How to Provide Actionable Feedback on Web Accessibility Issues – Development of a Model Curriculum and Practical Guidelines

In the EU, the Web Accessibility Directive (2016, WAD) requires public sector bodies’ websites and mobile apps to be accessible to all users and to document and monitor accessibility problems. The WAD also introduced a feedback mechanism that can be used to flag accessibility problems or request information about content that is provided in a non-accessible way. Member state reports from 2021 show that most websites and mobile applications only meet some required demands, although there are hardly any complaints about existing barriers. In this context, the paper presents the validation of a model curriculum and practical guidelines for providing actionable feedback on web accessibility issues. The validation process involved six workshops, a questionnaire and interviews with different stakeholders. In general, the results indicate that the developed resources are valuable for various training contexts and helpful in creating and implementing actual training courses. However, participants stressed the need for more in-depth information on training and partnerships in order to use the material for training. The results will be discussed, focusing on implications for further usage and development of the resources.