions can become engaged in a collaborative network of experts who share knowledge to support the effective integration of accessibility into products and services.

Introduction to the Accessibility for Assessments Website

Estimated Time for Completion: 30 minutes

The Accessibility Team for Assessments maintains a robust website to support the design and development of accessible products and services. This course provides a thorough overview of the website and demonstrates how to utilize it. The website includes accessibility guidelines, a wide variety of disability/accessibility related learning content, curated lists of development and testing tools, training resources, current research, and how to request various types of support from the Accessibility Team for Assessments.

Overview of Accessibility Guidelines and Specifications

Estimated Time for Completion: 1 hour

When digital accessibility is first introduced, it can seem overwhelming and confusing. This course lays the foundation for understanding accessibility specifications and guidelines used by developers, designers, and content creators in the development of accessible digital products.

What is Accessibility? Understanding Disabilities & Barriers

Estimated Time for Completion: 1.5 hours

To design and develop inclusive and accessible products and services, we have to consider the needs of people with disabilities from the beginning. This requires that we have a functional understanding of the array of disabilities our customers may have, the assistive technology tools they might use to access digital content, and how those tools interface with our products and services. This course defines what accessibility is and why it is a key ingredient of inclusive design. It also outlines who benefits from inclusive design and how to get services and support from the Accessibility Team for Assessments.

Tracking Completed Courses

Courses completed through the Accessibility Champion Program will be tracked through your personal Accessibility Champion Status page on the Accessibility for Assessments website. Through this page, you will be able to manage your personal profile, track the courses you have completed, and choose pre-recorded courses for the Personalized Learning Journey component of the badge.

After Earning the Explorer Badge

A certificate will be emailed to you

A recognition message will be sent to your manager

A graphics file of the Explorer Badge will be sent to you to use on personal social media sites and other communications.

An email will be sent to you asking if you want to maintain your Explorer badge or begin working on your Scout badge. If you choose to begin working on your Scout badge, instructions will be provided for how to begin that journey.

Annual Requirements for Maintaining the Explorer Badge

Once you have completed the required courses and obtained your Explorer Badge, the badge is good for 1 year:

If you earn your badge between January 1st and June 30th, the badge will be good until June 30th of the next year.

If you earn your badge between July 1st and December 31st, your badge will be good until December 31st of the following year.

If you choose to remain at the Explorer level, you only need to take two hours of accessibility training per year to maintain the badge and have it renewed for another year.

The Accessibility Champion Badge Maintenance page outlines several approved options for ongoing accessibility training.

If you choose to start taking courses to earn your Scout badge and take 2 hours or more each year of training as outlined for that badge, you will automatically maintain your Explorer badge until you have earned your Scout badge.